Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury and is potentially weighing surgery as an option. His availability for the start of the season is in question. (Source: Ian Rapoport on X)

Fantasy Impact: The news comes as a complete surprise to fantasy managers and the NFL world alike. The Saints were already rumored to take a quarterback in the upcoming draft, with Jaxson Dart a popular candidate. Should confirmation come in that Carr will miss significant time, that rumor may soon become a reality.

The Cleveland Browns signed quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year, $4 million deal on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: The deal includes incentives that could push the contract up to the $13 million range. Flacco spent some time with the Browns at the end of the 2023 season before playing for the Colts in 2024. The veteran signal-caller has a good shot at opening the season as Cleveland’s starter, although he will have to fend off Kenny Pickett. The Browns could also potentially add a quarterback in the NFL draft at the end of April.

The Patriots have traded QB Joe Milton III and a seventh-round draft pick to Dallas in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Milton has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason after he impressed in a game against the Bills to close out the 2024 season. The 25-year-old quarterback will open the season as the backup to Dak Prescott and will provide the Cowboys will a solid option should Prescott miss any time during the season.

Stefon Diggs has signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the New England Patriots. The deal includes $26 million guaranteed. (Source: Adam Schefter on X)

Fantasy Impact: At least at the moment, it looks like the Patriots have found their WR1. Diggs joins a wide-open receiving room that lacks top-end talent, and he should step in as Drake Maye's top option once he returns from injury. The Patriots could still add receiving talent in the draft, however, so they may not be done. Should he play all three years on this deal, he will be 34 the next time he is a free agent. It's likely one of, if not his last, major NFL deals. Still, it's a good sign for Digg's fantasy value in the short term.

Russell Wilson is signing a one-year, $21 million contract with the New York Giants. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It looked like the Giants were gearing up to spend a high pick on a rookie quarterback after recently signing Jameis Winston to a deal, but now they have agreed to a one-year deal with Russell Wilson. He started most of last season for the Steelers and played relatively well, though he was not nearly as productive as he was in his prime in Seattle. This is good news for the fantasy value and upside of Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson, who were both hurt by New York's lack of a competent quarterback last season.

The Bengals signed Tee Higgins to a four-year, $115 million extension with the first two years guaranteed. (Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: After getting franchise-tagged for the second straight year, Higgins finally gets the extension he has been looking for with the Bengals. The deal makes him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history. Ja'Marr Chase also got his four-year extension that made him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

The Bengals signed Ja'Marr Chase to a four-year, $161 million extension with $112 million guaranteed. (Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This has been a work in progress as Chase now becomes the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. The Bengals also signed Tee Higgins to a four-year extension that made him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history.

Free agent WR Cooper Kupp is expected to sign with the Seahawks. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The exact terms are not yet known, but Kupp is expected to make $15 million or more per year. He heads to Seattle in the state where he is from and remains in the NFC West after he was released by the Rams. It will be worth monitoring in training camp who is expected to play in the slot more between him and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

DK Metcalf has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second round pick and a late round pick swap. (Source: Adam Schefter via X)

Fantasy Impact: Metcalf ends his Seattle tenure with two Pro-Bowl appearances, more than 6300 receiving yards, and 48 receiving touchdowns. The Seahawks are clearing house, having traded Geno Smith and now Metcalf, plus releasing Tyler Lockett. We will see a brand new Seattle team next year. For Pittsburgh, they now have a legitimate No.1 option alongside George Pickens that will greatly bolster a passing attack that struggled in 2024.

The Bills and Josh Allen reached agreement on a new record-setting six-year, $330 million contract. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The deal includes $250 million guaranteed, the largest guarantee ever given to an NFL player. Allen gets rewarded despite having four years remaining on his contract. Coming off an MVP season, Allen and Buffalo will look to take the next step forward in the playoffs next year.

Geno Smith has been traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a third-round draft pick. (Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It was recently reported that the Seahawks were hoping to sign a contract extension with Smith, but it appears that fell through, as the team is now sending him to Las Vegas in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Sam Howell is currently the next man up for the Seahawks, but it seems likely that they will bring in someone else through the draft or free agency to compete for the starting job. This move is also great news for the fantasy value of players like Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, who will now presumably be catching passes from a proven and reliable veteran quarterback.

Deebo Samuel Sr. has been traded to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It was previously reported that several teams were pursuing a trade for Samuel, and now the Commanders are able to get a deal done with the 49ers to acquire the veteran wideout. They are sending a fifth-round pick to San Francisco in exchange for him, and this deal will be good for QB Jayden Daniels coming off of a Rookie of the Year campaign in his first season at the helm for Washington. This is less than ideal for the fantasy value of Terry McLaurin, but there should be enough to go around on this offense to support both of them in the 2025-2026 NFL season.

Matthew Stafford has reached a deal with the Los Angeles Rams that will keep him in LA. (Source: Adam Schefter via X)

Fantasy Impact: A lot of speculation was around Stafford and the Rams’ QB situation, with trade questions swirling and Stafford’s future in football also in the air. But, it looks like the Super Bowl QB will be returning at least for 2025, and possibly beyond. This is great news for guys like Puka Nacua and the other pass catchers.

Myles Garrett has requested a trade out of Cleveland. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Garrett released a statement thanking the fanbase of Cleveland for his eight years as a player for the Browns. He added that his goal has always been to "compete for and win a Super Bowl." This will be a situation to monitor as it is currently unclear what teams might express interest.

Tyler Higbee (chest) is doubtful to return in the Rams Wild Card game against the Vikings. (Source: Los Angeles Rams on X)

Fantasy Impact: Higbee was on fire to start the game, quickly racking up 5 receptions for over 50 yards. His status will need to be monitored, especially should the Rams advance.

The Dallas Cowboys and Mike McCarthy have parted ways after both sides could not agree on an contract. (Source: Tom Pelissero on X)

Fantasy Impact: McCarthy will now have a chance to be sought after by other teams, including potentially re-engaging talks with Chicago, who tried to interview him but were not allowed to at the time with Jerry Jones still expressing interest in the coach.

The Jaguars have fired Doug Pederson after struggling his last two years in Jacksonville. (Source: Adam Schefter via X)

Fantasy Impact: Pederson was never able to recapture the magic of his first season in Jacksonville when the team won a historic come from behind victory in the playoffs over the Chargers. The Jags will now look to hire a new head coach among several different potential prospects, one of the favorites being Ben Johnson, the OC for the Lions.

Romeo Doubs (illness) is inactive for Week 18 for the Green Bay Packers against the Chicago Bears. (Source: Ryan Wood on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Doubs will sit out the regular season finale, finishing with 46 receptions for 601 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. Christian Watson (knee), Dontayvion Wicks, and Jayden Reed will be the primary wide receiver options for quarterback Jordan Love against the Bears Sunday.

Christian Watson (knee) is active for Week 18 for the Green Bay Packers against the Chicago Bears. (Source: Ryan Wood on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Watson returns after missing just one game due to the knee injury and is in line for increased snaps with fellow wideout Romeo Doubs (illness) sidelined against an inconsistent Bears defense Sunday.

The Browns have fired OC Ken Dorsey after a 3-14 season where the offense struggled to get much of anything going the majority of the year. (Source: Tom Pelissero on X)

Fantasy Impact: The Browns went into 2024 with high hopes, coming off of a playoff appearance after the 2023 season had ended. But, Deshaun Watson never materialized and the Browns' offense in general crumbled due to poor play. Even when switching to backups like Jameis Winston, the offense was better, but still awful in comparison to the rest of the league. They'll look to retool the team for 2025.