The 2014 offseason was loaded with team transactions. A few NFL teams are barely recognizable when compared to their 2013 starting roster. Others simply gained extra pieces that may or may not have a large role in the regular season. Free agency tends to rattle our expectations of the player who was moved as well as the other skill players on the roster.
Fantasy football 2014: A look at the 15 most notable transactions this offseason
We take a look at free agency during the 2014 offseason and what each transaction means for fantasy football.
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In fantasy football, there were former fantasy studs we hope can reclaim their glory days as they move into a new situation. There are running backs who are going from fantasy handcuffs to leading their new backfield. Simply put, there are a lot of players who have shown potential and are now in more ideal circumstances. Of course, there is always the risk of a player losing his edge as he makes the transition to a new team.
There is quite a bit to digest from the past five months of offseason activity. Let’s take a look at 15 of the more notable transactions. We’ll focus on the main four offensive skill positions in no particular order.
Since trading Anquan Boldin in 2013, the Ravens have been on shaky ground regarding their wide receiving corps. Steve Smith is 35 years old. The signing arguably hurt the Carolina Panthers more than it helped the Ravens. This move was more about getting a more established veteran on the field and in the locker room. Expectations are low, but if Smith can offer a fraction of what Boldin did in 2012, he's worth a late-round grab.
Ben Tate, RB, Cleveland Browns
The Browns needed an answer for their backfield after trading Trent Richardson during the 2013 regular season. Ben Tate is a talented back, but he hasn't proven he's durable yet. Terrance West could make a run for the starting running back position. At the very least, the two could split carries. He's a great value if he can be drafted as a flex and could prove to be a solid RB2 if he leads the depth chart.
Andrew Hawkins, WR, Cleveland Browns
Hawkins was acquired by the Browns after three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the beginning of 2013 dealing with an ankle injury. If healthy, Hawkins can be a great weapon for the Browns. He's a quick, shifty receiver with great awareness and hands. With Josh Gordon likely out for the season, the Browns will need to find ways to distribute the ball effectively. Hawkins is a great sleeper pick, especially in PPR leagues.
Sanders finished his 2013 with the Steelers with 67 catches for 740 yards and six touchdowns. He now has Peyton Manning throwing him the ball, but he's sharing the field with a lot of talent. You could do worse than draft Sanders as a WR3 in most formats, but he's a steal if you can grab him for your bench and wait out a week or two of the regular season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Houston Texans
Fitzpatrick has been named the starting quarterback for the Texans in 2014. He showed flashes of fantasy relevance during his time with the Buffalo Bills. With Houston, it's likely he'll be more of a game manager. He has Andre Johnson as a receiver, but Fitzpatrick doesn't offer much more upside than Matt Schaub did. Fitzpatrick will be more of a plug-and-play option depending on his weekly matchup. He'll likely be floating on your waiver wire on a weekly basis.
All of a sudden, the Colts roster has a surplus of talent at the wide receiver position. Reggie Wayne is returning from injury, T.Y. Hilton is looking to continue his impressive 2013 campaign, and now Hakeem Nicks has entered the mix after five seasons with the New York Giants. Nicks has battled nagging injuries for a good portion of his career and tends to play through them a lot, which raises the question of how great his numbers could really be if he played an entire season while healthy. Regardless, he's a questionable prospect in fantasy. He's worth a late-round grab, but he's too risky to assume as a WR3 or better.
Gerhart is expected to be the workhorse back in Jacksonville after spending four years as Adrian Peterson’s fantasy handcuff. Gerhart has never flashed much upside, but his number of touches is what drives him up the boards in fantasy drafts. Gerhart can be targeted as a low-end RB2 in most formats, but would be better served as a flex option if he falls to you. He’s current ADP is late third or early fourth round.
Moreno had a monstrous 2013 campaign with the Broncos. With 1,038 rushing yards, 548 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns, Moreno was a top fantasy running back. The Dolphins acquired Moreno as an answer to the lethargic tandem of Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas. However, Moreno is reportedly struggling in camp. He's out of shape and having knee issues. Miller may be the starter yet again. If Moreno can heal, he's worth a stash for midseason. He's proven he can perform when healthy, but it may be Miller's job to lose first.
Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions
Do the Lions finally have a second wide receiver worthy of drafting while Calvin Johnson is on the roster? Tate's numbers have steadily increased since being drafted by the Seahawks in 2010. He finished 2013 with 64 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns. Now with the Lions, Tate will be paired with a quarterback who's arguably better at getting the ball downfield with his arm. The dilemma, of course, is the Johnson factor. Matt Stafford will need to use Tate effectively for both receivers to reap the benefits. Tate can be drafted as a WR3 in most formats, but would be a more comforting WR4 with very high upside.
Rashad Jennings, RB, New York Giants
Rashad Jennings came into camp expected to be the lead back. However, the Giants have recently indicated a committee approach to their backfield. Regardless, Jennings is coming off a successful season with the Oakland Raiders. David Wilson is out indefinitely with a neck injury, and Jennings has a lot of unknown talent below him on the depth chart. He's a low-end RB2 in most scoring formats. He has some upside in PPR leagues.
Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets
Whatever you think of Decker's talent outside of Peyton Manning's offense, the fact remains that Decker is now in a situation where he's the team's true No. 1 receiver. There's obviously a concern of shaky quarterback play, but there's no doubt that Decker will be heavily targeted. Decker was targeted 136 times by Manning in 2013. Granted, Manning threw the ball over 200 more times than Geno Smith in 2013. Still, even if Smith manages 450 passing attempts in 2014, expect Decker to see at least 100 targets. There's simply no one else demanding Smith's attention aside from maybe running back Chris Johnson. Decker is a low-end WR2 who needs improvement from Smith for even better value.
James Jones, WR, Oakland Raiders
Jones spent seven years with the Green Bay Packers, and he lurked below WR3 fantasy numbers for most of his career -- something largely aided by quarterback play. Now, Jones is assumed to be the WR1 in Oakland. While that may be the case, that doesn't necessarily translate into fantasy relevance. Jones may or may not be the true No. 1 once the regular season begins, but Matt Schaub is no Aaron Rodgers. There's too much working against Jones to take him seriously in fantasy football. If you truly believe Jones will have career-best numbers in Oakland, he can be had as late as the 14th round in most drafts.
Sproles has always been a talented back, but he became a true fantasy force in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints. As a running back and receiver, Sproles is a PPR darling. His numbers have steadily declined, especially his rushing totals. Now, Sproles is sharing the field with LeSean McCoy -- perhaps the most dominant running back he's shared a field with since LaDainian Tomlinson. Sproles will likely be used as a receiver more than as a back in Philadelphia. McCoy had 314 rushing attempts in 2013. Only 87 carries were given to other running backs in that same year. Sproles can be considered a flex option in PPR leagues, but he's better served on your bench in standard scoring formats. He certainly has upside, but the touches have to be there first.
McCown is reuniting with Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay after somewhat of a career revival in Chicago while Jay Cutler was sidelined. The 35-year old quarterback is starting 2014 as the starter with weapons like Vincent Jackson and rookie Mike Evans to throw to. McCown had flashes of strong fantasy numbers with the Bears, especially during the last half of the 2013 season. Expect 250-300 yards per game and several touchdowns from McCown as a best-case scenario. He's a QB2 with a low-end QB1 ceiling.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington
Jackson saw career-best numbers in nearly every category under Chip Kelly's offense in 2013. His 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns could easily remain his career best. Jackson is now sharing duties with Pierre Garcon. Even if Robert Griffin III improves over his 2013 effort, expectations for Jackson should be tempered now that he's in a different offense. His receptions will likely take a dip, as he'll likely be used for deeper routes with Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed being used for short and intermediate passes frequently. Jackson is simply a safer bet as a WR2 in standard leagues. His current ADP in the fourth or fifth round may be a bit too much to ask for in a position deep with talent for fantasy owners.
