NFL free agency fallout: Early impressions for fantasy

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys – One team that hasn’t made a single move other than putting the franchise tag on defensive end DeMarcus Lawerence is the one that needs to find some help. Dallas needs a backup running back to Ezekiel Elliott (reunion with DeMarco Murray?) and a receiver, just to start. Receiver Dez Bryant isn’t the player he used to be but could be a good value come draft day if he falls far enough. As things stand, take Zeke early and then star away from the Cowboys.

New York Giants – Running back Jonathan Stewart is aging and is now playing behind a very poor offensive line. It’s hard to see him being valuable in fantasy this season, especially if offensive lineman Justin Pugh leaves. The only three players that are fantasy relevant are receivers Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram. Past that, maybe you can stream Eli Manning in a pinch. There’s a chance they could land Saquon Barkley in the draft, which would change the equation. Unless that happens, the options are fairly limited from the G-Men.

Philadelphia Eagles – What does a Super Bowl champion with potentially the best defensive line in football need? More defensive lineman, of course! They signed Haloti Ngata and traded for Michael Bennett. While more moves are coming because of salary cap implications, Philly has a high-end defense for fantasy. Offensively, they haven’t added but be careful not to overpay for their pieces. They spread the ball around a lot, limiting each players ceiling. The lone exception is tight end Zach Ertz. He’s a top-three option at his position. Even quarterback Carson Wentz could be overdrafted coming off a torn ACL and an insanely high touchdown percentage (7.5) in 2017.

Washington Redskins – Washington decided to give ex-Seahawk Paul Richardson a pretty rich contract for some average receiving numbers. The position could be crowded for the Redskins as Josh Doctson, Richardson, and Jamison Crowder are all fighting for receptions. The running back spot is unsettled as Chris Thompson suffered a grisly leg injury and Samaje Perine looked highly uncomfortable in his rookie year. This offense could easily be a lot better for real football than fantasy. There just aren’t any standouts even though quarterback Alex Smith is coming off a great season.