Reading Between the Lines of Free Agency

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley

Free Agency has essentially came and gone, sure there will be a few additions and subtractions leading up to the season but the big names have moved and are with their prospective team to stay and hopefully improve whichever team they signed with. This entire segment is searching through the transactions trying to find the best deals, the biggest busts, and deals that just seem to be the perfect fit. Look out for the following guys when it comes time to draft your 2014-2015 Fantasy Football teams.

 

The Perfect Fit

Golden Tate – Detroit Lions

Tate got better with each season he was with the Seahawks and it was actually quite surprising they let him go so easily. Seattle is a run first offense and Tate still led the team in receiving grabbing 64 receptions for just under 900 yards. Many will look at his five TDs and immediately assume that the Lions over paid for a WR in free agency but you have to remember that within 10 yards of the end zone Seattle was a strictly run first team to go with being a running team the majority of the time. Put Tate in a pass heavy offense where he is going to able to play against opposing teams #2 CB (He usually got matched up with opposing teams #1 CB with Seattle because he was their best WR) due to the fact that Calvin Johnson is on the other side and you can only imagine the possibilities for Tate in Detroit. If Tate picks up the offense quickly and plays with the same intensity he played with in Seattle then this could be pure Fantasy Gold for whoever the lucky guy is that drafts him in your leagues.

 

Best FA Acquisition

Desean Jackson – Washington Redskins

This is pretty much a no brainer when it comes to terms of production. The Eagles let a perennial pro bowl WR go because he reportedly had “gang ties.” Apparently the Redskins have no problem hiring “gangsters” and with the talent Jackson possesses I would not mind having a guy like him on my team especially since he has never really been in trouble with the law. The reason why I like this addition the most out of any FA move thus far dates back to the playing days of RGIII & Terrance Williams when they played together at Baylor. RGIII and Williams had an amazing deep ball connection when they were playing together at Baylor in 2011, which just so happens to be Jacksons best trait. Williams is a bit taller than Jackson but Jackson is much faster. I think they are very similar WRs in the aspect of what they offer on the field and if Jackson can develop half the relationship RGIII and Williams had when they were teammates at Baylor this could turn out to be a dangerous QB-WR threat for upcoming fantasy season.

Biggest Bust

Eric Decker – NY Jets

This could come back to bite me later down the season especially if Geno Smith proves he isn’t scared to take a sack or if Michael Vick has some sort of one year wonder season. Clearly, my knock is not on Decker who I actually think is one of the more talented WRs in the NFL, my problem is that the Jets QB situation is so murky that you really don’t know how well Decker will be able to perform. The fact that the Jets have essentially no one else at WR does not help either, as Decker will be the #1 WR on a team that is not very good at passing the ball in the first place. You have your choice of Smith or Vick at QB and even with the newly acquired RB in Chris Johnson I still don’t think opposing defenses are going to have an issue stopping the pass game for the Jets. Johnson is a bust anyway and he nearly beat out Decker for this spot, but Decker is getting paid more yearly on his new deal and I don’t think he possesses the Calvin Johnson like WR skills to make the Jets instantly better.

 

Dark Horse Candidate

Rashad Jennings – NY Giants

I know there are some Jaguar fans out there that are laughing at this pick up, only because when Jennings had the change to be the #1 RB for the Jags while MJD was hurt he didn’t really shine or prove to be capable of an every down RB. Let’s not forget about how awful that Jaguar offensive line truly was. In 2012 Jennings ran the ball 101 times for 238 yards, in 2013 with the Raiders O-Line Jennings ran 163 times for 733 yards. 62 more carries for nearly 500 more yards, it is clearly safe to say that the Jags O-Line was awful because we know the Raiders have a mediocre at best offensive line. Jennings moves on to the Giants where he takes over the lead RB roll and does not really have anyone to challenge him. He is clearly an upgrade for the RB position considering the Giants had to sign Peyton Hillis mid-season in 2013 just to have someone to put on the field at RB. Fantasy owners beware, I would not take Jennings until the later rounds where he will almost always be available just due to the fact that you don’t know how Eli Manning will start the season. If you get the Super Bowl Champion Manning then Jennings will flourish given that the opposing teams will not be able to stack the box. If you get the Manning from 2013 then Jennings will almost absolutely have a dismissal 2014 campaign.

Best Defensive Acquisition

Jared Allen – Chicago Bears      TIE      Darelle Revis – NE Patriots

Can you really go wrong with choosing either of the two players? Allen has been an animal since he came into the NFL and will eventually go down as one of the best DE to play all time. Revis on the other hand is the best cover corner in the NFL and instantly makes your defense better. Any player in the NFL that has the ability to lock down one entire side of a football field is a difference maker. The Patriots already have a pretty solid front seven to rush the QB now they have the game’s best cover corner in Revis. Allen on the other hand is a savvy veteran who knows how to rush the passer and will only help an already above average Bear’s defense. Add in the fact that Allen is going to be playing opposite of Lamarr Houston whom the Bear’s also added in FA and Allen could have a 14-16 sack type of year which could definitely help you out if your fantasy league drafts defensive players.