There have been a lot of free-agent signings and trades in the NFL over the past few weeks, but the main beneficiaries from a fantasy football perspective are not the ones swapping jerseys. Here are four players whose fantasy value should rise in 2023 after the transaction dust settles.
Daniel Jones (QB, NYG)
The New York Giants have been very aggressive in making sure their newly paid quarterback is surrounded with adequate weapons. With the trade bringing in star tight end Darren Waller to the Giants, this gives Daniel Jones a true number-one target that he can rely on in big moments.
They also signed a former second-rounder speedster in the Colts’ Parris Campbell to a one-year deal, giving them a vertical threat to the offense that they were desperately missing this past season. The Giants also brought back their leading receiver from this past season, Darius Slayton, to a two-year deal.
Adding these weapons to a receiving core that expects to have WRs Wan’Dale Robinson and Sterling Shepard back from their season-ending injuries is good news for Jones, not to mention the re-signing of Isaiah Hodgins, who ended the season and postseason as the team’s number-one receiver.
After finishing the 2022 fantasy season as the overall QB9, Jones will look to make another big jump with these weapons added to his impressive running ability — he was one of only five quarterbacks to run for over 700 yards this past season. Having a successful season under his belt already with head coach Brain Daboll, Jones will only improve and look to finish the 2023 season as a top-seven fantasy quarterback.
Tony Pollard (RB, DAL)
The Dallas Cowboys decided to release their longtime starting running back Ezekiel Elliott. The team also franchise-tagged RB Tony Pollard for $10.09 million. These moves finally allow Dallas to see Pollard in a full workhorse role before extending him.
Elliott had 248 touches this past season and his departure will open up even more opportunities for Pollard who showed last season that he can be as dominant as any other RB. Pollard had 131 more rushing yards than Elliott in 2022 despite having 38 fewer carries on the season, averaging a great 5.2 yards per carry.
Pollard finished the 2022 season as the overall fantasy RB8 in full PPR, even with being second in touches for Dallas behind Elliott. With Zeke injured, Pollard had finishes of 33.7 PPR points and 21.8 PPR points, showing that he can be that lead back for Dallas.
Expect the Cowboys to lean heavily on Pollard in both the run game and pass game in 2023. Barring any injuries, Pollard is now a high-end RB1 and undoubtedly has top-five fantasy RB potential.
Garrett Wilson (WR, NYJ)
Even with all of the delays in making it official, it’s safe to say that Aaron Rodgers will be the New York Jets starting quarterback in 2023. Rodgers is levels ahead of the QBs that Garrett Wilson played with this past season.
The long-time Packers QB is still capable of playing at an MVP level, and this will without a doubt elevate Wilson’s production. Rodgers has been known throughout his career to feed the hot hand and this will be Wilson a vast majority of the time.
Wilson, the 2022 rookie of the year, came in and immediately showed that he can be a dominant NFL wide receiver. He finished the season as the top rookie fantasy receiver and the overall WR21 on the year. Wilson did this while receiving targets from Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Chris Streveler on the season — it does not get much worse than that.
Rodgers and Jets’ new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett have a strong relationship and will bring this offense to another level. Even with the signing of Allen Lazard and other target competition, expect Rodgers to bring out the best in Wilson and have him play that Davante Adams role for him.
T.J. Hockenson (TE, MIN)
The Vikings released their veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, who signed with the Carolina Panthers. Even with the clear regression in his game and 2022 being Thielen’s worst season in a very long time, he still was second in all receiving categories for Minnesota, including targets and receptions. Theilan’s departure should open up more opportunities for other Vikings targets such as K.J. Osborn, and especially tight end T.J. Hockenson.
The Vikings traded for the former 8th overall pick and Mackey award winner in Hockenson before Week 9 of the 2022 season. Hockenson immediately got integrated into the offense and became a main target behind Justin Jefferson. Including the playoff game against the Giants, Hockenson appeared in 11 games as a Viking in 2022. During those 11 games, he put up a stat line of 70 catches for 648 yards and three touchdowns. Including two 100-yard games during that time, this is as much as Hockenson had in his entire time with the Lions, which was 47 games.
Minnesota did recently sign former Ravens tight end Josh Oliver to a 3-year, $21 Million deal, making him higher paid than Hockenson. However, Oliver was strictly signed for being one of the top blocking tight ends in the entire league, which should leave Hockenson in a purely receiving role and the clear second option in this high-powered offense. Hockenson is also in a contract year where he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024, giving him even more incentive to ball out.
