Fantasy Football Today: Free Agency Day One Recap

Episode Date: March 9, 2026
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings

Episode Overview

The crew dives into a whirlwind of NFL free agency news, breaking down key signings and trades impacting the 2026 fantasy football landscape. With stars like Travis Etienne, Ken Walker, Mike Evans, Isaiah Likely, and Malik Willis on the move, Adam, Dave, Jamey, and Heath assess the winners, losers, sleepers, and shakeups across positions and provide actionable, round-by-round fantasy value. The conversation stays lively and insightful, with debate over aging stars, breakout candidates, and the ever-chaotic implications for the running back, wide receiver, and tight end tiers.

Key Headlines and Major Transactions

[01:50-07:00] Opening Reactions & Major Moves

• Wild day of signings:
  • Travis Etienne to the Saints
  • Ken Walker to the Chiefs
  • Malik Willis to the Dolphins
  • Mike Evans to the 49ers
  • Isaiah Likely to the Giants
  • Alec Pierce gets a new deal
• “It’s busy and there’s more to come. ... Start thinking about what these landing spots mean for draft value. You don’t want to wait until the day before your draft to think about this.” — Dave [02:19]

Fun Facts Segment:

• Kellen Moore’s running backs have a strong history of fantasy finishes.
• Chiefs have gone 8 seasons without a 205+ carry RB; will Ken Walker buck the trend?
• Jalen Naylor got $23 million guaranteed despite only 1,066 career yards and 11 TDs over four seasons.

Winners and Losers Breakdown

Biggest Winners

[06:29-08:29]

• Cam Scadaboo (Giants): “They were in on Ken Walker but missed, so for today, Cam Scadaboo is a winner.” — Jamie [06:29]
• Basil Tootin (Giants): “Along the same lines” — Dave [07:00]
• Mike Evans (49ers): “Anytime a 33-year-old WR… goes to a team that can’t keep anyone healthy… we should be excited. It’s cool. I’m hopeful for him. I think it’s good for Brock Purdy, but I’m probably not going to have him ranked very high.” — Heath [07:35]

Evans vs. Godwin (and age skepticism)

• “He’ll be 33 in August. Even last year when healthy, he wasn’t quite Mike Evans.” — Heath [08:37]
• “Great receivers can be good at age 33… Jerry Rice was amazing.” — Adam [10:34]
• Evans ranked just outside Top 24 WRs by consensus.

San Francisco WR Room

• If injuries continue among Kittle/Pearsall, Evans could be a target hog, but sustainability is questioned.

Losers

[26:05-29:12]

• Michael Pittman (Steelers): “Biggest loser today. Bad last year, slightly better in 2024, but bad each of the last two. Now he’s probably the second-best receiver on his team, not ideal. ... Double-digit round guy at this point.” — Jamie [26:28]
• Bucky Irving (Bucs): “Probably a loser. Gainwell takes passing game work, limits upside.” — Jamie [35:24], Dave/Heath agree.

Colts WR Situation Post-Pittman

• Alec Pierce gets a mega-deal, Pittman traded: “Could take a big leap...but his value depends on Daniel Jones and target share.” — Jamie [28:48]

Fantasy Value & Draft Rounds: Notable Players

[12:38-14:11, 20:04, 29:37]

• Travis Etienne (Saints): 4th round PPR, could jump to 2nd/3rd if Kamara is cut. [12:42]
• Ken Walker (Chiefs): 2nd/3rd round PPR. [12:57]
• Malik Willis (Dolphins): Late round, but desirable upside; “Could be a top-5 fantasy QB if everything breaks right.” — Dave [41:17]
• Mike Evans (49ers): 6th/7th round range. [20:08]
• Wandale Robinson (Titans): 6th+/not far behind Evans; could be a PPR steal if target share holds. [20:18]
• Alec Pierce (Colts): 5th/6th round; borderline WR2/3 with expanded opportunity. [28:48]
• Isaiah Likely (Giants): Top 10–12 fantasy TE; favorable outlook with a chance to be 2nd in team targets. [14:34], [18:41]
• Bucky Irving (Bucs): Slides to RB16–20; “Still love the value late if he falls.” — Jamie [35:46]

Wide Receiver Debates and Analysis

[20:18-25:00] (Robinson vs Evans vs Pierce)

• Wandale Robinson:

  • “Wide receiver one for his team because of the target share… Could easily slide inside the Top 24 PPR WRs.” — Dave [21:38]
  • Adam voices skepticism about “league-winner” potential: “He’s not ripping the ball away from DBs… Not a playmaker.” [23:31]
  • Heath sees him as a volume-dependent, safe PPR pick.

• Alec Pierce:

  • Opportunity for targets bump with Pittman gone, but high yards/catch could decrease with more volume.

