QB Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints on a four-year deal worth up to $150M that has $100M in guarantees. Carr’s deal averages out to $37.5M per year – which currently makes him the ninth-highest paid QB right behind Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford’s new $40M/year contracts. Derek Carr has only one top-10 fantasy QB finish in 2016 where he finished as QB10. Carr does not add much as a runner as he has the ability to get first downs if needed but Carr makes his money from within the pocket. Derek Carr’s situation in the Big Easy could very well help him string together a run of top-10 fantasy QB finishes that not been there in Carr’s first 9 years of his career in the NFL. Carr will have WR Chris Olave who has speed and is an excellent route runner coming off of a strong rookie season. Olave in his rookie season had 72 receptions 1042 receiving yards 4 receiving touchdowns (WR26 by fantasy points per game -13.3). Olave had 69.5 receiving yards per game as a rookie. A motivated WR Michael Thomas is returning to the Saints from injury as Thomas and the team came to an agreement on a revised contract to keep him in New Orleans. TE Juwan Johnson showed last season that he could be a solid receiving option at the TE position. Carr also will have RB Alvin Kamara as a receiving option out of the Saints backfield to dump the ball off too. Carr is a high end QB2 with the potential to be a low end QB1 this season in New Orleans.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Las Vegas Raiders

Jimmy Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year deal worth $67.5M with $34M guaranteed. This move reunites Garoppolo with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels who was the Patriots offensive coordinator when Garoppolo was in New England. The last four seasons, Garoppolo has completed 68.2% of his passes while averaging 8.3 YPA (yards per attempt) with a 5.1% TD rate. He has the best YPA (yards per attempt) average in the last four seasons. Garoppolo’s one weakness is his 2.9% INT rate in his first five seasons. In 2022 Jimmy G had a 103.0 passer rating which was 3rd among qualified quarterbacks. Garoppolo should have just as much success as he did with the 49ers with the Raiders as they have great playmakers on offense. Garoppolo has superstar receiver Davante Adams who is arguably one of if not the best receiver in the NFL to throw the ball to. Jimmy G also has Pro Bowl RB Josh Jacobs out of the backfield to get the ball to. In the slot Garoppolo will have the ultimate chain mover in Hunter Renfrow. Garoppolo is a low end QB2 this season in Las Vegas.

QB Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth up to $8.5M with $4M in guarantees. After playing for three teams in two seasons Baker Mayfield is now on his fourth team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mayfield will have to compete with QB Kyle Trask for the Bucs starting QB job. If Mayfield wins the starting QB job he will have two Pro Bowl receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to throw the ball to. Mayfield is more of a bye week fill-in QB this season in Tampa Bay.

RB Jamaal Williams

New Orleans Saints

Jamaal Williams signed with the New Orleans Saints on a three-year, $12M deal that includes $8.15M guaranteed. 2022 was a career year for Jamaal Williams averaging 16.1 touches and scored 17 touchdowns. He averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game last season. In the Big Easy Williams could have a big role this coming season as Saints RB Alvin Kamara is facing a possible suspension for his role in an off the field altercation. Think of Williams in the “Mark Ingram” role in the Saints offense as in he will get the short yardage and goal line work. Williams will be the boom to Kamara’s zoom. Williams is a RB3 to a Flex play this season in New Orleans but could be a RB2 if Alvin Kamara is suspended.

RB Miles Sanders

Carolina Panthers

Miles Sanders signed with the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $25.4M deal that includes $13M guaranteed. Miles Sanders move to the Panthers reunited him with his old RB coach Duce Staley. In 2 seasons with Staley, Sanders produced: 50 reception per year, 1,195 yards per season and Top-10 yards per touch. Since entering the NFL, Sanders has caught 71% of his targets. Sanders will get all of the carries in the Panthers backfield as D’Onta Foreman left for the Chicago Bears. With no real competition for carries in Carolina Sanders will get plenty of opportunities to make plays. Sanders is a strong RB2 to RB3 or even a Flex play this season In Carolina.

