Moving Stock: UP or DOWN? | Whose stock improved the most in Fantasy Football through Free Agency?

Which players’ fantasy value increased and decreased by finding a new home?

Moving to a new team and a new system is a challenge for NFL players. Figuring out how that will impact that player’s production is a challenge for fantasy owners. Will they fit in? Will they get more or less used? Answering these questions for some of the most relevant fantasy players that switched teams is a tough task, so let’s jump right in.

Russell Wilson: Stock UP          Old Team: Seattle Seahawks         New Team: Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson was vocal about not being happy in Seattle, even before their disastrous 2021 season. Even though his weapons in Denver may not be as potent as DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Bronco’s offensive line should keep him upright a lot more and give him time to find one of the play makers that he now has in Courtland Sutton, Jerry Juedy, or Tim Patrick.

Matt Ryan: Stock UP        Old Team: Atlanta Falcons          New Team: Indianapolis Colts

Matt Ryan has found a new home in Indianapolis, and inherits one of the best offensive lines and run games in football. And while that usually is not something that bodes well for fantasy quarterbacks, anything is an improvement from what Ryan had to work with in Atlanta last year. Expect Ryan to revert to his days as an above average fantasy quarterback.

Carson Wentz: Stock DOWN          Old Team: Indianapolis Colts        New Team: Washington Commanders

For some of the same reasons I think Ryan will be successful, I think Wentz will be unsuccessful. He is losing one of the NFL’s best offensive lines and running back that is Jonathon Taylor and is going to a team that’s top offensive threat is threatening to sit out without a new contract. I expect Wentz to be the Wentz of old who throws lots of interceptions, including some that may not necessarily be his fault.

Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert: UP and DOWN      Old Teams: Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers          New Team: Miami Dolphins

If either one of these two can win the offseason and come out as the clear choice in the Miami backfield, their stock will rise. But if Miami chooses to go RBBC (running-back-by-committee), then both of these guys’ stocks fall. Neither are an RB1 in a time share.

Ronald Jones: Stock UP         Old Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers         New Team: Kansas City Chiefs

On the plus side, Jones gets away from Leonard Fournette, who proved to be more than just “Playoff Lenny” last year, and a pass heavy Tampa offense. On the down side, he now finds himself on a team with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Patrick Mahomes’s pass heavy offense. Still, I think his upside and ability to upend CEH is higher than it was in Tampa.

Davante Adams: Stock DOWN            Old Team: Green Bay Packers           New Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Anytime a receiver leaves the 2-time reigning NFL MVP quarter back, his stock is going to fall. It’s that simple. I still consider Adams one of, if not THE, best wide receiver in the game and he should still be one of the first 3-5 receivers drafted in every league. However, I do not expect him to put up the same numbers with Derek Carr that he did with Aaron Rodgers.

Tyreek Hill: Stock DOWN          Old Team: Kansas City Chiefs           New Team: Miami Dolphins

Hill is in a similar boat as Adams. He is leaving one of the best quarter backs on the planet for one that is in the bottom half of the league. He is still an elite receiver with elite speed, but if your quarter back can’t get you the ball none of that matters. I expect Miami to find creative ways to get Hill involved, but there is no Travis Kelce in Miami to keep opposing teams from homing in on Hill.

Amari Cooper: Stock UP         Old Team: Dallas Cowboys          New Team: Cleveland Browns

This may come as a bit of a shock, but I actually believe Cooper will be better now that he is not in Dallas. This is not a knock on Dak Prescott at all, but there are fewer mouths to feed in Cleveland and Deshaun Watson has proven that he is capable of effectively force feeding his number one guy.

Christian Kirk: Stock UP          Old Team: Arizona Cardinals            New Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

While the Christian Kirk stock is literally up given the new contract he received, his fantasy value is up in Jacksonville as well. Not that Trevor Lawrence is better than Kyler Murray, but Kirk is now away from Deandre Hopkins and Co. This means he will see an increase in targets, and we love volume and opportunity here in the fantasy world!

Wide Receivers Stock UP: JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT to KC), DJ Chark (JAX to DET), Davante Parker (MIA to NE)

Wide Receivers Stock DOWN: Robert Woods (LAR to TEN), Russell Gage (ATL to TB), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB to KC)

Evan Engram: Stock UP        Old Team: New York Giants           New Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Engram was a highly touted receiving tight end coming out of Ole Miss. Then he got drafted by the Giants. He was misused and under utilized in that system. He is now in Jacksonville, where the tight end has historically been an offensive focal point. He also gains Doug Pederson who loves tight ends (see Zack Ertz and Dallas Goedert).

Noah Fant: Stock DOWN         Old Team: Denver Broncos           New Team: Seattle Seahawks

Noah Fant has never really lived up to his fantasy potential or hype. I don’t expect that to change with him going to a team that doesn’t know who will be under center this year.

Tight End Stock UP: Hayden Hurst (ATL to CIN)

Tight End Stock DOWN: CJ Uzomah (CIN to NYJ)