NFL free agency fallout: Early impressions for fantasy

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 19: Drew Brees
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 19: Drew Brees /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams runs past Kareem Jackson #25 of the Houston Texans during the first half of game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

AFC West

Denver Broncos – General Manager John Elway missed out on quarterback Kirk Cousins and had to settle for Case Keenum. The Broncos are going to try to replicate the magic Keenum found with the Vikings last season. Don’t bet too heavily on a repeat from the journeyman. Receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are middling options at best. Running back C.J. Anderson could be in that low-end RB2/Flex spot. There have been rumors about him being traded which would make Devontae Booker somewhat interesting. They dealt corner Aqib Talib and their defense isn’t as good as they were a few seasons ago. A top-10 finish is possible but likely not more than that.

Kansas City Chiefs – There’s an air of transition about this team but the potential jumps off the page for fantasy. KC brought in receiver Sammy Watkins and he’s know paired with speedster Tyreek Hill on the outside. Neither is going to be a PPR monster but defenses are going to have a hard time containing that speed. Oh, and they have to deal with tight end Travis Kelce all over the field as well. He’s arguably the best tight end in fantasy. Running back Kareem Hunt is locked as a top-eight option. The key is how well quarterback Patrick Mahomes can play in his first extended action. If he’s as good as some think with his cannon of an arm, the sky is the limit for this offense. The defense won’t be nearly as good as many big-name players are gone, including corner Marcus Peters.

Los Angeles Chargers – The best two moves for the Chargers so far have been they don’t have to deal with Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters within their division. Fantasy owners should be rooting for Los Angeles to move on from tight end Antonio Gates so Hunter Henry gets his full-time role. Receiver Keenan Allen was remarkable in his first season back from ACL surgery and that should continue in 2018. Running back Melvin Gordon isn’t the most exciting player but should volume his way into top-10 numbers. Quarterback Philip Rivers should be on the streaming radar for most of the year.

Oakland Raiders – Signing tight end Derek Carrier isn’t going to move the needle but ex-Packer receiver Jordy Nelson could do the trick. The Raiders are also facing a lot of change, including welcoming back coach Jon Gruden in from a long tenure commentating Monday Night Football. They’re a team that needs to be monitored because they could add at tight end, running back and receiver even past Nelson. There’s a lot still to unfold out in Oakland.