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This is how the subsequent few months of the NFL offseason are going to go: The subsequent few weeks are principally going to be dominated by rumors and the occasional franchise tag-related drama. NFL Free company opens at 4 p.m. ET on March 17, and the times following that shall be hectic — and the Fantasy Football As we speak crew shall be reacting to the entire information on the FFT podcast, our Twitch channel, CBS Sports HQ, and CBSSports.com, with every part it is advisable know coming proper right here to your inbox.
After that, issues will begin to get quieter, with the NFL Draft looming as the subsequent huge occasion in April. We’ll be previewing the entire draft prospects from the incoming 2021 class, and this one appears prefer it may very well be a giant one: We may see 5 quarterbacks drafted within the first spherical, with potential famous person WR and RB within the combine as nicely. Starting in late-March/early-April, you may search for all of our draft preview content material, in addition to our reactions to each related choose through the draft.
After which it will get actually quiet. However the FFT staff will nonetheless be right here in your inbox a number of instances each week, providing you with distinctive content material to be sure to’re ready for the subsequent season, whether or not you are enjoying in Dynasty leagues or simply getting an early begin on 2021 prep. Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, and Dave Richard shall be contributing to this text each Friday within the type of an unique mailbag column, so ship your inquiries to FantasyFootball@CBSi.com and perhaps you will get a solution. Heath is up first this week Friday, and he is already answering your Dynasty questions here.
As we speak, we’re catching up on a number of the information that has dropped over the past week or so, starting with the Carson Wentz commerce to Indianapolis. Plus, get a preview of free company with Jamey’s breakdown of the top free agents and his preferred destination for each of them additional down. And, if it is advisable discover your bearings as you begin interested by 2021, our too-early rankings are a superb place to begin:
Carson Wentz trade fallout
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The first of those big dominoes fell when the Eagles despatched Wentz to the Colts for a 2021 third-round choose and a 2022 second-rounder that might leap into the primary spherical if Wentz and the Colts meet sure {qualifications}. It’s without delay each a steep price for the Colts in buying a QB who had demanded a commerce following a depressing season and a possible steal for a former MVP candidate.
Heath Cummings broke down the fallout from the trade here, and it is value checking that out to see what it means for Wentz and the Colts in addition to Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Hurts goes to be a well-liked breakout candidate getting into his first full season as a starter, and I’ve obtained him as a top-10 Fantasy QB proper now. His speeding upside alone figures to offer him a reasonably excessive flooring for Fantasy, and he wasn’t dangerous sufficient as a passer in his alternatives as a rookie to suppose he cannot make a couple of performs there.
Hurts’ ascension might be dangerous information for the Eagles cross catchers, not that we’re significantly enthusiastic about any of them besides Dallas Goedert (assuming Zach Ertz can also be traded, as anticipated), however Miles Sanders ought to profit from a extra run-focused method — to not point out the added house Hurts will create within the working recreation. Don’t be concerned in regards to the stories that the Eagles are planning on bringing in some “competitors” for Hurts. It is his job except one thing goes dramatically unsuitable.
Wentz is … not a top-10 Fantasy QB proper now, or something shut. There’s all the time the hope that he can rediscover his former type, nevertheless, the Colts determine to be a run-first staff, so there might not be a lot quantity right here for him. Wentz’s athleticism will open up extra choices for the Colts offense than Phillip Rivers allowed, however this can be a fairly barren receiving corps as issues stand — T.Y. Hilton is a free agent, so Michael Pittman is the highest possibility getting into his second season. He’ll must make a leap even when they do add one other weapon or two, and the chance is actually there for Pittman to develop right into a Fantasy contributor. It regarded like he may be getting there mid-way by way of his rookie season, however whereas the snaps have been all the time there, the targets weren’t constant. He’ll must do extra to earn them in 12 months two.
All advised, this can be a web optimistic for Fantasy. No person actually loses worth, whereas a logjam at a place was cleared up. Let’s hope for extra of that as we transfer ahead by way of what must be a really turbulent offseason.
