Should you like older extensive receivers then this free agent class is for you. Of the highest 10 guys who can be found, six are already 30 or older, and all of them will likely be 28 by the beginning of the season.
Tee Higgins, 26, was taken off the market when the Bengals gave him the franchise tag for the second yr in a row. DK Metcalf and Cooper Kupp could possibly be obtainable through commerce, however we’re speaking free brokers right here. And this class is flawed.
Chris Godwin (ankle), Stefon Diggs (knee), and Christian Kirk (collarbone) are coming off severe accidents. Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins all struggled with new groups final season. And Davante Adams would possibly must comply with Aaron Rodgers to proceed taking part in at a excessive degree.
The excellent news for this free agent class is that these receivers will probably be coveted. The rookie receiver class is sweet, not nice, and Washington already made a commerce with San Francisco to amass a struggling Deebo Samuel for a fifth-round choose. Houston additionally traded a 2026 seventh-round choose to Jacksonville for Christian Kirk.
Whereas I haven’t got a lot religion in most of those receivers as Fantasy belongings, I am curious to see the place they finish when free company formally begins on March 12. And it is enjoyable for us to invest on what may occur.
With that in thoughts, listed below are some potential locations for the distinguished free agent extensive receivers this season. We’ll see if any of those situations turn into actuality within the subsequent a number of weeks.
Notable unrestricted free brokers: Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin, Brandin Cooks, Diontae Johnson, Tyler Lockett, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Williams, Marquise Brown, Darius Slayton, Demarcus Robinson, D.J. Chark, Mack Hollins, Tyler Boyd, Elijah Moore, Van Jefferson, Olamide Zaccheaus, Josh Palmer, Dyami Brown, Noah Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Allen Robinson, Sterling Shepard, Tim Patrick, Greg Dortch, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Notable groups in want: Buffalo, Las Vegas, New England, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans, New York Jets, Tennessee, Arizona, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Inexperienced Bay and Jacksonville
The place may the highest extensive receivers find yourself?
Very best touchdown spot: Buccaneers
It is boring to maintain Godwin, 29, in Tampa Bay, nevertheless it appears probably a reunion will occur. And it is smart given how properly he performed final season when he was the very best extensive receiver on the workforce earlier than hurting his ankle in Week 7 and ending up on injured reserve. Godwin averaged 19.7 PPR factors per sport final season, which was second solely to Ja’Marr Chase (23.7). By means of seven video games, Godwin had 50 catches for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns on 62 targets, which put him on tempo for 121 catches, 1,399 yards, and 12 touchdowns. We have to control his well being, however he is anticipated to be prepared for the beginning of the season. And the emergence of Jalen McMillan may impression Godwin and Mike Evans in 2025. The Buccaneers have a brand new offensive coordinator with Josh Grizzard changing the departed Liam Coen, though Grizzard was Tampa Bay’s go sport coordinator in 2024, which is sweet. If Godwin stays with the Buccaneers then I will rank him as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver value drafting as early as Spherical 4., however Sean Payton would lean on Jones fairly a bit. He’ll probably stay a low-end No. 2 operating again value drafting in Spherical 6, and Minnesota or Denver could be high quality locations for his Fantasy worth, even at his age.
Very best touchdown spot: Chargers
We’ll see if Adams follows Aaron Rodgers wherever he goes, however there is not any assure a Rodgers touchdown spot is the very best factor for Adams. Stories point out he needs to play on the West Coast, and the Chargers may present curiosity in a veteran receiver to play alongside Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Adams, who turns 33 in December, performed properly with the Jets, and hopefully, he nonetheless has yet one more productive season left in his profession. He closed 2024 with no less than 17.6 PPR factors in 5 of his closing six outings, together with three video games with no less than 20.8 PPR factors over that span. Rodgers was leaning on Adams rather a lot with no less than 11 targets in 5 of these video games, and people two have a tremendous rapport. That does not imply Adams cannot join properly with Justin Herbert or one other quarterback, however we’ll must see it first. With the Chargers, Adams would play a distinguished function, and he may nonetheless be a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. I am in all probability not drafting Adams previous to Spherical 6 in most leagues, however I may see his Common Draft Place in Spherical 4 or 5 if he finally ends up with a superb quarterback in 2025.
Very best touchdown spot: Texans
Allen is the oldest participant on this listing since he turns 33 in April. He performed in Chicago in 2024 and averaged 12.3 PPR factors per sport, which matched the second-lowest whole of his profession when he performed no less than eight video games, relationship again to 2014. Allen can nonetheless be a serviceable slot receiver, and the Texans have a necessity with Stefon Diggs (knee) a free agent and injured, in addition to Tank Dell (knee) probably out for a lot of the season. C.J. Stroud wants dependable targets, and he may lean on Allen as his No. 2 receiver behind Nico Collins. I haven’t got a lot religion in Allen given his age, however he did present some flashes with the Bears final yr, scoring no less than 20.2 PPR factors in 4 of his closing seven video games. And it is laborious to gauge how a lot of Allen’s early-season struggles had been only a results of Caleb Williams studying the NFL. Allen is usually a good shock with the proper workforce, and I like his slot in Houston. He’ll be a superb late-round choose within the majority of leagues.
