NFL Free Agency Predictions (2023 Fantasy Football)

NFL Free Agency is right around the corner. As we prepare for the wild week of player transactions, our experts share their free agency predictions for the 2023 class of players.

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NFL Free Agency Predictions

Q. Please name one free agent skill player and tell us where you think he will go and what it will do for his fantasy value.

Dalton Schultz (TE) – New England Patriots
“Dalton Schultz is purportedly the odd man out in Dallas. After Jerry Jones opted to give Tony Pollard the Franchise Tag, and after Schultz played on the tag last season, Schultz will seemingly be given a large contract by another team. I think he lands with New England, and it could mean wonders for his fantasy value. It’s no guarantee though. The Patriots are going into year 3 of having Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith on the roster – both were big signings before the 2021 season – but neither has lived up to expectations. The Patriots have more than enough cap space to sign a big free agent, and Bill O’Brien is returning to New England to once again be Bill Belichick’s Offensive Coordinator (formerly serving in the role from 2007-2011). O’Brien is perhaps most known for turning Rob Gronkowski into the GOAT Tight End. As a Patriot, Schultz could be a surefire top-5 Tight End.”
– Tim Metzler (FantasyPros)

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB) – Las Vegas Raiders
“Jimmy Garoppolo would be a good fit for the Las Vegas Raiders due to his previous working relationship with Raiders’ head coach, Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was Garoppolo’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator during their time in New England together. This connection could help Garoppolo quickly assimilate into the Raiders’ offense and allow for smoother communication and collaboration between the two. Additionally, Garoppolo’s experience as a starting quarterback in the NFL would bring a level of stability and leadership to the Raiders’ quarterback position, which has seen its fair share of turnover in recent years. From a fantasy perspective, this would cement Garoppolo as a top-20 QB for the upcoming 2023 season. ”
– Billy Muzio (FullTime Fantasy)

D.J. Chark (WR) – Chicago Bears
“This would be a terrific move for the Bears. They already have one big body in Chase Claypool, but now they add another in Chark who can separate downfield and add a layer of speed to this offense for Justin Fields, who was throwing to borderline JV players last season. Chark becomes a WR3 with upside in this situation, provided that OC Luke Getsy sets the offense to run through Chark and potentially a drafted receiver. There is room for Chark to potentially hit his numbers from 2019, when he went over 1,000 receiving yards with Jacksonville.”
– Sam Wagman (Footballguys)

Jakobi Meyers (WR) – Chicago Bears
“Jakobi Meyers and the Bears seem like a good match. The Bears need a dependable possession receiver to play with the speedy Darnell Mooney and the toolsy but erratic Chase Claypool in three-receiver sets. Meyers is the best of a weak group of free-agent WRs, and the Bears have gobs of money to spend — they have about twice as much room under the salary cap as the next-roomiest team, the Falcons. Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada used Claypool as a big slot receiver last season, but Claypool has said he’s more comfortable lined up outside. Meyers is a dependable slot man who would help maximize the passing potential of young QB Justin Fields. But Meyers’ fantasy value would probably take a hit if he signed with the Bears, who ran the ball on a league-high 56.2% of their offensive snaps last season and finished dead last in passing yardage, averaging 152.8 passing yards per game.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Jakobi Meyers (WR) – Houston Texans
“Jakobi Meyers is a nice fit on the Houston Texans as a replacement for Brandin Cooks, who is rumored to be on the way out. Meyers has shown an ability to earn targets at a high rate, posting a 22+% target share in each of his last three seasons. The former Patriots’ wideout can be a nice safety valve for whoever the Texans draft at quarterback.”
– Frank Ammirante (The Game Day)

Damien Harris (RB) – Philadelphia Eagles
“Harris missed six games in 2022 due to hamstring and thigh strains, limiting him to career lows in rushing yards and yards per carry. However, it may make sense for him to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles as the primary early-down rusher replacing Free Agent Miles Sanders. Kenneth Gainwell has never carried the rock more than 13 times in a regular season game over two seasons, and Damien Harris‘ 8th best Juke Rate behind a solid Eagles O-Line would be a path for Harris to return to his 2021 season-level of production where he ranked 5th in breakaway runs, scored 15 total TDs, and finished as RB18 in fantasy points per game. If Harris lands on the Eagles, he will immediately jump from a 12th-round ADP to the 8th round.”
– Bradley Stalder (FantasyData)

Lamar Jackson (QB) and Jakobi Meyers (WR) – Baltimore Ravens
“With no NFL team willing to fork over a Deshaun Watson-type deal, Lamar Jackson remains in Baltimore. Along with a new contract, the Ravens get Jackson a new weapon by signing free-agent wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers is the top-ranked wide receiver available after catching 67 passes for 804 yards and six touchdowns for the Patriots last season. His numbers don’t stand out, but considering the starting quarterbacks after Tom Brady, Meyers proved to be the most reliable and productive player on the offense. Yet, he averaged a career-high 12.4 PPR points per game last season and owned a 68.3% career catch rate. Myers is an ideal No. 2 option in the passing game. He will pair up with the hopefully healthy Rashod Bateman and Jackson’s favorite target TE Mark Andrews to instantly upgrade the Ravens’ passing offense. As a result, Meyers moves up the fantasy draft rankings to provide value as a reliable WR2 in PPR formats. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)

Kareem Hunt (RB) – Philadelphia Eagles
“Kareem Hunt will join the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Per Ralph Vacchiano, the team is not expected to re-sign Miles Sanders, the highest-ranked running back left on the open market. Eagles GM Howie Roseman won’t pay up to retain Sanders at the replaceable RB position. Meanwhile, Hunt is coming off his worst season with the Browns making him a cheap alternative. Roseman has personal connections to John Dorsey who drafted Hunt and helped bring him to Cleveland after he was released from the Chiefs. They were also heavily linked to Hunt before this year’s past trade deadline. A new start in Philly allows Hunt to return to fantasy RB1 status as a new team’s bell cow. He is an absolute steal as the RB38 in early best-ball drafts.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles

Featured Pros Free Agency NFL Dalton Schultz Tony Pollard Hunter Henry Jonnu Smith Jimmy Garoppolo D.J. Chark Chase Claypool Justin Fields Jakobi Meyers Darnell Mooney Brandin Cooks Damien Harris Miles Sanders Kenneth Gainwell Lamar Jackson Deshaun Watson Rashod Bateman Mark Andrews Kareem Hunt