The Different Information
- Ben Roethlisberger is returning for 2021 — That was anticipated, although I am not fully certain it’s welcome information at this level. Roethlisberger is a giant a part of why the Steelers are in such a troublesome cap state of affairs, and he did not precisely appear like a distinction maker final season. Roethlisberger ranked 18th in deep-pass try charge at 11.0%, with a whopping 53% of his makes an attempt touring 5 yards down the sector or much less, the third-lowest charge within the league. That made it arduous for Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Chase Claypool to persistently publish huge video games, and I would not anticipate far more from Roethlisberger with one other 12 months of wear and tear on the tires. The one optimistic is that, if Smith-Schuster leaves in free company as anticipated, the general excessive quantity of targets must be funneled a bit extra to Johnson and Claypool and will permit one or each to actually get away. Johnson looks like the safer possibility as a consequence of his reference to Roethlisberger, however his very low Common Depth of Goal means there may not be as excessive a ceiling as there may be for Claypool, who figures to make extra big-plays.
- The Panthers have cleared greater than $25 million in cap house over the previous few weeks — And stories have them aiming for Deshaun Watson. That may be an excellent touchdown spot for Watson, who may push D.J. Moore into the elite tier at WR whereas nonetheless sustaining Robby Anderson‘s worth. Christian McCaffrey may see a slight hit in his worth — Watson has by no means thrown to his RB a lot, given his tendency to take off within the face of strain — however I’d nonetheless have him because the No. 1 general choose.
- The Eagles launched DeSean Jackson, and Alshon Jeffery might be subsequent — This is not terribly stunning. The Eagles want extra from Jalen Reagor after a rookie season the place he simply by no means obtained going whereas coping with a large number of accidents. I might wager on them including another person to the receiving corps this offseason, however Reagor is an intriguing sleeper if he can get a standard offseason and coaching camp in.
- Derek Carr is “within the Raiders plans” for 2021 — That in response to NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, and so they reportedly advised the Colts as a lot after they reached out to gauge Carr’s availability. Carr is a superbly serviceable beginning quarterback, however he isn’t the sort of passer who elevates the weapons round him, and the weapons round him do not look so good — outdoors of Darren Waller — that they will push Carr to far more than fringe starting-QB relevance. The established order reigns.
Free Agency Preview
The rest of the dominoes are still getting set up, but it shouldn’t be long before we’re left with an absolute mess to sort through. Though, to be clear, it should be a glorious mess, with potentially as much as half the league in a state where they appear to be at least considering the idea of a new quarterback. Hopefully, we see quarterbacks land in spots where they can boost everyone’s value, as well as RB committees cleared up and some new homes for the likes of Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, all of whom may gain advantage from both a QB improve or much less competitors for targets.
Jamey Eisenberg has recognized his most well-liked touchdown spots for all of the Fantasy-relevant free brokers and I’ve highlighted the highest gamers at every place under. You can head here to see where Jamey would like the other 31 biggest free agents to end up:
- QB: Dak Prescott — Most popular touchdown spot: Dallas – “Let’s face it, the Cowboys and Prescott shall be collectively once more in 2021 — and hopefully for much longer. Prescott was the No. 2 Fantasy quarterback in 2019 and was No. 1 in factors per recreation (29.8) in 2020 regardless of enjoying in simply 5 video games due to an ankle harm. Whether or not it is the franchise tag once more or a long-term deal, anticipate Prescott to stay in Dallas.”
- RB: Aaron Jones — Most popular touchdown spot: Atlanta – “The Falcons are going to be one in every of my favourite locations for any working again given their want for a starter, in addition to the addition of latest head coach Arthur Smith. Hopefully, Smith can recreate the speeding assault he had because the offensive coordinator in Tennessee, and getting a stud like Jones would go an extended strategy to make that occur. If this marriage have been to occur then Jones would stay a No. 1 Fantasy working again in all codecs.”
- WR: Allen Robinson — Potential touchdown spot: Baltimore – “There is a sturdy chance Robinson will get the franchise tag from the Bears, but when he does escape it may very well be enjoyable to see him land with the Ravens. Whereas it may not seem to be the proper place to reinforce his Fantasy worth, perhaps Robinson and Lamar Jackson develop into this 12 months’s model of Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen. That may be nice for the Fantasy worth of each gamers.”
- TE: Hunter Henry — Potential touchdown spot: Jacksonville — “The Jaguars want to offer Trevor Lawrence a dependable weapon within the passing recreation to go together with D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault and their younger receiving corps, and including the highest tight finish in free company is smart. Henry would stay a No. 1 Fantasy tight finish if he signed with the Jaguars.”
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