Which Players are Primed for Huge Fantasy Football Seasons after Free Agency and the Draft?

The NFL draft and the majority of free agency are now in the rearview as we enter the most boring season of the year for football fans. However, with the boredom also comes speculation, and there is nothing better to speculate about than fantasy football. 

A lot has happened this offseason, not as much as usual, but still enough to change the fantasy football landscape. Plenty of players lost their starting spots or at least some playing time, but others actually came out in better shape than last year. Their situations improved because of new coaches, new teammates, new teams, less competition, or other factors, and they are now on a fast track to becoming impact fantasy performers.

Here are the ten veterans who will likely improve their fantasy performance this season based on how the situation around them changed. 

D’Andre Swift, RB, Bears

2024 fantasy Points: 214.5

2024 position ranking: 19th

Summary: The offseason could not have gone better for D’Andre Swift; he was in danger of losing his starting job after a slightly underwhelming debut season in Chicago, but now he’s in probably the best RB situation in the league. 

The Bears added the maestro of the Lion’s elite offense, Ben Johnson, as their new head coach. Under Johnson, the Lions had the sixth most rushing yards last year and the best rushing duo in the league. Johnson wasn’t their only addition, though; they also dramatically improved the interior of their O-line, adding three top-tier blockers (Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson) to completely replace their 2024 group (Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, and Nate Davis). 

The Bears also drafted TE Colston Loveland, a great run blocker and a very valuable addition to their impressive receiver corps that now includes second-round pick Luther Burden III; these receiving threats downfield will hopefully open big plays in the running game for Swift.

The running game should all be Swift because the most important thing that happened for him this offseason was that the Bears didn’t give him any new competition. He is still effectively the workhorse running back of the Bears, which, along with the other additions, should make him a potential top-five RB in fantasy this year.

Drake London, WR, Falcons

2024 fantasy points: 280.8

2024 position ranking: 6th

Summary: It would be hard for London to improve upon his impressive breakout performance last year, but the numbers suggest he can. This will only be his fourth year in the league, and he has developed into a true number-one target. In fact, he will actually have less competition for targets this year after Rondale Moore left via free agency. 

The biggest and most important factor that could send London’s numbers into the stratosphere is Michael Penix Jr., the second-year quarterback, who is set to be the starter this season, and that is a great thing for London. Two of London’s three 100+ yard games last year came in the three games that Penix started. Nearly a quarter of all London’s targets came from Penix, even though Penix only played in about 17 percent of offensive snaps last year. 

London’s huge catch radius and his ability to make plays after the catch make him a young quarterback’s best friend, so you better believe that Penix will be leaning on him this season. Don’t be surprised if London cracks the top three fantasy receivers next year if both he and Penix stay healthy.

Breece Hall, RB, Jets

2024 fantasy points: 240.9

2024 position ranking: 18th

Summary: With the addition of Justin Fields in free agency and their first two draft picks going for an offensive lineman and a tight end with great downfield and move blocking ability, it seems like we have a general idea of what this offense is going to do. There will be a lot of RPOs, read options, QB keepers, and check-downs, all of which should benefit a do-it-all running back like Hall. 

Look at what Saquon did with Hurts last year. That’s the template that the Jets will be working from, and honestly, it’s a pretty good strategy. I’m a huge Justin Fields advocate. I think his playmaking ability is right up there with Lamar Jackson, and we have seen small improvements in his decision-making despite not getting consistent reps behind anything that resembles a decent O-line; now he gets that in New York, and I think he and Breece will become a dangerous backfield duo. 

Caleb Williams, QB, Bears

2024 fantasy points: 254.5

2024 position: 16th

Summary: I think we may see a sophomore slump from some of last year’s impressive QB draft class (Daniels and Nix are the most likely candidates), but I think we may see a sophomore rise for Caleb. I don’t see how he could regress under a genius playcaller like Ben Johnson, a hugely improved line, with a new tight end that has Rob Gronkowski-esque skills, and one of the most explosive rookie receivers (Luther Burden III) in the league paired up with Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore on the outside. 

No QB has had more assets added around him than Williams. No QB has been set up for success quite like him, so if you find yourself later in the draft without one of the top five or six QBs, consider Caleb Williams a potential wildcard option who could end up being a huge fantasy performer if he finds a groove and starts playing like USC Caleb.

Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints

2024 fantasy points: 265.3

2024 position rank: 15th

Summary: Kamara had a solid year last year despite the turbulent quarterback situation, and now he’s asked to do that for the second straight season. I don’t know who’s going to win that starting quarterback job. My gut says Tyler Shough, but anything could happen there, and all the situations point to an increased role for Alvin Kamara.

It’s tricky because Kamara’s yards per carry and yards per catch may go down because defenses are going to focus more on him, but I expect his usage to go way up. He’s the perfect outlet for a young QB to check down to and rely on as they get more comfortable with the playbook. I could see him being targeted over 100 in the passing game for the first time since 2020. If he stays healthy, he should easily get the ball 300 times, if not 350!

Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos

2024 fantasy points: 240.3

2024 position ranking: 10th

Summary: As Sutton enters his age 30 seasons, he comes in with probably the best QB situation he’s had in his seven-year career. Case Keenum was his QB in his rookie year, and then a committee of Flacco, Lock, and Brandon Allen in 2019 when he had the best season of his career, and then a season of Lock, then Bridgewater, followed by two years of disappointing play by Russell Wilson and finally Bo Nix last season. 

Sutton had his best season since 2019 last year with Nix, and now he gets some help and a potential decoy in Evan Engram. A tight end like Engram usually benefits wide receivers. With more help and a season of relationship building with Nix, Sutton can only help, who is hoping to finally jump into the upper echelon of fantasy receivers in the league after years of being in the second tier.

Jordan Mason, RB, Vikings

2024 fantasy points: 115

2024 position rank: 33rd

Summary: Jordan Mason averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season for the 49ers, and now he joins a team that seems to have built a much better O-line (outside Trent Williams at left tackle) than San Francisco. The Vikings had decent bookends (when healthy) going into the offseason with Darrisaw and O’Neill but needed to improve their interior, and they did so emphatically. Adding the top guard (Will Fries) and the second-best center (Ryan Kelly) in free agency and then drafting the second-best guard (Donovan Jackson) in the draft.

Mason may be behind Aaron Jones on the depth chart to start the season, but I personally believe that when you look back on this season, Mason will have more fantasy points than Jones. He’s someone you should absolutely take with your first bench player if available because, at some point this season, he’s going to be a top-end RB.

Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars

2024 fantasy points: 91.1

2024 position rank: 30th

Summary: No more Evan Engram means Brenton Strange is the no-doubt number one tight on this team, and that’s a very valuable position to be in. With Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Gabe Davis on the outside, the middle of the field is going to be wide open for Brenton Strange to tear up. 

You know, Trevor Lawrence will be looking for that big target across the middle when Thomas and Hunter both inevitably get double-teamed. I expect Strange to put up numbers that should put him in the top ten of all tight ends, perhaps even pushing the top five.

Adam Thielen, WR, Panthers

2024 fantasy points: 139.5

2025 position rank: 49th

Summary: This will obviously depend on his health. Thielen tends to get hurt quite often, but if he can play every game this year like he did in 2023, he’s in a situation where he could put up big numbers. With Tet McMillan and Xavier Legette as the two big bodies on the outside, Thielen could be one of the more productive slot receivers in the league.

We saw Bryce Young improve his play near the end of last season, and if that continues, it would make sense that veteran Adam Thielen would be able to make the most of that improved vision and decision-making. The addition of Hunter Renfrow changes Thielens’ prospects slightly, but I wouldn’t let that scare you; Renfrow hasn’t played in a year, and he wasn’t very productive in his last few years in Vegas, so Thielen’s path to 100+ targets is pretty clear. He could have a surprisingly good season.

Giants, Defense/Special Teams, Giants

2024 fantasy points: 62.0

2024 position rank: 22nd

Summary: The Giants have a good history of defense. Even over the last decade, while the rest of the team has struggled, the Giants’ defense has been in the top half of the league most every year. Last year was a big fall for the position group, as they struggled to turn the ball over and gave up the ninth-most points of any team.

This offseason, they addressed those concerns and added a lot of new pieces. They turned a really weak secondary into a legit asset with the addition of Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo. They went and also added pieces on the D-Line with Roy Robertson-Harris, Chauncey Golston, and, of course, the biggest piece of all, Abdul Carter, who immediately turned their pass rush into a top-five unit in the league. Expect the sacks to come hot and heavy for this team, with Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter harassing QBs left and right.