Another free agency has come and gone, or at least the biggest part has quieted down. The “aftermath” of free agency does yield a ton of new fruit for fantasy football in the new season. Fantasy managers should pay keen attention to the movements of the offseason. New locations for players can mean new opportunities, which in turn can mean more fantasy value. Free agency generally kicks off every fantasy season, and savvy managers are already taking inventory on what each move could mean for the future. But there are some big winners and losers from the 2026 free agency period that should be on the radar in their respective spectrums. We will cover five players who came out on top as “winners” from free agency, and their fantasy football outlook.
Top 5 Free Agency Winners For Fantasy Football
Mike Evans Fantasy Outlook
Mike Evans became a free agent for the first time in his NFL career. And after several years playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it did not take long for Evans to find a new home. Evans signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers worth $42.4 million. This is a clear win for Evans’ fantasy value heading into 2026. The 49ers needed to give Brock Purdy a solid receiving threat after the relationship with Brandon Aiyuk went south, and Jauan Jennings also became a free agent. George Kittle’s status is murky at best heading into 2026 after tearing his Achilles tendon during the playoffs last season. With Mike Evans becoming the top option for San Fran, he now has access to a boatload of targets at his disposal. Last season, the 49ers ranked fifth in passing yards and 11th in passing attempts with 574. The Niners also brought in former Texans receiver Christian Kirk, but there’s more than enough targets to go around, and Evans is definitely going to get his share.
Darnell Mooney Fantasy Outlook
Mooney might not come off as a great target because he slots as the number two option for the New York Giants at first glance. But there is an opportunity for Darnell Mooney to be a bigger fantasy option at a major discount for fantasy managers. The Giants’ star wide receiver Malik Nabers is still recovering from his torn ACL. If Nabers isn’t ready to go at the start of the season, Darnell Mooney would be the top option in the Giants’ passing game. Mooney has also been the wide receiver one under the Giants’ new offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy, so there’s an in for Mooney to succeed there. Fantasy managers have also seen Mooney produce even as a number two option during his time with the Atlanta Falcons. Mooney is just two seasons removed from a 12.1 fantasy points per game average and eight games with double-digit fantasy points. Drafters won’t have to spend big to get him, even if Mooney’s value sees a bump, should Malik Nabers not be ready to start the season.
Kenneth Walker Fantasy Outlook
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans were two of the hottest landing spots for free-agent running backs. But when the Texans traded for Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery and the New York Jets slapped Breece Hall with the franchise tag, it paved the way for Kenneth Walker to land with the Chiefs. Walker will now become the lead back for a Chiefs offense that has desperately needed a consistent running game. Not only that, but the return of Eric Bienemy should also improve the Chiefs’ rushing attack. Last season, the Bears’ rushing attack averaged 4.9 yards per attempt as a unit, ranking third-best among NFL rushing attacks. They also finished fifth in rushing attempts with 502. With Patrick Mahomes working his way back from a torn ACL, it would make sense that the Chiefs may want to get the ball out of his hands faster this season to keep him upright. That could mean more rushing attempts for a guy in Walker, who they are paying top-5 money to. Oh, and who do you think will be getting all of those red-zone touches now without a “Zach Charbonnet” behind him?
Travis Etienne Fantasy Outlook
The Saints were another great landing spot for free-agent running backs. Despite having Alvin Kamara already on the roster, the Saints still brought in one of the best backs on the free agent market. The former Jacksonville Jaguar signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Saints this offseason. Making $12 million a season, that all but makes Travis Etienne the top dog in the Saints’ backfield. Under Kellen Moore and his offensive scheme, running backs have largely been successful for fantasy football. Now, a versatile running back like Etienne will take over the reins in New Orleans. Etienne is coming off a season where he finished as a top 10 fantasy running back in total fantasy points. He also averaged nearly 15 fantasy points per game on the season. Etienne also finished with 52 targets with the Jaguars, ranking 10th in targets among fantasy running backs. With the amount of passing volume lying around in the Saints offense and the lack of pass-catching options, Etienne landed in a great spot for fantasy managers in 2026.
Isaiah Likely Fantasy Outlook
The Giants opted to upgrade their tight end room by bringing in a former Baltimore Ravens favorite in Isaiah Likely. John Harbaugh may have had his hands all over this one, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t a good move. Likely, according to several reports, is expected to see a featured role in J the Giants’ offense this season. He’s certainly flashed the talent to do so with the Ravens. Finally out from under the shadow of Mark Andrews, now Likely has a chance to become a sure-handed target for Jaxson Dart as he makes progress in his second season in the NFL. What makes the landing spot so good for Likely’s fantasy potential in 2026 is that there should be enough targets to go around. The Giants finished with 511 pass attempts last season, andaxson Dart totaled 339 of those targets. Dart averaged just 24.2 pass attempts per game over 14 games. With that average over 17 games, that comes to 411 attempts. But keep in mind that he was missing his best option in Malik Nabers for much of the season. Losing and Dart being a rookie could have limited the passing opportunities for the Giants’ offense last season. With more weapons this offseason and Nabers’ eventual return, the volume can increase, allowing Likely to be a useful target for Dart.