Free agency starts on Wednesday
Well, the NFL Combine is complete, let the crazy season begin!
The league’s free agency and trading period starts at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when the last week’s big moves can first be finalized.
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams will both be Green Bay Packers next season. Rodgers agreed to a new 4-year extension, while Adams received the franchise tag.
Other franchise tagged players with fantasy value were Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin, Cleveland TE David Njoku, Miami’s Mike Gesicki and Dallas’ Dalton Schultz.
But the trades are probably the biggest news of last week, including today’s trade of Amari Cooper from the Cowboys to the Browns.
Hours after it was reported Rodgers was the staying put, one of the franchises looking for a new QB pounced.
Denver snagged Russell Wilson away from Seattle in a four-player, several draft picks deal.
So if the last week was any indication, it should be a fun week when the free agency period opens.
JAVONTE IS THE CHEAT CODE: There has been much talk about Cortland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy’s upside with Wilson as QB for the Broncos, but I think it’s Javonte Williams who will be the real beneficiary of Russell’s presence.
The Broncos scored 36 offensive TDs last season, and in Wilson’s 10 years in Seattle, the Seahawks averaged 44.1 TDs a season. Wilson averaged 29.2 TD passes a season as well.
Nathaniel Hackett is the new Broncos coach after serving the last three seasons as the Packers' offensive coordinator.
Hackett’s offenses scored 52, 64 and 44 TDs in his 3 seasons with the Packers, and the running backs scored 21, 19 and 26 TDs in those 3 seasons.
Plus, according to my consistency charts (https://thefantasyfbguru.wixsite.com/fantasyfootballguru/post/ffg2-consistency-chart), Williams has a chance to improve on his standout rookie season.
Williams was able to have 15 games with startable numbers, despite only four (23 percent) of those weeks with RB1 numbers. Plus, he split last season with Melvin Gordon III, and Gordon III is a free agent.
The Broncos are interested in re-signing MGIII, and the two RBs could thrive in the offense. However, Williams’ numbers would be stunted again with the shared backfield.
If Gordon III does leave, Williams has proven he can handle the load as the RB1, amassing 178 yards, 6 receptions and a TD vs. Kansas City in his lone game without MGIII last season.
Now would be a good time to try to pry Williams away from a fellow team manager if possible.
MORE UPSIDE: Williams is not the only RB on my consistency chart who could have a big year next year – Chicago’s David Montgomery.
Montgomery had 93 percent mark of startable numbers, despite only having 43 percent of RB1 numbers. He also had more than 20 touches in his last four games last season.
One thing that may hold Montgomery back is new coach Matt Eberflus. Eberflus, who was the Indianapolis defensive coordinator the last four seasons, has said he wants to build the offense around second-year QB Justin Fields.
But a reliable target out of the backfield is always a young QB’s best friend.
Montgomery has caught 54 and 42 passes the last two seasons.
And Montgomery has proven in the past that a Top 5 fantasy finish is very possible. He finished fourth in 2020.
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