Fantasy Football Winners, Losers from NFL's Early Tampering Period

The NFL offseason has hardly begun and already the fantasy football landscape has shifted dramatically.

There's been a flurry of movement during the league's legal tampering period, with trades and signings that could have a drastic impact on how the 2025 campaign plays out.

While a good portion of these signings should provide a significant boost to a player's fantasy prospects, not all these moves are beneficial. Some transactions could have negative effects during the upcoming season—potential regressions that managers will want to remember during their drafts later this year.

With that in mind, let's look at some early fantasy football winners and losers heading into the official start of free agency.

Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data.

Winner: QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

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The Chicago Bears deserve accolades for starting the Ben Johnson era off with a series of decisive strikes. The new head coach clearly had a vision for this organization and wasted little time implementing it by beefing up the offensive line at the onset of free agency.

These moves—which included acquiring a pair of Pro Bowl guards in Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson via trade and signing center Drew Dalman—kicked the door wide open for Caleb Williams to have a breakout sophomore season.

Williams showed flashes of the immense talent that made him the No. 1 overall pick last year, but the rookie was ultimately hamstrung by a lack of protection (he took a league-worst 68 sacks in 2024) and an uninspired offensive system that led to him finishing as the QB16 with 260.5 fantasy points on the year.

With Johnson now calling the shots and plenty of reinforcements joining the offensive trenches, Williams should vastly improve on his middling Year 1 numbers. Expect the burgeoning passer to leap into the top 10 at his position and potentially even challenge for a top-five finish in 2025.

Loser: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

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The San Francisco 49ers have entered a state of transition, a period that could see quarterback Brock Purdy further backslide on the heels of a tough 2024 season.

Much of the core that led the team to an overtime loss in Super Bowl LVIII last year is now gone, with 25 of the 41 players who logged at least 275 snaps during the 2023 season exiting the Bay Area by the start of this offseason.

Two of Purdy's key targets were lost in the recent wave of departures. Wideout Deebo Samuel—one of the team's key offensive playmakers over the last half-decade—was dealt to the Washington Commanders and versatile fullback Kyle Juszczyk was allowed to walk in free agency despite making his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2024.

While Purdy still has some elite talent around him, including superstar running back Christian McCaffrey and reliable tight end George Kittle, the San Francisco offense may not be nearly as potent in 2025 as it has been in recent seasons.

Considering Purdy only finished as the QB14 last year—down eight spots from 2023—and the Niners failed to add any established weapons during the tampering period, it's unlikely the quarterback pushes back into the top 10 this coming season.

Winner: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

After relying on the triumvirate of Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to lead the passing offense for much of the last three seasons, the Seattle Seahawks opted to turn a new leaf in 2025.

All three veterans departed this offseason, opening the door for a monster campaign from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

JSN is already coming off a breakout second season, one in which he racked up 100 catches for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. He finished as the WR9 and could now push for the No. 1 spot with little in the way of competition for looks from newly signed signal-caller Sam Darnold.

The Darnold-Smith-Njigba battery has the potential to be truly special. Darnold quickly forged a connection with standout receiver Justin Jefferson during his lone season starting for the Minnesota Vikings, a rapport that resulted in Jefferson putting up a hefty 317.5 fantasy points and finishing as the WR2 in 2024.

It would hardly be a surprise to see JSN have similar success or potentially even surpass the type of numbers Jefferson put up last year.

With Jake Bobo and Dareke Young currently penciled in as his fellow starters in the receiving corps, it's almost certain that Smith-Njigba will be one of the most targeted wideouts in football and have production to match in 2025.

Loser: WR DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

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DK Metcalf had his wishes to be traded honored this offseason, but it may not result in a return to stardom for the polarizing pass-catcher.

Metcalf landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the organization coughed up a package headlined by a second-round draft pick for his services. The Steelers also issued Metcalf a five-year, $150 million extension, a move that could keep the 27-year-old with the organization well into his 30s.

