Dynasty Fantasy Football: Seven Player Contract Situations to Monitor

As we head toward point-scoring season, it is imperative that you keep an eye on players’ long-term dynasty values to avoid holding players without value. One fundamental way to spot potential value drops before they happen is to view players’ contracts.

Here, I identify a few key players with contract situations to monitor heading into the 2023 season.

Cam Akers, RB LAR (23 years old)

Something that snuck under the radar is Akers having his free agency status for 2024 altered. He will now be considered a restricted free agent because Akers was injured in 2021 training camp and did not play in six regular season games that year. Players need to accrue four seasons, and because Akers played in 2021 but did not appear in six games, he will now be deemed restricted. The change from an unrestricted free agent to a restricted free agent may not sound huge, but it is actually massive.

The Rams can place a tender on Akers, giving them match rights on any contract he signs in free agency. It significantly reduces the market on Akers as teams are less willing to sign him to an agreement that could be matched. Also, if the Rams decide to place a draft pick tender, a team would have to hand over draft capital to sign him away.

For his value moving forward, this is a good thing. Akers is more likely to remain on the Rams after this year at an affordable number. We know the potluck of players switching teams and the impact it can have on their fantasy output. However, the longer he remains a cheap option for the Rams at the position, the less likely they are to try and replace him.

Marquise Brown, WR ARI (25)

I could probably put the entire Cardinals offense in here, but I will focus on Brown. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season, and having recently acquired him via trade, you would expect the team to extend him long-term. However, with a new head coach, general manager, and very few cornerstone players to build around, Brown could be considered replaceable as the team looks to start their rebuild around younger players.

This could open a potential mid-season trade market for Brown or an opportunity for him to move on in free agency at the end of the season.

Free agency for wide receivers is always a potluck. Unless they see an upgrade at quarterback or significantly more volume, it generally leads to a downturn. Brown may be extended, but it’s a situation to monitor as the season progresses.

Amari Cooper, WR CLE (28)

The Cowboys traded Cooper to the Browns because they felt his contract overpaid him for what he produced. He is one of the most noticeable players who could be released or restructured to create cap space. Because he was traded, his signing bonus remained with the Cowboys, meaning he has minimal dead cap charges should he be released. This is interesting because Cooper will be 30 at the start of the 2024 season, and the Browns could save $12.5m if they released him this off-season. That may not sound like a significant saving; however, the Browns are currently projected to be $86m over the cap for 2024.

Nick Chubb, RB CLE (27)

Staying in Cleveland, the Browns face a decision with their superstar running back. Chubb’s contract expires after the 2024 season but only has $4m of the $16.2m guaranteed. This contract could be ripe for an extension to reduce the cap hit in 2024 and ease some of the Brown’s cap concerns. Whether the Browns will want to extend a then 28-year-old running back with some significant mileage is another matter. Should there be no reports of an extension over the next six months, it likely hints toward time drawing to an end for Chubb’s time in Cleveland.

Diontae Johnson, WR PIT (26)

Johnson was just extended yet appears in this list of players primarily due to the nature of the extension. He signed a two-year $36.7m extension that runs through the 2024 season. However, there is only $5.83m guaranteed next season, so if he starts producing well, he will ask for an extension. The Steelers may want to tie him in the longer term at a reduced number to avoid him hitting the open market and being priced out. If he is extended, that will only be a good thing for his fantasy value, tying him into a team that is happy to feed him huge target volumes.

Dak Prescott, QB DAL (29)

After Prescott and the Cowboys played on the contract merry-go-round, they finally signed an extension in March 2021. That extension was for four years and included a no-trade and a no-tag clause. With the deal expiring after next season and with no means to retain Prescott should that contract expire, it makes sense for the two sides to start work on an extension sooner rather than later. The second he signs an extension and is locked in the longer term will boost his value, particularly in superflex, where the list of reliable starters on longer-term deals is much thinner than you may expect. Prescott is not going to be a superstar who produces consistent elite seasons. However, he is a reliable option, and that has an awful lot of value.

Mike Evans, WR TB (29)

Evans is an absolute franchise legend in Tampa Bay and, realistically, the type of player who many would expect to retire with the franchise that drafted him. However, the talented receiver will be 30 after the season and likely to be looking for one final payday before he retires. As the Buccaneers head into a new phase of the franchise and more of a rebuilding phase, will they pay top-of-the-market money for a 30-year-old receiver? Evans may be seeking a new home in the off-season unless he takes a below-market deal to remain in Florida. If he does change home, his dynasty value could go up or down significantly depending on where he lands.

Dynasty Fantasy Football: Seven Player Contract Situations to Monitor