Fantasy Football Free Agency Primer: Best skill-position landing spots

Several key running backs hit the open market with ideal landing spots up for grabs: Kansas City and Jacksonville could be in the market for one of the top names, including Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne.
A few key landing spots get re-filled with the franchise tag: George Pickens, Breece Hall and Kyle Pitts got tagged and took away a couple of potential key spots for free agents.
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Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

NFL free agency is right around the corner, so there will be a flurry of signings as players join new teams, potentially greatly affecting the fantasy football landscape along the way. Before that happens, it’s good to have a grasp on which situations are more ideal for fantasy purposes and which teams have the biggest needs.

Below are the skill position rankings of each team as things stand right now – no franchise tags, re-signings, etc. – and state how much of their 2025 usage they are currently slated to lose in free agency. The full free agent list is pulled using Over The Cap’s free agency tracker.

Running Backs (rushing)

Highlighting the teams with the highest expected percentage of available running back carries from the 2025 season, this chart relies on expected free agents and includes the percentage of rushing yards and rushing touchdowns their slated free agent running backs accounted for this past season.

Top running back landing spots

The Kansas City Chiefs leaned heavily on Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco this past season, though both players are expected to hit the open market, which has made the Chiefs one of the top destinations for either a rookie running back or high-end free agent in the eyes of fantasy managers.
Depending on what the Jacksonville Jaguars decide to do with Travis Etienne’s expiring contract and how they feel about Bhayshul Tuten as a replacement, the Jaguars could end up as a prime spot for a new lead back as an up-and-coming offense.

Other running back landing spots of note

Breece Hall was franchise tagged candidate this offseason, which takes one of the top running backs out of the free agent pool and keeps the New York Jets’ backfield from being one up for grabs.
James Conner and Trey Benson are still currently on the Arizona Cardinals’ roster, though with both players missing time with injury last season, their primary replacements, Michael Carter, Bam Knight, and Emari Demercado, create somewhat of an illusion that there might be fantasy touches up for grabs, but Conner and/or Benson are still projected to lead that backfield.
The Seattle Seahawks face a significant decision with Kenneth Walker scheduled to be a free agent, which could be good or bad news for Zach Charbonnet’s fantasy value, depending on the result, though they would still likely add another body if Walker departs.
Rico Dowdle led the Carolina Panthers in carries this past season, though he’s likely to depart in free agency, ideally opening up room for 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, if healthy, to finally take over that backfield.
After an injury-plagued season, Bucky Irving’s primary competition for touches in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ backfield, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, are scheduled to be free agents, which could be a big boost to Irving’s bounce-back potential.

Running Backs (receiving)

Highlighting the teams with the highest expected percentage of available running back routes and targets from the 2025 season, this chart relies on expected free agents and includes the percentage of routes run, targets, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns their slated free agent running backs accounted for this past season.

Top receiving back landing spots

The Chiefs lead the way again, as was the case when it came to potentially vacated carries, it makes sense that those pending free agents also made up the majority of backfield routes as well.
With Jeremy McNichols and Austin Ekeler pending free agents, the Washington Commanders are likely going to need a receiving back, even if they do decide that Jacory Croskey-Merritt can lead them in carries; receiving was not his strong suit, as he earned just 11 targets in 2025 and a poor 43.4 PFF receiving grade.
Kenneth Gainwell finished second on the Pittsburgh Steelers in total targets (87) in 2025, leaving a sizable hole for the team to fill in that regard, whether it’s second-year Kaleb Johnson or a new name to come in and take on that role.

Other receiving back landing spots of note

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers leave a lot of potential backfield targets up for grabs, which could once again be a benefit to a Bucky Irving bounce-back season after earning a 90.5 receiving grade as a rookie on 52 targets and still seeing 33 targets this past season in just 10 games.
The Jets, Jaguars and Seahawks could all potentially bring back last year’s lead receiving backs either through franchise tags or new contracts, which could make these spots significantly more or less interesting for fantasy purposes.

Wide receivers

Highlighting the teams with the highest expected percentage of available wide receiver routes and targets from the 2025 season, this chart relies on expected free agents and includes the percentage of routes run, targets, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns their slated free agent wide receivers accounted for this past season.

Top wide receiver landing spots

Jauan Jennings is scheduled to hit free agency after finishing second on the San Francisco 49ers this past season and leading the team in targets the year before. His departure will create a significant need for another receiver to step up or be brought into Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
The New York Giants were led in receiving by pending free agent Wan’Dale Robinson in 2025, as he was a key target for them these past two seasons. Even with Malik Nabers returning healthy for 2026, the team will likely need another target opposite him with Robinson potentially leaving.
The Washington Commanders are set to lose five wide receivers in free agency, and none are more important than Deebo Samuel, who led the team in targets (99), receptions (72), receiving yards (727) and receiving touchdowns (five), potentially opening up a favorable fantasy role for a new wide receiver next to Terry McLaurin in 2026.

Other wide receiver landing spots of note

Much like at the running back position, the Chiefs are losing a significant amount of contributors from their 2025 season, though they have key pieces still remaining (Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy), but they will likely bring in help.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are potentially losing two of their three top target earners from this past season with Kenneth Gainwell at running back and Calvin Austin at wide receiver, as there is going to be a clear need for another body opposite D.K. Metcalf for this coming season.
The Dallas Cowboys applied their franchise tag to George Pickens this offseason. They would have become a likely top destination for a usable fantasy option in a wide receiver-friendly offense, though Pickens will now continue in that spot for at least another season.

Tight ends

Highlighting the teams with the highest expected percentage of available tight end routes and targets from the 2025 season, this chart relies on expected free agents and includes the percentage of routes run, targets, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns their slated free agent tight ends accounted for this past season.

Top tight end landing spots

Dallas Goedert scored 12 receiving touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025 and has been the team’s TE1 for several years. His potential departure could create a significant need and fantasy opportunity at the position for an offense looking to regain past success.
The Miami Dolphins are going through significant changes, and one of those key changes will be what they do at tight end with Darren Waller and Greg Dulcich potentially departing in free agency, as there’s a key need for that offense.
The Tennessee Titans are in the market for a new lead receiver with Chigoziem Okonkwo leading the team in receiving yards (560) in 2025 and potentially leaving in free agency, along with several wide receivers, making them an interesting destination for fantasy purposes.

Other tight end landing spots of note

Travis Kelce is a pending free agent, though it feels unlikely that if he were to continue his playing career, he’d play anywhere other than Kansas City at this point. If he does retire, then the Chiefs would likely be losing more 2025 contributors than any other offense this free agency period.
The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Brown s both have lead tight ends still in Mark Andrews and Harold Fannin Jr., respectively, though, as offenses that relied on two at that position, they will also be losing key pieces in Isaiah Likely and David Njoku, which pushed them up, even if neither is a great fantasy landing spot for new names.
With the Atlanta Falcons using the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts, they no longer have a significant need at the position after he accounted for 85% of the targets.