Fantasy: Analysis and projections from 3rd day of free agency

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Let's look at the latest wave of notable skill-position signings - and what they mean for fantasy managers.

Big moves

Dolphins sign RB Raheem Mostert

Contract: 1 year, $3.125 million

It was easy to connect the dots on a possible Mostert-Dolphins pairing since new head coach Mike McDaniel was his offensive coordinator in San Francisco.

And while the explosive back's arrival in Miami is sure to get fantasy managers excited, we're likely heading towards a committee approach where Chase Edmonds is the more valuable asset.

The 25-year-old is four years younger than his new teammate and hasn't broken down at the same rate Mostert has the last few seasons. The Dolphins front office also awarded Edmonds a much bigger contract (two years, $12.6 million).

Edmonds has the more prolific resume in terms of pass-catching skills, with 96 grabs in the last two years alone, while Mostert has just 36 catches during his 10-year career.

Mostert's familiarity with the system and game-breaking speed could give him an early advantage, but his age and inability to stay healthy will likely limit his contributions.

We'll see where their ADPs eventually settle, but both backs will likely be worth drafting in hopes one can take a decisive lead in touches. For now, treat Edmonds as a fringe RB2 and Mostert as a boom-or-bust RB3/flex.

Mostert's 2022 projection (10 games): 118 carries, 596 rushing yards, 5 TDs
13 receptions, 169 receiving yards, TD

Giants sign TE Ricky Seals-Jones

Contract: Undisclosed

After years of underwhelming results, Seals-Jones got an opportunity in 2021 to remind fantasy managers what he's capable of when Washington's starting tight end Logan Thomas was sidelined.

During the five-game stretch where Seals-Jones saw the field on over 90% of the offensive snaps, he had three top-15 fantasy finishes thanks to stat lines of 5-41-0, 4-58-1, and 6-51-0.

With Thomas returning to the Commanders this season, the 27-year-old Seals-Jones accepted a deal with the Giants where he'll have a chance to once again prove himself as a starter.

Outside of the handful of elite tight ends, fantasy managers are forced to hunt for players with the right combination of talent and volume. Seals-Jones might have both in New York, making him a very interesting TE2 with the potential to finally overachieve for once.

Seals-Jones' 2022 projection (15 games): 41 receptions, 418 receiving yards, 4 TDs

Titans release WR Julio Jones

The Titans are parting ways with Jones a year after spending a second- and sixth-round pick to acquire him from the Falcons.

In the end, all Tennessee got in return was an injury-riddled campaign with 10 appearances from the future Hall of Famer.

Jones managed a career-low 31 receptions, 434 yards, and just one touchdown. Even with the reduced stats, there's no doubt he can still play at 33 years old - but his body is seemingly failing him.

Many are pointing to a reunion with the Falcons, who could desperately use some help at receiver, but Jones is far more likely to sign with a potential contender. The bigger question is whether he can stay healthy long enough to actually be a factor.

The Titans will now look to free agency and the draft for a new No. 2 wideout. A.J. Brown's fantasy stock also gets a small boost in the meantime, with him positioned to sit among the league leaders in targets - if he can avoid the trainer's table.

Commanders keep RB J.D. McKissic after all

Contract: 2 years, $7 million

Shortly after we released a podcast on the Top 10 free agent moves so far - which included McKissic joining the Bills - the running back changed course and decided to re-sign with Washington.

McKissic's fantasy value would be fairly similar at either destination (borderline RB3 in PPR formats), but his landing spot has major implications for Antonio Gibson and Devin Singletary.

When news broke of McKissic's plans to sign with Buffalo, Gibson managers were celebrating in the streets. Now, the veteran pass-catching specialist will force the third-year runner back into a timeshare, stealing precious targets that could otherwise vault Gibson into a high-end fantasy RB1 status.

Meanwhile, Singletary dodges a bullet and maintains a path to a top-24 fantasy ranking for the time being - at least until the Bills make another addition in the backfield.

McKissic's 2022 projection (15 games): 54 carries, 237 rushing yards, 2 TDs
51 receptions, 453 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Minor moves

Bills sign TE O.J. Howard

The sting of losing McKissic didn't last long for Buffalo as the team managed to land a premier pass-rusher in Von Miller and a solid upgrade at the No. 2 tight end spot in Howard.

Howard isn't a threat to Dawson Knox's starting job, but he could siphon a few more targets than the Bills' previous backup tight ends did.

Overall, Howard is a great addition and an insurance policy in case Knox misses time, which has occurred in each of his three NFL campaigns.

Jets sign TE Tyler Conklin

Conklin was an intriguing free agent thanks to his performance (61 receptions, 593 yards, three touchdowns) filling in for an injured Irv Smith during the 2021 campaign.

