QB Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers

          Russell Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Steelers worth the league minimum $1.21 million. The Broncos will continue to pay Wilson until 2026, while he’s in Pittsburgh. In total, Denver is paying $85 million over the next two years for the right not to have Wilson quarterback the team. Nearly $50M of Wilson’s cap charge will hit the Broncos' books in 2025. Last season, Wilson ranked 13th among quarterbacks (minimum 200 attempts) in passing yards on throws of 20-plus yards. While he still threw deep often (11.7% of throws traveled 20+ yards in air – 6th-highest) his 6.9 YPA in 2023 ranked 21st among quarterback. Wilson dumped the ball to his underneath read on 19.3% of his dropbacks.The league average is 8% checkdown rate. Just 17.4% of Wilson’s throws were over the middle of the field last season (10th-lowest rate). The Steelers offense is a run and play-action based offense which may not suit Wilson’s ability at this point in his career. Wilson should be viewed as a QB2 for the 2024 season.

QB Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons

         Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons that includes a $50 million signing bonus. Cousins receives $100 million guaranteed, including $90 million in 2024 and '25, and another $10 million in '26. Kirk Cousins has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in seven out of his nine seasons as a starter. Cousins joins a Falcons team that is loaded with talent at multiple positions on offense. He will have the best weapons he has ever had to throw to in his career. Cousins should be viewed as a backend QB1 to a strong QB2 heading into the 2024 season.

RB Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens

          Derrick Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Ravens that has a max value of $20 million and includes $9 million guaranteed. Derrick Henry signing with the Ravens is quite possibly the best match for a team and a player. At the 2023 NFL trade deadline the Ravens tried to acquire Henry from the Titans in a trade. Derrick Henry just cashed in 30 carries inside-the-10 (sixth-most among RBs) and he ranking Top-10 in broken tackles, yards created & breakaway runs. Ravens RBs enjoyed a league-best 2.24 yards before contact per carry. Derrick Henry should be viewed as a top 5 RB for the 2024 season.

RB Zach Moss

Cinncinat Bengals

           Zach Moss signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Bengals that includes $4.525 million in Year 1. Last season Moss put up 15.6 Half-PPR points per game in his six starts in place of Colts RB Jonathan Taylor last season. Moss received 84% of the snaps, 22 touches per game and 129 total yards per game in Moss’s six games he was the starter. In eight games where Moss received double-digit carries in 2023, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry and 81 rushing yards per game while adding four rushing touchdowns. Moss was hyperproductive on zone run concepts (78% of his carries, per Fantasy Points Data) for the Colts last season with 4.3 yards per carry, five scores and a 50.3% success rate. Moss also graded out as the 10th-best running back on true pass-blocking sets last season per Pro Football Focus. Moss should be viewed as a RB2 for the 2024 season.

RB Gus Edwards

Los Angeles Chargers

          Gus Edwards signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Chargers that includes $3.375 million in guarantees. In Los Angeles, Edwards joins Jim Harbaugh, who ran the ball on 45.9% of plays during his time with the 49ers, which was second-most during that time. Greg Roman, who was Edwards’ offensive coordinator or assistant head coach every season except this past one, which was also Edwards’ only season under 5.0 yards per carry. Gus Edwards should be viewed as a RB2 for the 2024 season.

RB Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles

         Saquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles with $25.5 million fully guaranteed at signing. Saquon gets a huge offensive line upgrade heading to the Eagles. The Eagles were a Top-10 offensive line last season while the Giants were the 30th ranked offensive line. Despite a poor offensive line, Barkley was Top-10 in breakaway runs & Top-5 in usage. He also was still efficient ranking Top-20 in yards created last year. New York Giants running backs were stuffed in the backfield on 23.3% of runs last season, which was second-worst, while Eagles running backs were stuffed on 14.2%, which was second-best. Saquon Barkley should be viewed as a top 5 RB for the 2024 season.

RB Austin Ekeler Washington Commanders

         Austin Ekeler signed a two-year deal with the Commanders worth up to $11.43 million. Ekeler receives a $3 million signing bonus and $4.82 million in Year 1 of the contract. Austin Ekeler has said on his podcast that the Commanders are going to be a two headed backfield featuring him and Brian Robinson Jr. If this were the case it would not be good news for Ekeler or Robinson Jr. The Commanders offense also is not as explosive as the Chargers so that might limit Ekeler’s potential to score touchdowns. Ekeler should be viewed as a RB2 for the 2024 season.

RB Josh Jacobs Green Bay Packers

       Josh Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers that includes a $12.5 million signing bonus and a total of $14.8 million in Year 1. In the last few seasons Jacobs has produced as a consistent, high-end fantasy RB2, and he’s handled at least 260 touches for five straight years. In the last three seasons, turning his 66 carries from inside-the-10 into 21 TDs (31.8%). Jacobs has faced the 4th most stacked fronts due to a poor offense led by bad QB play. He saw an NFL-high 7 defenders in the box on average. This should improve for Jacobs as he goes to a team with an improvement at QB and a better offense in 2024. Josh Jacobs should be viewed as a RB1 for the 2024 season.