NFL free agency has been in full swing for a week, and it has been quite a ride for many fantasy-relevant players. From the Falcons securing a competent QB to the Steelers securing two QBs with plenty of question marks, fantasy managers will need to sort through the changes in preparation for the 2024 fantasy football season.
We asked several experts which players have seen their stock go up after free agency as well as whose has gone down. Here are each of their 20 Fantasy Football Draft Risers & Fallers. Below we dive into a few notable names.
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- 2024 NFL Draft Guide
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NFL Free Agency Stock Up
ATL: Drake London (WR), Kyle Pitts (TE) & Bijan Robinson (RB)
“Atlanta Falcons. All of them. Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson are all viewed in a much higher regard than they were to start the offseason after the Kirk Cousins acquisition. I am all for moving these guys up the rankings, but there’s reason to believe that they might become too overvalued with all the hype.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Drake London is one of the more talented young wide receivers in the NFL. However, he has averaged only 8.6 career half-point PPR fantasy points per game because of poor quarterback play. Kirk Cousins isn’t an elite quarterback but has been outstanding for fantasy players, producing multiple WR1s in the same season. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen were top 12 wide receivers in 2018, while Justin Jefferson and Thielen were top eight in 2020. Fantasy players can finally draft London as a high-end WR2 and feel good about it.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Drake London has to be the happiest receiver in the NFL! His talent and metrics are amazing, but he had the likes of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke throwing him the ball. Now he has Kirk Cousins, who isn’t a world-breaker but is a consistent 4,000-yard passer who throws a hefty amount of touchdowns. Last year, London had 69 receptions on 110 targets for 2 touchdowns. ALL those numbers should increase with Cousins at the helm. London could easily push for discussion at a WR1 by the end of the 2024 season!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“TE Kyle Pitts – The Falcons ponied up for the best QB in free agency when they went out and signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a huge deal. Captain Kirk will be the best QB Kyle Pitts has ever played with, and the upgrade should help the Falcons’ offense boldly go where no man has gone before: The end zone! Atlanta also fired head coach Arthur Smith and brought in Raheem Morris to replace him, with Zac Robinson serving as his offensive coordinator. Smith was known for his run-heavy offensive philosophy, whereas Robinson wanted to run a quicker, up-tempo offense that was more pass-oriented. Pitts was unstoppable in college, and as long as he and Cousins can stay healthy, it’s logical to think that Pitts will not only dominate this season but for many years to come. “Helm, lock phasers on Kyle Pitts (Ringo’s favorite draft target in 2024)…..Fire Mr. Sulu!””
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“I don’t know how this could possibly be anyone other than the Falcons skill position players. I’ll pick Kyle Pitts over London for the purposes of this answer, but obviously both take huge steps forward with the QB upgrade from the Kirk Cousins signing. Drake London can be *a* WR1 now, but Pitts can be *the* TE1. I wouldn’t rank him that way just yet, but the upside is there with an above-average QB and likely improved offensive scheme. I’ve been burned by Pitts multiple years in a row, but after this free agency period, I’ll be going back to that well come August.”
– Ryan Wormeli (FantasyPros)
“Drake London ranked mid-pack last year in catchable target rate (77%). That number should jump up alongside Kirk Cousins, giving the 22-year-old (in July) a chance at WR1 status. London’s just not a value in early drafts with an Underdog ADP of WR14.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
“Drake London was a huge winner in free agency as he got a massive quarterback upgrade going from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins. Historically, Cousins has been much more capable of delivering an accurate ball to his pass-catchers, and this should allow the Falcons to be less of a run-first option and attempt to use their talented pass-catchers like London and Pitts, who is also a big winner. With Cousins under center for the Falcons, London should easily find himself inside the top-20 receivers come season’s end as his talent gives him the ability to outproduce Jordan Addison‘s numbers with Cousins in 2023.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)
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