While Metcalf does have a positive long-term outlook in Pittsburgh, he could be in for a rough 2025 campaign.

The main reason for this is that the team still has no answer at the quarterback position, a void that the Steelers are running out of options to fill.

With former starter Justin Fields signing with the New York Jets and Russell Wilson unlikely to return, Pittsburgh's brass best options now include a potentially washed Aaron Rodgers or another of the underwhelming veterans still up for grabs.

Factor in that Metcalf will now also have compete with established talents like George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth for looks from whoever ultimately lines up under center, and it becomes even harder to envision him returning to the upper echelon of fantasy wideouts in 2025.

Metcalf hasn't posted a top-15 finish since 2021. Given the way the Steelers are managing their quarterback situation, he'll be lucky to even get back to his 2024 status of WR32 in his first Pittsburgh season.

Winner: RB Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

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Najee Harris is receiving the fresh start he needed by linking up with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.

While Harris has been one of the most consistent running backs in the league over the last four seasons—rushing for at least 1,000 yards and six touchdowns each year while never missing a game—his efficiency metrics weren't great.

Harris could find a spark with the Bolts, a team that needed a new starter to lead their backfield and replace J.K. Dobbins after his one-year deal expired this offseason.

The Chargers embraced the run under Jim Harbaugh last year. After throwing on 61 percent of their offensive possessions in 2023—the sixth-highest rate in the NFL—the new head coach flipped the script in his first season and only dialed up throws on 55 percent of plays, vaulting into the top 10 for rushing percentage.

That kind of usage, coupled with Harris' reliability and penchant for wearing down defenses, could result in a career-best campaign for the veteran back. It certainly doesn't hurt that the Chargers also have one of the league's more talented quarterbacks in Justin Herbert to keep defenses honest.

Harris already rated as the RB20 in 2024 and has the upside to become a top-10 finisher this year by leveraging Herbert's presence and L.A.'s run-heavy scheme.

Loser: RB Rico Dowdle, Free Agent

Rico Dowdle was a rare undrafted running back success story in the NFL. After grinding through three seasons as a little-used backup, Dowdle finally broke through as the Dallas Cowboys' starter in 2024.

By rushing for 1,079 yards on 235 totes, Dowdle became the organization's first-ever undrafted player to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Despite being a homegrown talent and one of the lone bright spots during an ugly 2024 campaign, it appears that the Cowboys will be moving on from Dowdle.

Dallas is instead forging ahead with Javonte Williams, the former Denver Broncos starter who became a free agent this offseason as well. While Williams started his career relatively hot, he's never had a 1,000-yard season and hasn't been consistent since suffering a debilitating knee injury that cut his 2022 campaign short.

Despite Williams' struggles, the Cowboys still offered him a $3.5 million for the 2025 season.

Dowdle, meanwhile, continues to languish on the open market and will struggle to find another opportunity like the one he earned in 2024—a role that resulted in him becoming fantasy's RB23.

Winner: QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

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The Washington Commanders hit a home run with their selection of Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. The young quarterback led the squad to its best regular season in decades, its first playoff win since 2005 and first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991.

The Commanders are now making the most of a championship window that opened surprisingly quickly. With Daniels locked in on an affordable rookie-scale deal for four more years, the team began putting the $80-plus million in cap space it opened the offseason with to good use.

Washington swung two trades before the new league year even opened, bringing in a pair of key veterans in Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil—a pair of players who should give Daniels a big boost in 2025.

Samuel was coming off a down 2024 season but should still immediately emerge as the team's No. 2 weapon next to star receiver Terry McLaurin. Washington had a massive void behind their top wideout last year, with Olamide Zaccheaus (the WR70) being the only other Commanders receiver to catch over 35 balls or breech the 500-yard receiving mark.

Tunsil provides Daniels with a perennial Pro Bowler to protect his blindside while also rating as one of the best run-blocking tackles in the league. His presence cost the team a slew of draft picks, but the high costs should be worth it to keep Daniels upright and healthy after a rib injury marred part of his sensational rookie campaign.