RB David Montgomery

Detroit Lions

David Montgomery signed with the Detroit Lions on a three-year $18M deal. David Montgomery had a strong 2022 posting a career-best in RB efficiency. Ranking 8th in broken tackles in 2022. He was also 3rd in yards per catch among RBs. The Lions have a strong offensive line which is a positive thing for Montgomery as he just left a Bears team that had a poor offensive line. Montgomery will get more goal line rushing attempts as he goes from Justin Fields at QB who rushed a lot to Jared Goff who is more of a pocket passer. Montgomery is a RB2 to RB3 this season In Detroit.

TE Mike Gesicki

New England Patriots

Mike Gesicki signed with the New England Patriots on a one-year $9M deal. Mike Gesicki was among the top-five tight ends in both targets and receptions two seasons ago. Gesicki’s move to the Patriots makes him to the number 2 passing option in the passing game. Gesicki ran over 75% of his routes on the outside or in the slot in 2022 after running 98% of his routes out wide or in the slot in 2021. Gesicki will split time with TE Hunter Henry which could hurt Gesickis’ value this season. Mike Gesicki is a TE2 this season in New England with the potential to be a TE1 due to the scarcity at the position.

TE Hayden Hurst

Carolina Panthers

Hayden Hurst signed with the Carolina Panthers on a three-year, $21.75M deal that includes $13M guaranteed. Hayden Hurst signing with the Panthers may be a good thing as tight ends are a key aspect of a Frank Reich lead offense. Hurst could be a good streaming option at TE some weeks as the Panthers will most likely have a rookie at QB this season and he will be the QBs security blanket. Hayden Hurst is a TE1 this season in Carolina.

TE Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans

Dalton Schultz signed with the Houston Texans a one-year deal worth up to $9M. Dalton Schultz is 1 of 5 TEs to have 2,000+ receiving yards and 15+ receiving TD since 2020. Schultz has had 198 catches and 17 TDs over the past three seasons with the Cowboys. Schultz should get plenty of targets as the Texans are void of any playmakers in the passing game. The Texans also are expected to have a rookie at QB which means the QB may lean on Schultz as a security blanket. Dalton Schultz is a TE1 this season in Houston

WR Jacobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders

Jakobi Meyers signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year deal with $33M with $21M guaranteed. Meyers move to Las Vegas reunites him with Josh McDaniels who was Patriots offensive coordinator when Meyers was in New England. In New England, Meyers maintained a target share above 22%, clearing at least 80 targets in three consecutive seasons.Meyers will have a lot of competition for targets as the Raiders have Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and O.J. Howard competing for targets. Jacobi Meyers is a WR3 to a WR4 this season in Las Vegas.

WR Allen Lazard

New York Jets

Allen Lazard signed with the New York Jets on a four-year, $44M deal. The Jets are expected to trade for QB Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Lazard was on a wish list of players Aaron Rodgers wanted the Jets to sign in free agency. This may be good for Lazard as him and Rodgers have some chemistry from their time together in Green Bay. The one issue for Lazard is he now joins a Jets team that has a lot of competition for targets in the passing game. Allen Lazard is a WR3 to a WR4 this season with the New York Jets.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

New England Patriots

JuJu Smith-Schuster signed with the New England Patriots on a three-year, $25.5M deal worth up to $33M with $16M guaranteed.

JuJu Smith-Schuster will get plenty of targets in New England as he steps into the number one receiver option. Smith-Schuster had 70+ receiving yards in 7 of 16 games played in 2022 with the Chiefs. Smith-Schuster has posted 800+ yards in each of the four seasons when he’s played 14+ games. Smith-Schuster moved around the formation in Kansas City, running 42.6% of his routes from the slot, where he figures to play in New England. Smith-Schuster is downgrading QBs in going from Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City to Mac Jones in New England. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a WR2 to a WR3 this season with the New England Patriots.