Wow. Has this not been one of the craziest NFL offseasons of all time?
There have been blockbuster trades and big free agent signings that have shaken up not only the NFL landscape, but also the fantasy football world. With so much player movement, it's important to take a moment and sort out what it all means for the next season of fantasy football.
So with all of this movement, whose stock is up and whose stock is down?
Up
Russell Wilson: Wilson is a happy QB. Marshawn Lynch decided to return and the Seahawks traded for tight end Jimmy Graham.
Graham instantly becomes the most talented pass-catcher Wilson has ever played with. He provides the young QB with a go-to option that is also one of the scariest mismatches in the NFL, especially in the redzone (double digit touchdowns in three of five seasons). And for those who are concerned about the loss of center Max Unger, the Seahawks went 6-0 when he went down with injury and Wilson averaged almost 20 fantasy points in standard leagues during that time.
Fantasy owners were already pleased with the top five season Wilson produced last year thanks to an increase in rushing. Now, owners should be ecstatic.
Andrew Luck: Similar to Wilson, it's not as if anyone was low on Luck for 2015. But Indy's offseason moves have to give him a slight uptick in value. I'm not sold on Frank Gore staying healthy and productive all season, but he can't be any worse than Trent Richardson, right? Having an even slightly more reliable running game to fall back on would take tremendous pressure off of Luck.
Andre Johnson should provide the veteran production Reggie Wayne wasn't able to muster last season. Johnson hauled in 85 passes for 936 yards and three touchdowns while catching passes from a revolving door of sub-par options in Houston last year. Running routes for Luck will do wonders for his spirits and his numbers.
Carlos Hyde: The man who replaced Gore seems primed for a breakout year. Hyde was a second-round pick in 2014 and the 49ers are eager to see what they have in the little speedster. San Fran has all but confirmed that they are going to ramp up the read-option next season and that always bodes well for a back's fantasy prospects. Having Torrey Smith stretch opposing defenses won't hurt either.
Down
Jimmy Graham: Graham maybe a savior for a so-so Seattle passing offense, but Seattle's offense will not be kind to Graham in return. The New Orleans Saints ranked second in the NFL in pass attempts and third in passing yards last season. Seattle is not built to finish with those types of numbers.
The Seahawks will remain a power running team despite Graham's presence. Graham should still be the No. 2 tight end on everyone's draft boards, but he is no longer the borderline first-rounder he was last year. I don't see 100 receptions or 1,000 yards in his immediate future.
LeSean McCoy: McCoy is leaving an offensive line that finished 2013 with the best run blocking grade in the entire NFL and landing with a team that ranked last in the league in 2014, according to PFF.
Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez (and now Sam Bradford) may not be perennial Pro Bowlers, but they are better than EJ Manuel. Rex Ryan has had a good first offseason in Buffalo, but the offense is still littered with question marks, especially at quarterback.
I believe in McCoy's talent, but I'm not as confident in his situation. He's still a RB1 but no longer an automatic top five pick.
Jeremy Maclin: Alex Smith has reinvented himself as one of the most efficient passers in the entire NFL. The only downside to that is the lack of a downfield passing game. The Chiefs ranked just 23rd in passes of 20 yards or more last season. Smith just does not chuck it deep very often, something Maclin does well as a receiver.
As such, Maclin is about to come down from a career year like Erick Decker did when he left the Broncos for the Jets. It will be too difficult for Maclin to put up elite numbers outside of Chip Kelly's system and with a lack of talent around him.
Julius Thomas: Peyton Manning or Blake Bortles. Hmmm.
Even late-season, possibly injured Manning is a better stats provider than Bortles. The Jaguars finished 2014 dead last in scoring (15.6 points per game). Do you really think Thomas is going to haul in another 12 touchdowns this season? On top of that, Thomas has appeared in just 32 of a possible 64 games since being drafted in 2011.
Personally, I'd rather go with a guy like Travis Kelce or Greg Olsen who have proven to be durable and are less reliant on touchdowns.
