If you’re a serious dynasty player, you’re always craving the smallest bit of information to help you get that slight edge. Whether it be the extra research you do before your rookie draft in order to land one of your sleepers in the fifth-round while others essentially auto-draft that pick, or your ability to manipulate a trade that winds up in your favor. If you’re doing it right, the other owners should look at your team within a year or two from the start-up draft and say, “How did we allow you to get that team?”

The reason you were able to is that you’re always one step ahead of the competition. I know that because you are here, reading this article. Today we’re going to be talking about the players who may have a change of scenery in 2018, as they are the unrestricted free agents. This is a big deal in dynasty leagues, though it’s often something that’s overlooked.

When most teams sign a big-name free agent, it’s because they have a void at a certain position that they are trying to fill, not in order to acquire depth on their roster. I mean, free agents are expensive and a luxury, not the way you actually build a franchise. Because of that, most free agents see their situations improve from one year to the next, though some could actually decline if they see the talent around them evaporate (example: Latavius Murray this off-season). We’re going to go through each position, giving a brief description on what a change in scenery could do for these 2018 free agents.

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees (QB – NO)
Let’s be real, Brees isn’t going anywhere. The Saints will likely work out a long-term, team-friendly deal to get him his final NFL contract.

Kirk Cousins (QB – WAS)
Apparently the Redskins are talking about franchise tagging Cousins for a third-time under the new CBA, but that would cost them at least $29 million to do so. It’s either they give him a long-term deal or he’s playing somewhere else in 2018, and that’s likely San Francisco. His value would actually go down if that were the case, simply because there are no weapons in place.

Derek Carr (QB – OAK)
Similar to Brees, Carr isn’t going anywhere. He’s reportedly frustrated about the lack of a long-term deal, but it’s something I suspect will be done before the 2017 season begins.

Matthew Stafford (QB – DET)
It sounds redundant, but franchise quarterbacks aren’t allowed to survey the market, as their current team will slap a franchise tag on them before that happens. Stafford will be in Detroit for years to come.

Sam Bradford (QB – MIN)
Despite having extremely limited time to learn a new offense, Bradford set the completion percentage record in 2016. With questions surrounding Teddy Bridgewater’s health (he’ll also be an unrestricted free agent) and the fact that the Vikings gave up a first-round pick to acquire him, Bradford will likely remain in Minnesota on a long-term deal.

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – NE)
We’ve all seen this one coming, right? But the fact that the Patriots refused to trade him, despite this being his contract year says a lot. Rumor has it that the Patriots are going to try and retain Garoppolo as Brady’s heir apparent, and their actions to this point have suggested the same. Any situation outside of New England would be a downgrade for his fantasy outlook.

Running Backs

Le’Veon Bell (RB – PIT)
There have been multiple reports about Bell potentially holding out this season, looking to lock up a long-term deal. From a running back’s standpoint, Bell is 100 percent in the right here, as we’ve witnessed the free agent running back market become a wasteland that nobody wants a part of. He’s set to make $12 million on the franchise tag, but dynasty owners want him to remain in Pittsburgh long-term, as it’s one of the only places in the NFL that employs a one-back system.

Devonta Freeman (RB – ATL)
This appears to be a real possibility, as the Falcons have invested equity in Tevin Coleman, and Freeman is reportedly looking to be the top-paid running back in the NFL, which would be north of $8 million per year. Freeman can actually have more value if he lands on a team where he’ll be the workhorse, and he’s good enough to get that somewhere.

Carlos Hyde (RB – SF)
One of the most talented 1-2 down backs in the game, Hyde is reportedly on the outs in San Francisco. Despite playing in just 13 games and playing on one of the worst offenses in the NFL last year, Hyde managed to finish No. 9 in red zone scoring. He’ll be starting wherever he lands, though health will always be a concern.

Eddie Lacy (RB – SEA)
Looking at the names above him on the list, it’s unlikely that Lacy will command much attention on the free agent market in 2018. He’s someone that is betting on himself, but behind that offensive line in Seattle, I’d let someone else bet on him. It’s time to sell in dynasty before the season starts.

Isaiah Crowell (RB – CLE)
He’s a player that is likely to get a solid contract in free agency, as he should perform great behind what is arguably the best offensive line in football, and for a coach who is known for his success in the run game. If Crowell were to go elsewhere, I’d almost guarantee that his production would go down from what it will be in 2017, where I’m expecting RB2 numbers.

Charles Sims (RB – TB)
Seemingly underappreciated with the Buccaneers, Sims is someone who could latch on with a team as a third-down back with potential for more if the starter were to go down with an injury. His value can only go up from where it is now.

Jeremy Hill (RB – CIN)
How the mighty have fallen, right? Hill figures to be out of Cincinnati after the 2017 season with Joe Mixon’s arrival, but even if he were to sign with a team, he’s likely never going to carry a full workload or sniff RB2 numbers again.