Very best touchdown spot: Cowboys
It would not be a shock to see Diggs return to the Texans given Houston’s want at receiver. Tank Dell (knee) may miss a lot of the season, and Diggs will hopefully recuperate from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 8 and play by the beginning of the season. Final yr, in his first season in Houston, Diggs linked properly with C.J. Stroud and averaged 15.7 PPR factors per sport. He had 4 video games with no less than 18.5 PPR factors in his first six outings, and hopefully, he isn’t washed up at 31 and coming off a severe knee harm. If he leaves Houston then Dallas is smart for 2 causes. For starters, the Cowboys have a necessity at receiver reverse CeeDee Lamb since Brandin Cooks can also be a free agent, and Diggs — if wholesome — could be an improve. His brother, Trevon, can also be a standout cornerback in Dallas, and it is a enjoyable storyline to have the 2 play collectively in 2025. If wholesome and with the proper workforce, Diggs may nonetheless emerge as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. I am skeptical, particularly at his age, however Diggs is value a mid- to late-round choose in all leagues.
Very best touchdown spot: Payments
Brown is a candidate to return to Kansas Metropolis, and the Chiefs by no means noticed the very best of Brown in 2024 as a result of he missed 14 video games with a shoulder harm. When he ultimately performed, Brown did not make a lot of an impression with 14 catches for 141 yards on 28 targets in 5 video games, together with the playoffs. Brown, who turns 28 in June, will likely be coveted by loads of groups, and I might like to see him in Buffalo with Josh Allen if he isn’t again with the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. The Payments have a necessity for a veteran receiver to play alongside Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman, particularly if Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins go away as free brokers. With the proper workforce, Brown could possibly be a No. 2 Fantasy receiver within the majority of leagues, and he has three seasons on his resume with no less than 12.2 PPR factors per sport in stints with Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray. Most definitely, Brown will solely be drafted with a mid- to late-round choose in most Fantasy leagues, however he could possibly be a pleasant shock for managers in 2025 if he stays wholesome.
Very best touchdown spot: Steelers
The Chiefs is perhaps trying to overhaul their backfield after Isiah Pacheco struggled in his return final yr from a damaged leg, and Hunt turns 30 in August. Kansas Metropolis would possibly take a look at any of the veterans right here, together with Aaron Jones and Najee Harris, or the Chiefs may draft a operating again from this loaded class. Nevertheless, in the event that they stand pat with Pacheco and need to preserve the operating again room low cost then bringing again Hunt is smart. He performed properly for Kansas Metropolis after Pacheco was injured and scored no less than 13.3 PPR factors in six of 13 video games. He is now not going to be a featured operating again, so staying with a workforce and coach that is aware of him could be greatest for his Fantasy worth. And if Pacheco struggles once more or will get injured then Hunt may play a significant function. Regardless of the place Hunt performs in 2025 he’ll be a backup to open the season, barring an harm, so he is solely going to be drafted with a late-round choose within the majority of Fantasy leagues.
Very best touchdown spot: New England
The workforce I will be watching the closest for receiver assist in free company and the NFL Draft is New England. The Patriots have probably the most cap area and loads of draft picks to assist their receiver room, which is presently led by DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Kayshon Boutte. I would like to see New England commerce for DK Metcalf, however including a few veterans is smart. And Hopkins can nonetheless be a dependable choice for Drake Maye, even at 32. Hopkins was dealt to the Chiefs previous to Week 7, however he had little impression in Kansas Metropolis. He completed with 39 catches for 408 yards and 4 touchdowns over the ultimate 9 regular-season video games, and he had simply three catches for 39 yards on eight targets over three playoff video games. In 2023 with the Titans, Hopkins averaged 13.2 PPR factors per sport, and he reached no less than that whole in seven seasons in a row with Tennessee, Arizona, and Houston. We’ll see if he can have yet one more high quality marketing campaign, so control the place he finally ends up. At greatest, you will draft Hopkins with a late-round choose within the majority of leagues, however he could possibly be a pleasant shock in 2025.
Very best touchdown spot: Raiders
Lockett regarded like a 32-year-old receiver in 2024 when he took a backseat to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf. Lockett had 49 catches for 600 yards and two touchdowns on 74 targets, and he averaged simply 7.1 PPR factors per sport, which was the primary time he was in single digits in PPR since 2017. Lockett going to the Raiders is smart since Las Vegas wants receiver assist, and he could be reunited with former coach Pete Carroll. We have to see the quarterback for the Raiders and who else is added to the receiving corps, however Lockett may nonetheless begin in Las Vegas and be a complementary choice to Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. At greatest, you will draft Lockett with a late-round choose in all Fantasy leagues, and he may emerge as a starter in three-receiver leagues if issues go proper for him in 2025.
Very best touchdown spot: Seahawks
Slayton could possibly be the 2025 model of Darnell Mooney as a low-key addition to a brand new workforce that turns into a top quality Fantasy choice, very similar to Mooney was with the Falcons in 2024. Slayton did little with the Giants in 2024 with 39 catches for 573 yards and two touchdowns on 70 targets, however he was nice when Malik Nabers was out in Weeks 5 and 6. In these two video games in opposition to Seattle and Cincinnati, Slayton had 14 catches for 179 yards and one landing on 22 targets, and he scored a mixed 37.9 PPR factors. He solely had three video games in 2024 with no less than seven targets, and he scored no less than 14.8 PPR factors in two of them. A number of groups will probably be fascinated about Slayton, 28, however I may see him going to Seattle with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf not anticipated to return. Slayton may play reverse of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Slayton may emerge as a starter in all three-receiver leagues. That could possibly be the case irrespective of the place Slayton performs, and he’ll be value a late-round choose in all Fantasy leagues in 2025.
