The 2024-25 NFL season has ended, and it’s time to look ahead to next season. Free agency is the beginning of the offseason’s madness. Starting March 12th, free agents are eligible to sign new contracts. Dynasty trading is back in business, and you can capitalize on player values before the start of free agency.
DJ Moore WR (CHI)
2024 Stats: 140 Targets, 98 Receptions, 966 Receiving Yards, 6 Receiving Touchdowns, 75 Rushing Yards
Summary: Entering the 2024 NFL season, many fantasy managers expected Chicago Bears Wide Receiver DJ Moore to replicate his fantastic 2023 campaign, in which he finished as the sixth-highest-scoring receiver. However, managers felt disappointed in Moore after the 2024 season, as he couldn’t repeat his top-10 finish. In a “disappointing” season, Moore finished the season as the WR16.
The Bears finished 28th in the league in passing yards and many fans are placing the blame on poor offensive line play and poor playcalling. Looking ahead to 2025, the Bears have already attacked both of these issues. The Bears were able to win the Ben Johnson sweepstakes, hiring the former Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator as the team’s new head coach. The Bears also addressed the offensive line early on by trading for All-Pro lineman Joe Thuney. The Bears should continue to beef up the offensive line to protect sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams this offseason.
The additions the Bears are making on the offensive side of the ball will only help Moore improve his fantasy output. Ever since taking over play-calling duties in 2022, Johnson has produced fantasy-relevant receivers, most notably being Amon-Ra St.Brown. There is a good chance the Bears’ new signal caller will utilize Moore in the same capacity he used St.Brown.
Currently, Moore is being priced as the WR24 on Fantasypros superflex dynasty rankings. Moore is ranked lower than his fellow teammate and receiver Rome Odunze. At the start of the 2025 season, Moore will be in the prime of his career at 28 years old and under contract through 2029.
Dak Prescott QB (DAL)
2024 Stats: 1,978 Passing Yards, 11 Passing Touchdowns, 8 Interceptions, 54 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing Touchdowns
Summary: 2024 was a season to forget for the Dallas Cowboys and Quarterback Dak Prescott. In Week 9, during a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Prescott tore his hamstring and was eventually shut down for the remainder of the year. The Cowboys ended the season third in the NFC East with a record of 7-10, yielding them the 12th overall pick in the upcoming draft.
NFL fans enjoyed mocking the Cowboys for being cheap last offseason as they avoided paying up for impact players, most notably Derrick Henry, and procrastinating the extension of star receiver Ceedee Lamb. Cowboys owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, has said the team will be “selectively aggressive” when it comes to free agency this offseason.
The Cowboys historically have produced great fantasy players and the trend should continue under new Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer. Prescott is just one season removed from throwing for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns. Prescott will be surrounded by a similar supporting cast as he was in 2023, if anything, the supporting cast should be upgraded.
In seasons where Prescott has played at least 16 games, he has finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in all but one season. In that lone season, Prescott finished as the QB14. Having more than a full offseason to recover and hopefully an improved supporting cast, Prescott could realistically produce a top-5 finish once again. Prescott is currently going as the QB18 according to Fantasypros.
Christian McCaffrey RB (SF)
2024 Stats: 50 Carries, 202 Rushing Yards, 15 Receptions, 146 Receiving Yards
Summary: Christian McCaffrey left fantasy managers feeling hopeless after being the consensus 1.01 in redraft leagues. McCaffrey seemed like he would play in Week 1 until he was a late scratch. He was surprisingly put on the injured reserve with mysterious Achilles and calf injuries and didn’t make his season debut until Week 10. McCaffrey went on to play three full games, playing in over 80% of snaps in all of them. In his fourth game back, he fell to the snowy ground in Buffalo and limped off the field. McCaffrey’s season ended with a PCL injury.
The former Stanford running back has fantasy managers feeling uneasy about acquiring him as he will turn 29 years old before the start of the 2025 season and has a not-so-great injury history. On the bright side, McCaffrey’s PCL injury is said to have only been a six-week recovery. If this is the case, McCaffrey will have had a full offseason of getting healthy and building strength for next season. If healthy, McCaffrey has shown he can still produce elite fantasy numbers. In his first full season under San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, McCaffrey finished as the RB1, where he averaged 24.4 fantasy points per game.
McCaffrey is currently listed as the RB16 on Fantasypros dynasty rankings. Trading for McCaffrey is risky, but if he can stay on the field, he could be the reason your team wins a championship next season. How often are you able to acquire a player who is very capable of finishing at the top of his position for this cheap?