Dynasty Trending Observations: Free Agency Frenzy
It’s been a whirlwind of a free agent season with several players finding new homes and, with it, new fantasy and dynasty outlooks. Below are a few of those developments regarding your dynasty teams to keep an eye on.
Take Your Pickens
George Pickens: “ I wear 14”
DK : “ I wear 14 “
George Pickens : “ You wear 14 “ pic.twitter.com/79Nnqco7xy
— OgnBurgh (@scottiloss) March 12, 2025
While not technically a free agent signing, receiver DK Metcalf will go down as one of the most significant acquisitions by the Steelers in years. Not long after requesting a trade out of Seattle, the Seahawks accommodated Metcalf by sending him to Pittsburgh, who then promptly re-signed him to an extension to give themselves another playmaker. And while the Steelers don’t yet know who will be throwing them the ball, it’s clear that they viewed Metcalf as an integral part of their future.
It could be argued that Metcalf came to Pittsburgh on a discount after his down year in 2024. He failed to total 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2021 and his five receiving touchdowns were the lowest he’s ever recorded. In all, it was the worst fantasy season of his career. Hopefully, a fresh start will be good for his dynasty prospects.
Dynasty Impact: Metcalf’s dynasty managers would feel a whole lot better if he alone commanded the attention of the offense. But George Pickens might have something to say about that. While not having quite the career statistics as Metcalf, Pickens has shown flashes of being elite despite not having the greatest signal callers during his professional career. Last year it was a combination of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson; the year before that it was a three-headed monster of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph; while his rookie season was just Pickett and Trubisky. To say Pickens has been limited by the quarterback position in Pittsburgh would be an understatement.
So who’s the better dynasty asset? Right now, you could drop in the Spider-Man pointing meme.
Metcalf has the giant contract ($150 million), while Pickens has youth (three years on Metcalf). The edge should be given to Metcalf, not just because of the contract, but because he’s proven to be an elite fantasy option, as opposed to Pickens, who has only scratched the surface. Plus, the Steelers may not be inclined to extend Pickens now that they have a WR1.
Viva Las Vegas
'Bout time.
We have acquired QB Geno Smith via a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
📰 https://t.co/azWoOK3xPN pic.twitter.com/5Ftm5NrEcW
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) March 13, 2025
One of the more surprising moves this off-season, and maybe of the past few off-seasons, was the trade of Geno Smith. The Seahawks surprised everyone by shipping Smith to Las Vegas for draft picks and immediately creating a need where there wasn’t one. That need has since been fulfilled with the signing of Sam Darnold, but the move is still not any less confusing.
For Smith, it could be viewed as a slight downgrade at least until the draft. Yes, he has All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers – coming off the best rookie tight end season ever – and…that’s about it. On the current roster, Jakobi Meyers doesn’t exactly inspire the same confidence as a DK Metcalf or Jaxon Smith-Njigba did in Seattle. That could still change as there are several options left in free agency to supplement Bowers and Meyers along with one of the best running back draft classes in a long time. But it’s still going to be an uphill climb for Smith to be as fantasy-relevant as he was in Seattle.
Dynasty Impact: So what, exactly, is Smith’s value and how should you view him heading into the 2025 season? On one hand, he’s entering his age-35 season and playing with (at the moment) a less supporting cast. On the other, he’s now reunited with Head Coach Pete Carroll who oversaw Smith’s breakout in 2022 and the best season of his career – 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns and a top-five fantasy finish.
According to our Dynasty Trade Analyzer, Smith is valued as an early-to-mid second-round rookie pick in Superflex leagues.
For this year only, that trade might make sense. It’s a relatively weak rookie class, outside the running backs, which means the second-round picks will have very little value. If you need your QB2 spot on your Superflex team, Geno wouldn’t be the worst option.
Stairway to Evan
— Evan Engram (@eazyengram) March 13, 2025
Get ready to see a lot of Evan Engram comeback articles this year. After an injury-riddled 2024 season, Engram’s previous team, the Jaguars, cut him to save money and will ride with backup Brenton Strange. Engram drew plenty of interest on the open market before ultimately ending up in Denver where he will be used to supplement the talent around 2024 rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
For Engram, he joins an ascending franchise where he will be an integral part of the offense. Denver finished as a top-ten scoring offense with Nix under center despite having only one receiver total of over 503 yards. Enter Engram who has been one of the better receiving tight ends in the league during his eight-year career. His time in New York was mixed after finishing all over the place when it came to fantasy scoring – from fifth among tight ends his rookie season to 24th in his fifth season and everywhere in between. His reset in Jacksonville was good for Engram’s value both in real life and in fantasy leagues. He finished in the top five again in fantasy scoring in both 2022 and 2023, capped by a season that saw him total 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns. But 2024 was a disaster between the injuries that saw him miss half the season and his general decline in effectiveness, capped by a 7.8 yards-per-reception, a new career low.
Now on his third team, which Engram will we get?
Dynasty Impact: Engram will be a player that is both undervalued and overvalued at the same time. He’ll be undervalued because he’s still considered a less dynasty asset than several tight ends who have never come close to his numbers.
At the same time, his landing spot will boost his value to tight end-needy teams, especially those in a TE-Premium format. Using our DLF Trade Analyzer, Engram is worth between a mid-second-round rookie pick or late second-round pick, based on how important tight ends are in your league. If you’re looking to acquire him, that’s the price you should pay and not higher.
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