The 2022 free agency period was the most active in NFL history. With so many big names switching teams, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s discuss some of the winners from free agency who saw their fantasy football value increase.
Fantasy football winners after 2022 NFL free agency
What exactly classifies a player as a winner from a fantasy football perspective? As always, there’s admittedly some subjectivity that goes into it.
For the purposes of this article, a winner is any player whose fantasy football value increased as a result of a move either he or his team made in 2022 NFL free agency.
Fantasy football winners: Quarterbacks
We start with the quarterback position. What quarterbacks saw their fantasy value increase after 2022 NFL free agency?
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
When your team adds Tyreek Hill and doesn’t lose a single player, you’re a winner. Last season, Tua Tagovailoa finished as the overall QB21, averaging 14.5 fantasy points per game (minimum eight games played). He had just one 300-yard passing game, averaging 204.1 passing yards per contest.
The Dolphins clearly went into the 2022 free agency period thinking, “How can we set up our young quarterback for success?” Even before trading for Hill, they hired Mike McDaniel as the new head coach, bolstered the offensive line, and signed Cedrick Wilson, Chase Edmonds, and Raheem Mostert. Tua has everything he needs to be a QB1 this season and is one of the biggest winners in fantasy football.
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons
When you go from a backup to a starter, you’re a winner. Congratulations to Marcus Mariota for a well-deserved second chance at a starting job in the NFL.
The Falcons still have a lot of work to do to get him some weapons beyond Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson. Still, Mariota’s fantasy football value obviously skyrocketed with him earning a starting role. He will have QB1 upside due to his rushing ability, but hopefully, the Falcons improve the players around him as well.
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers
Similar to Mariota, Mitchell Trubisky also went from a backup to a starter. After spending a year as Josh Allen’s backup, Trubisky is poised to be the Steelers’ Week 1 starting quarterback.
We’ve seen Trubisky’s sky-high fantasy football upside before. The former second overall pick had a six-week stretch in 2018 where he was the overall QB1, including a 6-touchdown game. With weapons like Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Pat Freiermuth, Trubisky also has QB1 upside if he’s improved his accuracy and decision-making.
Other fantasy football winners
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders: The addition of Davante Adams gives Carr a wealth of offensive weapons at his disposal.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals committed to improving an offensive line that got Burrow sacked more than any other quarterback in 2021.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos: Getting traded to Denver might be a lateral move in terms of weapons, but it’s a massive positive in that Wilson won’t be shackled by Pete Carroll’s 1970s offense anymore.
Fantasy football winners: Running Backs
We continue with the running back position. What running backs saw their fantasy value increase after 2022 NFL free agency?
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
I admit it. I was wrong on James Conner. After the Cardinals signed him last season, I largely dismissed Conner as nothing more than a plodding goal-line back. While I still don’t view Conner as some incredible running back talent, he proved last season he’s very much capable of producing at a high level when given volume.
Conner averaged 17.2 PPR fantasy points per game in 2022. Chase Edmonds signed with the Dolphins. Conner returned to Arizona on a three-year extension. He is going to be a three-down back. How long he can hold up under that role is another story, but Conner is undoubtedly one of 2022 free agency’s biggest winners for fantasy football.
Other fantasy football winners
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Fournette’s fantasy value is the same as it was last season, but he qualifies as a winner because we initially thought he’d be on another team playing without Tom Brady.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals: The same offensive line bolster that helps Burrow also helps Mixon.
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins: The 30-year-old oft-injured slasher found one of the only spots he’ll have a chance to be a two-down and goal-line back.
Fantasy football winners: Wide Receivers
We continue with the wide receiver position. What wide receivers saw their fantasy value increase after 2022 NFL free agency?
Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos
Let’s lump all the Broncos’ pass catchers together. This team has been searching for its quarterback of the future ever since Peyton Manning retired. It’s been over half a decade, but they finally found their man in Russell Wilson.
All three receivers are massive winners of the Wilson trade and Nathaniel Hackett hire. Hackett worked with Aaron Rodgers. I’m expecting this offense to let Wilson throw 33-35 times a game. Sutton has DK Metcalf upside. Jeudy has Tyler Lockett upside. And Patrick can emerge into a weekly WR3/4 because Wilson can support three fantasy-relevant pass catchers.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
This one is simple. Amari Cooper is gone. Now, CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned WR1 on an offense that may have to score more after the Cowboys lost a couple of key players on both the offensive line and defense.
Alpha WR1s do not have 20% target shares like Lamb did in 2021. This season, Lamb should see upwards of a 25% target share. If Dak Prescott is forced to throw the ball 600 times, that’s over 150 targets. Lamb’s floor and ceiling both rise with a more consolidated target distribution. He’s a big fantasy football winner of 2022 NFL free agency.
Other fantasy football winners
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts: From Roddy White to Julio Jones to Calvin Ridley with a little Harry Douglas mixed in, Matt Ryan’s WR1 has always produced. Pittman is Ryan’s new WR1.
Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams: At 29 years old, it’s fair to question what Robinson has left. Nevertheless, being Matthew Stafford’s WR2 can’t possibly be a bad thing. And Robinson can’t possibly be worse than he was in 2021.
Jamison Crowder, Buffalo Bills: Cole Beasley was a WR3 in 2020 as Josh Allen’s slot man. Crowder has the same if not higher upside in 2022.
Fantasy football winners: Tight Ends
We conclude with the tight end position. What tight ends saw their fantasy value increase after 2022 NFL free agency?
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
I won’t belabor the point with tight ends too much. Everything I wrote above about Sutton, Jeudy, and Patrick also applies to Albert Okwuegbunam.
Additionally, in the Wilson trade, the Broncos sent Noah Fant to Seattle, paving the way for Okwuegbunam to be their TE1 this season. He flashed potential in limited action last season and has TE1 upside in fantasy football in his new starting role.
Other fantasy football winners
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys release Blake Jarwin and franchise-tagged Schultz before reaching a one-year agreement. He was a top-five fantasy tight end last season and could see even more targets with Cooper gone.
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings: Smith missed the entire 2021 season due to injury and Tyler Conklin played well. Conklin signed with the Jets and the Vikings didn’t replace him, paving the way for Smith to be their primary tight end in 2022.