By Matthew Hill
March 26, 2025
Now that the bulk of the notable free agents have signed contracts, and depth charts have been adjusted, it is time to reassess how we value many players, both for best ball and dynasty.
While some player movements barely registered on the fantasy radar, there were several signings that caused immediate changes to their ADP’s/consensus rankings. Those players are whom I will be examining and slotting into one of three categories—Buy, Sell, and Hold. Which column a player falls into will not be based solely on perceived opportunity, but on their contract, and the number of draft picks their new team possesses. An examination of all three pieces of data can help determine if it is safe to draft someone at their rising cost, or if there are aspects of their situation that raises concerns.
BUY 
Justin Fields
Alright, this one is obvious. Of course, Justin Fields is a buy. Fields goes from Steelers backup to the unquestioned Jets starter. While New York has eight draft picks, including the 7th overall, both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are expected to be gone by the time the Jets are on the clock. Combine that with Fields signing a two-year, 40-million dollar contract, fantasy gamers should view the Jets dual-threat signal caller as an undervalued best ball option and low-end QB1 rental with potential to keep the job beyond this season in dynasty.
Rome Odunze/D.J. Moore/Cole Kmet
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson intends to prioritize the passing game and continued development of Caleb Williams. Combine this with an improved offensive line (including the signing of Drew Dalman, free agency’s top pass-blocking center to a three-year, 42-million-dollar contract), plus the likely departure of Keenan Allen, and career years could be on tap for Chicago’s top pass catchers. Rome Odunze, who quietly posted a 54/734/3 line in his rookie season is becoming a common name on the 2025 breakout list, but don’t overlook the potential for big seasons from D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet, as both are capable of soaking up the low/mid-range targets that were previously funneled to Keenan Allen. All three players in the Bears passing attack are undervalued.
Ladd McConkey
Ladd McConkey remains a target monster after the Chargers failed to add any of the quality free agent wide receiver or tight end options. McConkey saw seven or more targets in ten games last season and that number is likely to increase as the most significant addition to the receiving room the Chargers made this offseason was bring back Mike Williams. A low-end WR1 seems to be McConkey’s PPR floor.
Davante Adams
Davante Adams moves from the dysfunctional Jets passing game, to taking on the Cooper Kupp role in the Rams offense after signing a two-year, 46-million-dollar contract. Adams made 85 receptions for 1,063 yards with eight touchdowns in fourteen games in 2024 and should be able to approach or exceed those numbers in 2025.
Marquise Brown
Marquise Brown resigned with Kansas City after an injury-plagued 2024. Brown did see 15 targets in his two healthy regular-season games and with Travis Kelce’s decline and questions surrounding the health and potential suspension of Rashee Rice, Brown may be poised for a bounce-back year, despite his residing as the #3 receiver on the depth chart. Brown is a better best ball than dynasty asset.
Evan Engram
Evan Engram should immediately step into the #2 receiver role in the Broncos offense after signing a two-year, $23-million-dollar contract. Engram jumped all the way to TE6 in my rankings based on his potential volume, and should offer a relatively high floor each week.
Juwan Johnson
While Juwan Johnson does not offer the high floor/ceiling that you would want from an every-week tight end, Johnson can be drafted with confidence as a TE2/TE3 in best ball after signing a three year, 30.75-million-dollar contract. Johnson is an ascending player, after setting career highs in receptions and receiving yards in his age 28 season.
Brenton Strange
Brenton Strange steps into the #1 tight end role for the Jaguars after Evan Engram’s departure. However, it is not simply opportunity that makes Strange interesting. Brenton Strange has second round draft capital (30th pick of the second round of the 2023 draft), had games of 59, 60, 65, and 73 yards receiving in 2024, and Jacksonville receiving chart is wide open after Brian Thomas.
SELL
Chuba Hubbard
After a breakout 2024 season and with the Panthers having invested the 46th overall pick last season on Jonathan Williams who is expected to miss the 2025 season recovering from his second torn ACL in as many seasons, Chuba Hubbard seemed poised for another workhorse role. That was until Carolina signed Rico Dowdle, likely turning the backfield into a committee. Combine that with the Panthers having nine draft picks, including additional fourth and fifth rounders, and Hubbard went from an early-best-ball ‘buy,’ to a post-free-agency ‘sell.’
DK Metcalf/George Pickens
DK Metcalf and his new five-year, 150-million-dollar contract and George Pickens are poised to cannibalize targets from each other in a Steelers offense that ranked 28th in passing volume with 499 attempts in 2024. As of this writing, Pittsburgh has arguably the league’s most unsettled quarterback situation with no starting-caliber quarterback on the roster and with the draft’s top quarterbacks expected to be long gone by the time the Steelers are on the clock at pick #21.
HOLD
Najee Harris
Najee Harris has never missed a game, finished under 1,000 yards rushing, and has scored 34 touchdowns in his four-year career. Harris signed the largest contract of any free agent running back to play for a team that emphasizes the ground game. This reality has Harris’ ADP steadily climbing. However, fantasy gamers need to have an idea of what they are willing to pay for Harris, both in best ball and dynasty, as his contract is just for one year and the Chargers are likely to be adding a back in the draft. Najee Harris is a hold for me until we have a better idea of the depth chart after the NFL Draft.
Jaylen Warren
While Najee Harris landing in what seems to be an ideal spot was a free agency highlight, what his departure potentially does for his former backfield mate, Jaylen Warren, has been somewhat overlooked. As of this writing, Warren is Pittsburg’s clear lead back, with Kenneth Gainwell as his top competition for touches. Like Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren’s spot at the top of his depth chart is tenuous, as the draft is loaded with running back talent. If Pittsburgh fails to add a top running back with one of their six picks, be prepared to draft Warren before the inevitable ADP spike.
Jameis Winston/Russell Wilson
Jameis Winston signing with the Giants caused a Twitter/X celebration, as Tweets/posts praising what was seen as good news for Malik Nabers and New York’s offense in general, as a potential upgrade over Daniel Jones. Then New York added Russell Wilson to the quarterback room…and Shedeur Sanders continues to be mocked heavily to the Giants with the #3 overall pick. Whomever ends up starting should have value, especially in superflex, but the whole quarterback room remains a hold until a clear starter emerges.
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