Jerick McKinnon (RB – MIN)
The once heir-apparent to Adrian Peterson is likely to hit the free agent market in 2018. We’ve seen glimpses of what can be a very elusive running back, so he’s very much worth his price in dynasty right now, which is essentially nothing.

Other Notable Free Agents: Rex Burkhead, Dion Lewis, Darren Sproles, Frank Gore, Terrance West, Shane Vereen, LeGarrette Blount.

Wide Receivers

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – HOU)
This seems like an automatic franchise tag if they can’t work out a long-term contract. He’s just 24-years-old and has already shown us what he’s capable of. He’s going to be Deshaun Watson’s new Mike Williams for a long time.

Sammy Watkins (WR – BUF)
People will automatically assume that Watkins’ value will go up if he were to leave Buffalo, but I don’t really agree. He’s the only show in town and he’s got perfect chemistry with Tyrod Taylor. With that being said, he’s likely going to be the best wide receiver on the team no matter where he goes. All we want to find is a quarterback with a big arm.

Allen Robinson (WR – JAX)
Probably another candidate for a franchise tag, Robinson is an alpha-dog wide receiver regardless of what happened in 2016. He’s a buy in dynasty right now, because one way or another, he’s going to be in a better situation in 2018. Whether it be with a new team or with the same team, only with a different quarterback. Who knows, maybe the Jaguars go after Kirk Cousins next off-season.

Davante Adams (WR – GB)
I’ve been buying Adams in dynasty leagues, but this one is scary. I’m not even buying him on talent, but rather the fact that Aaron Rodgers is his quarterback. His situation could only get worse if he were to go elsewhere.

Alshon Jeffery (WR – PHI)
The one-year deal that Jeffery signed is worrisome because the Eagles are legitimately looking for Carson Wentz’ long-term No. 1 receiver and Jeffery was in their hands, but they chose to give him a prove-it type deal. Keep in mind that Jordan Matthews is also a free agent at the end of 2017. Jeffery could potentially be in a better situation in 2018.

Donte Moncrief (WR – IND)
Similar to Davante Adams, Moncrief owners want him to remain in his current situation, as there isn’t a better place for them to be from a fantasy perspective. Health has always been the concern, but now the chance that he leaves Andrew Luck is the bigger concern.

Martavis Bryant (WR – PIT)
It’ll be interesting to see what Bryant gets on the free agent market as someone who is one-strike away from getting another year (if not more) suspension. He’s extremely talented, but Ben Roethlisberger’s big arm and willingness to chuck it down the field is the ideal situation for him. But the fact that they drafted JuJu Smith-Schuster could mean they’re going to potentially move on, which would lower his value.

John Brown (WR – ARI)
This is a tough one, because of the questions surrounding Brown’s health, but I can’t imagine the Cardinals not trying to retain him with just Chad Williams and J.J. Nelson under contract heading into 2018. He’s a buy in all formats right now, as the price is just too good to pass up.

Jarvis Landry (WR – MIA)
As someone who has relied on targets so heavily throughout his career, this is a legitimate concern for Landry. Not only did his targets steeply go down as the 2016 season went on, but the Dolphins traded for Julius Thomas and re-signed Kenny Stills. It’s very likely that we’ve already seen the best of Landry, though going to a team with a better quarterback wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Jordan Matthews (WR – PHI)
An underappreciated receiver to this point, Matthews has finished inside of the top-24 wide receivers twice in his three-year career, and that was with Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, and Sam Bradford throwing him the ball. There is now a crowd of wide receivers and tight ends in Philadelphia, making his exit very appealing in dynasty. There are obvious situations that would be a downgrade, but it’s more likely that a move actually helps his value.

Other Notable Free Agents: Terrelle Pryor, Julian Edelman, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Wallace, Kendall Wright, Taylor Gabriel.

Tight Ends

Tyler Eifert (TE – CIN)
The Bengals have been adding talent to their stable of pass catchers this off-season, potentially preparing to move on from the oft-injured Eifert. The talent is there and a move would probably increase his fantasy value considering he’s averaged just 4.97 targets per game in his career with the Bengals. That would amount to 79 targets over a full season. There were 17 tight ends who saw more targets than that in 2016.

Jimmy Graham (TE – SEA)
A move out of Seattle would be good for Graham’s target projections, though it’s hard to say whether or not it would lead to an increase in production. As mentioned with other notable free agents, a decline in quarterback play can severely downgrade a player’s outlook, and Graham is no different, who went from Drew Brees to Russell Wilson. I’d be willing to bet that leaving the Seahawks would hurt his production going forward.

Other Notable Free Agents: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Zach Miller, Antonio Gates

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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.