Top 10 Movers n’ Shakers in Fantasy Football
Ben Ripley gives us his insight as to which free agent acquisitions will shake up the fantasy world this season.
Every offseason, players change teams through trades and free agency. Today I will be focusing on the top 10 players to move teams, for fantasy football purposes. This doesn’t mean that they are going to a winning team, that they are going to make their team better, or that they are the best player to change teams. This list is about who has changed teams and will have the best fantasy season, respectively.
(Note: This will not include players taken in this years draft. All yards and touchdown projections via Rotoworld)
Honourable Mentions
Martellus Bennett- NE to GB, Best TE to change teams and amazingly doesn’t downgrade in QB.
Jamaal Charles- KC to DEN, Injury concerns are just too great, if he can stay on the field, he’s worth a look.
Adrian Peterson- MIN to NO, Best RB not to make this list, in a good situation, but again major health concerns.
10. Brandon Marshall, WR NY Jets to NY Giants
Projected: 963 yards, 7 TD
Marshall still has some gas left in the tank. He is one year removed from a 1500-yard season; the talent is still there. With the Giants, Marshall isn’t the focal point of the offense which should help create mismatches for the big-bodied receiver. Another reason to remember Marshall come draft day is Eli Manning is the best QB that Marshall has ever had.
9. Jeremy Maclin, WR Kansas City Chiefs to Baltimore Ravens
Projected: 928 yards, 6 TD
Maclin was never the best fit in KC, schematically. He is a speedster and Alex Smith has more aversion to throwing downfield than any competent QB I have ever seen. In Baltimore, Maclin will be allowed to stretch the field and with Joe Flacco, one of the biggest arms in the league, he will be a legitimate threat.
8. Pierre Garcon, WR Washington Redskins to San Francisco 49ers
Projected: 994 yards, 6 TD
Garcon has been a reliable fantasy WR throughout his career and at times has even been great. With this move he loses a star QB but reunites with his old offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers won’t be particularly good this year, but Shanahan will put Garcon in the right places to succeed and ultimately, someone has to catch the ball on this team. Hoyer will be competent enough to make Garcon desirable.
7. Marshawn Lynch, Retired (Seattle Seahawks) to Oakland Raiders;
Projected: 960 yards, 9 TD
Where to place Marshawn Lynch on this list was probably the most difficult decision. There are no injury concerns, although being in shape and being in game shape are different things. He is going to one of the league’s best offenses. He is probably going to have a great year and with the scarcity of top talent RBs, he can’t be ignored. However, there is just a lingering nervousness that he won’t be what he was.
No 6. Kenny Britt, Los Angeles Rams to Cleveland Browns
Projected: 1069 yards, 5 TD
This is the ultimate someone has to catch the ball situation on this list. Last year, Kenny Britt was a 1000-yard receiver for the first time in his career and that cannot be ignored. Especially considering he did it on a putrid Rams offense. Cleveland, now without Pryor, will need him to be good and he has an excellent offensive coach in Hue Jackson.
No 5. DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projected: 1047 yards, 5 TD
DeSean Jackson, like Pierre Garcon, left Washington. This move proves how badly they have bungled the Kirk Cousins contract situation. Jackson unlike Garcon is going to an excellent situation. He will benefit from another year of Jameis Winston’s progression and have the mismatch potential of playing opposite Mike Evans.
No 4. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers to Seattle Seahawks
Projected: 932 yards, 9 TD
Lacy is the safest bet of all the RBs to change teams and he too comes with some baggage, body shaming aside. Health has been a concern for Lacy recently, but he has huge upside and is going to an excellent situation. Seattle’s offense continues to evolve as Russell Wilson moves from scrambling game manager to a force of nature at times. Lacy won’t have to worry about being a top priority for opposing defences, which gives him plenty of room to succeed.
No 3. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears to Philadelphia Eagles
Projected: 1105 yards, 6 TD
Alshon Jeffery has gone over 1000 yards every season that he has played all 16 games. Okay, full disclosure; that’s only two seasons and he hasn’t done that in two seasons. But he owns a career 15 yards per reception average which is very strong for his volume of catches. Jeffery is exactly what second-year QB Carson Wentz needs — he’s a perfect safety blanket to rely on. Big-bodied, sure handed and he can go up and get the ball. Expect Wentz to call his number a lot.
No 2. Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints to New England Patriots
Projected: 1078 yards, 7 TD
In the trade that broke the most hearts this offseason, the rich got richer. Brandin Cooks is the best WR that Tom Brady has had since Randy Moss decided to care. That is by no means a comparison to Randy Moss, there just haven’t been many receivers of note there. That also doesn’t mean that there haven’t been productive receivers there. What I’m getting at is Tom Brady and Bill Belichick clown everyone every year without WRs that are any good anywhere but NE, so now that they have a legit threat, I’m concerned.
No 1.Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns to Washington Redskins
Projected: 1023 yards, 7 TD
Remember at the start when I said this list wasn’t about the best players and making their new teams better? Well, this is why Terrelle Pryor will have the best fantasy football season of anyone to change teams this year. He isn’t the best talent to change teams (Alshon Jeffery) and due to the WR exodus in Washington, he isn’t going to make them better. He is however a very talented player moving from a terrible QB situation. How terrible is it? So terrible that he took snaps at QB last season. Kirk Cousins is a very good QB and because Washington do what Washington do he is pissed off and all his other very good receivers left town. That leaves Pryor as the top dog with a motivated QB that wants to cash in on a mega millions jackpot, which is a recipe for a huge season.
Ben is a multi-sport writer for theocho.ca. He’s an avid fan of all things post-secondary, along with any sport you can name. Follow Ben on Twitter @benny_sauce.