With Zach Ertz—the TE7 last year and one of Daniels' favorite targets—electing to remain in the nation's capital for another season, the stage is now set for another special season.

Daniels finished as the QB5 as a rookie and now has the upside to not only earn that placement again, but to move up and become the No.1 overall scorer in fantasy next year.

Loser: QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes can't be happy with how the Kansas City Chiefs' offseason has gone. After a Super Bowl LIX loss occurred in no small part due to offensive line issues, the team regressed further in that area during the tampering period.

The most notable loss from the unit is Joe Thuney.

Thuney helped the organization reach three consecutive Super Bowls, including the most recent one in which he moonlit as a left tackle during the playoffs due to injuries to his teammates in the offensive trenches. The stalwart and versatile guard was dealt to the Chicago Bears for a mere fourth-round pick.

While the Chiefs did manage to retain one of their rising stars in Trey Smith via the franchise tag, the financially-strapped club took a blow when it missed out on top target Ronnie Stanley Jr.

After the veteran tackle elected to remain with the rival Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City was forced to turn to Jaylon Moore. While Moore has promise, he started just 12 career games for the San Francisco 49ers over his first four NFL seasons before cashing in on a two-year, $30 million deal this offseason.

The Chiefs also failed to move the needle in the receiving corps. While they did retain Marquise Brown on another one-year deal, they largely lack depth beyond Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice in this area.

Tight end could also be an area of concern. Travis Kelce (the TE5 in 2024) had his lowest fantasy output since 2015 and won't find it any easier to put up elite numbers going into an age-36 campaign.

Considering Mahomes posted mediocre QB11 fantasy finish—the second consecutive year he missed the top five and his worst showing since becoming a starter in 2018—it's going to be tough for him to regain the fantasy league-winner status he held earlier in his career.

Winner: TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

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The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason when they traded a third-round pick for Geno Smith.

While the 34-year-old signal-caller is not a long-term option under center, Smith gives the club a fighting chance in a tough AFC West race and further improves the already strong 2025 fantasy outlook for Brock Bowers.

Bowers was one of the lone bright spots for Las Vegas last season. The No. 13 overall pick was downright dominant as a rookie, smashing records while racking up 1,194 yards and five touchdowns on 112 receptions.

Bowers' placement on the Pro Bowl and All-Pro rosters is even more impressive when you consider he was catching passes from the likes of Aidan O'Connell, Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder.

With Smith now in the fold, Bowers should not only continue to reign as the TE1, but he could potentially even challenge Rob Gronkowski's longstanding positional record of 330.9 fantasy points scored in a single season.

Loser: TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

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The Houston Texans stumbled out of the gate this offseason. With the team parting ways with several key contributors—including star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil—the offense could regress in 2025.

This isn't a good sign for veteran tight end Dalton Schultz, who already took a step back last year after a promising first season with the Texans.

Schultz signed with Houston following a strong start to his career with the Dallas Cowboys. While he couldn't match his career-high TE3 output from 2021, he did finish 2023 as the TE10—the second consecutive year he earned that ranking.

2024 was challenging for Schultz. He failed to carve out a reliable role in the team's offense and couldn't capitalize on injuries to the likes of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. The veteran recorded just 53 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns—his lowest marks since becoming a starter in 2020—and now has an even bleaker outlook in 2025.

While Schultz ranked ninth among tight ends with 84 targets last year and fifth in routes run with 514, he'll likely struggle to get back to that volume going forward. There's a strong chance he's tasked with far more pass protection work because of the shifts in Houston's offensive line.

When you factor in the addition of Christian Kirk into the receiving corps, there's going to be even fewer opportunities for Schultz to get back to putting up TE1 type numbers. Consider him a TE2 at best this season barring some unexpected moves from Houston's front office in the coming weeks.