• Michael Pittman:

  • Steelers are a downgrade; not a top 36 receiver now.

Tight Ends: Isaiah Likely's Big Opportunity

[14:28-19:21]

• Isaiah Likely to Giants:
  • “Could be the #2 target-getter there.” — Dave [16:41]
  • “I’d rather take Isaiah Likely than Travis Kelce right now.” — Jamie [19:21]
  • Stats: Averaged 13.9 PPR ppg (Weeks 12–18, 2023) without Mark Andrews. [19:31]

Deep Dive: Running Back and QB Landing Spots

[42:47-45:58]

• Travis Etienne: Downward target trend under Kellen Moore, upside hinges on Kamara’s departure. [42:47]
• Ken Walker: Chiefs' reluctance to overwork RBs is an open question, but his value solidifies as long as health holds.
• Bucky Irving: Passing game role threatened by Gainwell’s signing, but could have goal-line upside; slides in RB rankings. [35:24-36:21]
• J.K. Dobbins / R.J. Harvey (Broncos): Dobbins' arrival caps Harvey’s upside, though Dobbins is injury-prone. [44:46]
• Cardinals RBs: Addition of Tyler Allgeier clouds Trey Benson's path; James Conner's role remains stable but crowded. [46:52]

Quarterback Carousel

[39:00-41:51]

• Malik Willis (Dolphins): Late-round flier; compared to 2025’s Justin Fields with high fantasy upside. Jamey even prefers him over Mahomes due to injury risk. [41:17]
• Tua Tagovailoa (Falcons): Not a recommended draft target, but improves Drake London and Kyle Pitts outlook. [13:41]
• Daniel Jones (Colts): Retained as bridge starter; helps stabilize Alec Pierce/Josh Downs values.

Notable Quotes

• “Start thinking about what these landing spots mean for draft value. You don’t want to wait until the day before your draft to think about this.” — Dave [02:19]
• “Great receivers can be good at age 33.” — Adam, reflecting on Evans [10:34]
• “Could be the #2 target-getter there. ... But John Harbaugh never gave Isaiah Likely that type of work.” — Dave, on Likely [16:41]
• “I would rather take Isaiah Likely than Travis Kelce right now.” — Jamie [19:21]
• “I don’t think anybody’s arguing Wandale is about to become a top-12 WR.” — Heath [25:46]
• "Willis...could end up being a top-5 fantasy QB if everything breaks right" — Dave [41:17]
• “Pittman now double-digit round guy. There’s not a lot to love.” — Jamie [26:28]
• “Bucky has lost a little bit because of the role in the passing game, gained slightly because of the TD potential.” — Jamie [35:24]

Quickfire: Player Stock Updates

[47:51-49:23]

• Jalen Naylor, Raiders: Overpaid but not fantasy-relevant.
• Tight Ends: Travis Kelce returns; Daniel Bellinger to Titans; Charlie Kolar to Chargers.
• Tyler Warren (Colts TE): Consideration for late-round sleepers, but rookies not prioritized now. [32:01]

Offensive Line & Defensive Notes

[51:31-53:42]

• Linderbaum (C) to Raiders: Boosts rookie QB and run game. [51:35]
• Saints add G David Edwards: Helps Etienne’s case if O-line improves.
• KC and Bills lose key DBs; Chiefs’ defense projects for more shootouts. [53:54]

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

[56:00-end]

• More free agency shoes yet to drop—especially among QBs and WRs.
• Expect lively debate around aging stars, volume-centric WR3s, and late-round RBs as draft season heats up.
• Mock drafts and further analysis coming shortly.

Timestamps for Major Discussions

• [01:50] – Show start & opening buzz
• [06:29] – Winners and losers segment
• [12:38] – Round-by-round draft values for top FA signings
• [14:28] – Isaiah Likely: TE1 debate
• [26:05] – Michael Pittman and Bucky Irving: Value plummets
• [35:24] – Bucky Irving vs. new Bucs RB room
• [39:12] – Malik Willis top-12 QB talk
• [42:47] – Running back landing spot analysis
• [51:35] – O-line upgrades and fantasy implications

In Summary

The crew gives sharp, actionable reactions to a chaotic opening of NFL free agency, focusing on the fantasy fallout from player movement and coaching changes:

• RB/WR2-3 tiers see the most churn and value swings
• Veteran age, offensive lines, and offensive coordinator histories remain essential analytic angles
• Isaiah Likely emerges as a top-10 (possibly top-5) TE in the new Giants offense
• Draft season begins NOW—don’t fall behind on player situations and shifting pecking orders

Stay tuned for mock drafts and further in-depth breakdowns on FFT all free agency week!