Although NFL free agency won’t officially be underway until Wednesday, we had a couple more fantasy-relevant players impacted by agreements during the second day of the legal tampering period. With guys like Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry, and Aaron Jones all changing teams, what players’ fantasy football stocks were most impacted for 2024?
Who Saw Their Fantasy Football Value Rise on Day 2?
All Hail His Grace, King Henry
Tuesday was a great day to be great. After eight impressive years with the Tennessee Titans, at 30 years old, Derrick Henry’s career will continue, and likely conclude, with the Baltimore Ravens.
Relative to his peak years of 2019-2022, Henry’s fantasy value won’t quite be that high. But compared to last season’s 14.5 fantasy points per game, fantasy managers should expect a substantial improvement in 2024.
The King still lives in Tennessee!
Derrick Henry with his fifth TD in the past three games. pic.twitter.com/NUs2bEfoku
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 12, 2023
It’s clear from the past three seasons that Henry is not quite as good as he was during his prime. However, he’s still one of the most powerful runners in the league. His downhill style fits in perfectly with what the Ravens want to do offensively.
Henry is poised for a rebound year reminiscent of Mark Ingram when he signed with the Ravens in 2019.
While I don’t quite envision a top-five finish, I fully expect Henry to post RB1 numbers this year, making him one of the biggest winners in free agency.
Zack Moss Looks Poised To Finally Get a Chance To Start
After successfully reviving his career in Indianapolis, Zack Moss now looks to be the lead back for the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s hard to say he will be more valuable than he was during his brief stint as the Colts RB1. However, Moss was never going to have that job because Jonathan Taylor exists.
Moss’ free agency journey could’ve easily gone a much different way. He could’ve signed with a team as a backup behind an established starter. Instead, he joins a backfield that has 2023 fifth-rounder Chase Brown as the only other back of relevance.
We saw Moss perform like a fantasy RB1 for stretches last season. He’s not going to have an every-down role in Cincinnati, but depending on what the Bengals do in the NFL Draft, Moss appears to be the back to roster for fantasy. If the team doesn’t add anyone of consequence, he will have a fantasy RB2 upside.
A Couple of Rookie Running Backs
You’re probably wondering what this means. Which ones? Well, we have no idea yet. But in what is considered the weakest running back class since 2014, there are several openings, some of which will undoubtedly be filled by rookies.
Among the many teams who needed a running back, the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears were not among them. Yet, they all claimed one of the top available free agents. That left a handful of teams who really needed a running back without one.
Here are the teams I believe are live to not only draft a running back on Day 2 but give him fantasy-relevant volume:
- Carolina Panthers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Giants
The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard, but he’s not exactly this special talent that is immune to having his job taken by a better-than-expected rookie.
The Chargers signed Gus Edwards. He can be their bruiser back, but they still need a satellite back. Ideally, one of the pass-catching rookies goes to LA, giving him immediate fantasy potential.
The Raiders will probably roll with Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah, but let’s not pretend that White, a fourth-rounder who has 121 carries for 521 yards in two NFL seasons, is this locked-in starter.
READ MORE: Dynasty Rookie Rankings 2024
The Giants replaced Saquon Barkley with Devin Singletary. I believe Singletary is worthy of being a starter, but neither of his previous two NFL teams felt the same way. Either way, the Giants need another back. Singletary is better than he gets credit for, but he’s certainly susceptible to having his job taken by a more talented player.
I saved the Cowboys for last because, quite frankly, I have no idea what their plan is at running back. They let Tony Pollard walk and now presently have Rico Dowdle atop their depth chart.
Even if they sign someone like Alexander Mattison, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, or AJ Dillon (I think one of these three ends up there), they are still almost certain to draft a running back. Whoever they take will have as clear of a path as you could ask for to climb the depth chart.
Which Players’ Fantasy Football Stock Fell on Day 2?
Fantasy Managers Should Be a Bit Worried About Aaron Jones … and Ty Chandler Takes a Hit As Well
At 29 years old and coming off a season where he struggled to shake a lingering hamstring strain, there are already reasons to be concerned about Aaron Jones. Now, he’s gone from a Green Bay Packers offense with an ascending Jordan Love to a Minnesota Vikings offense that just lost Kirk Cousins.
Gonna be weird seeing Aaron Jones in a #Vikings uniform. 😅#SKOL | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/7nrxUGJXev
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) March 12, 2024
As if that isn’t reason enough to be worried, Ty Chandler was quite effective as the Vikings’ lead back last season. He’s not just going to disappear. Chandler is a far more formidable backfield mate to Jones than Dillon was in Green Bay.
We may see Jones return to his days of carrying the ball around 10-12 times a game while functioning more as the passing down back. He will still be a fantasy factor and is the back fantasy managers should prefer, but his days of posting RB1 numbers are likely over. It’s rather unfortunate, given how impressive Jones performed down the stretch and in the playoffs last season.
KEEP READING: NFL Free Agency Tracker 2024
As for Chandler, he had that legendary performance against the Cincinnati Bengals last year. Filling in for an injured Mattison, Chandler totaled 157 yards and a touchdown, scoring 24.7 fantasy points.
The Vikings were always going to add a running back, but a replacement-level talent or a rookie would have been far smaller threats to Chandler’s production. I still anticipate Chandler being the primary goal-line back. Combined with what should be 8-10 carries a game, he will do enough to be fantasy-viable. However, he’s not going to be more than an RB3 as long as Jones is healthy.