Sadly, the Jets don't offer the kind of volume he'd need to emerge as a fantasy starter.

His signing also undercuts C.J. Uzomah's fantasy outlook, after the former Bengals tight end agreed to a deal with the Jets on Monday.

Given the money both tight ends received in their new contracts, you should expect plenty of two-tight end sets in New York this year.

Buccaneers keep WR Breshaad Perriman

One day after signing Russell Gage as their new third receiver, the Bucs brought back Perriman to compete for the fourth receiver spot.

The 28-year-old veteran has more experience than some of the other wideouts the franchise is developing, like Tyler Johnson, Jaelon Darden, Cyril Grayson, and Scotty Miller.

If Chris Godwin's return from a torn ACL infringes on his early-season availability, Perriman could find himself starting in three-wide sets in the opening month.

Browns release TE Austin Hooper

Even though the Browns gave Hooper a huge free-agent contract in 2020, this wasn't a surprising move.

Cleveland recently placed the franchise tag on David Njoku - a more athletic pass-catching tight end. The Browns also have promising 23-year-old Harrison Bryant ready to see more playing time.

Njoku now becomes an intriguing TE2 in fantasy with an outside shot at delivering low-end TE1 numbers.

Hooper's path to restoring his fantasy relevance will require a team willing to provide him significant volume in the passing game - something he's not likely to find.

Commanders keep WR Cam Sims

Before you glance past Sims here, just know that the Commanders' receiving pecking order behind Terry McLaurin is far from solidified.

Head coach Ron Rivera also referred to Sims as a top priority when discussing the team's free-agent plans.

The 6'5, 220-pound wideout has topped 40 yards seven times over the last two seasons despite being buried on the depth chart for the majority of Washington's contests.

Sims is the kind of player I tend to feature in my annual super-deep sleepers column.

Raiders sign RB Brandon Bolden

Bolden is more of a special teamer whose only contributions on offense come when a wave of injuries demands it. Josh McDaniels is well aware of this from their time together in New England.

This signing should have minimal impact on Josh Jacobs and the rest of Las Vegas' backfield.

Panthers sign WR Rashard Higgins, keep WR Brandon Zylstra

Higgins had multiple opportunities to carve out a bigger role in Cleveland's offense but was never able to capitalize.

Now, he'll battle sophomores Terrace Marshall and Shi Smith for the Panthers' third receiver role, which didn't produce consistent targets last season.

Both he and journeyman Brandon Zylstra are off the fantasy radar until further notice.

Browns sign WR Jakeem Grant

Grant is an underrated playmaker who would likely settle into a special teams role on most squads.

However, given the state of the Browns' receiver room, he could become a more regular part of the offense in Cleveland.

Either way, you won't need to make space for him on your roster - unless the Browns find a way to upgrade at quarterback.

Raiders sign WR Mack Hollins

Hollins, who occasionally stepped up as a depth piece for the Dolphins, joins a Raiders team that will deploy him in a similar way.

You can essentially pencil him in for the stats Zay Jones vacated, which means he won't be a fantasy asset.

Chiefs keep RB Derrick Gore, QB Chad Henne

Like most good organizations, Kansas City continues to retain quality depth on its roster.

Henne is a competent backup passer with four years in the system, and Gore is a 27-year-old ball carrier who popped a few times on limited duty in 2021.

If Chiefs fans have it their way, neither player will see the field much.

Texans sign RB Dare Ogunbowale

Ogunbowale, a replacement-level back, performed adequately when injuries thrust him into starter's snaps for the Jags during the final weeks of the season.

Even in a Texans backfield lacking talent at the top of the depth chart, Ogunbowale's unlikely to become a fantasy option.

Houston will definitely add a ball carrier or two in free agency and the draft.

Cardinals keep TE Maxx Williams

Williams wasn't exactly breaking out before Zach Ertz arrived in Arizona.

With Ertz inking a new three-year deal to stay in the desert, Williams would need an injury to see enough targets to warrant fantasy consideration.

Jets keep QB Joe Flacco

Flacco performed surprisingly well in his lone start last season, throwing for 291 yards and two scores against the Dolphins.

If Zach Wilson misses time, Flacco should be able to keep the rest of the offensive weapons producing. Just don't approach him as anything more than a bye-week replacement option in the right matchup.

Texans sign QB Kyle Allen

Allen is now penciled in as the veteran backup behind sophomore Davis Mills.

However, fantasy managers have seen enough to know things have gone horribly wrong whenever Allen gets a start.

Titans sign RB Trenton Cannon

We're including Cannon to be thorough, but the special teamer has zero chance of emerging as a fantasy option.