The Seahawks put a bow on the 2025 NFL season by winning Super Bowl LX, and everyone is back to 0-0. Teams will have the opportunity use Franchise and Transition tags on players beginning on February 17. Those tags will take some players out of the free-agent pool. George Pickens will reportedly receive the Franchise tag. I also believe the Colts will tag or sign Alec Pierce to an extension, so he’s not featured below. Kyle Pitts is another candidate to receive the Franchise tag, and he’s not included in this piece on ideal free agent landing spots for fantasy football purposes.
Teams will be permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with agents for players who will become unrestricted free agents on March 9. Teams can’t officially sign those players until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11, but expected signings and contract terms will be leaked before official signings take place. The player movement is fun, and guessing where players will end up with a dash of wishcasting to ideal locations is enjoyable, too. I’ve paired the following free agents with realistic ideal landing spots. Finally, a few other players weren’t included below, namely Kenneth Walker III and Breece Hall, because I expect the Seahawks and Jets to retain them.
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NFL Free Agent Predictions (Fantasy Football)
Malik Willis (QB – FA): Landing Spot – Atlanta Falcons
Sadly, Michael Penix Jr. underwent ACL surgery on his left knee in early November. It was his first on that knee after undergoing ACL surgery twice on the other knee. Penix’s injury history is alarming and he hasn’t lit the world on fire to this point in his young NFL career. Additionally, the general manager, Terry Fontenot, who drafted Penix, was fired.
The organization is also expected to release Kirk Cousins before the new year, ripping off one band-aid at their failed attempt to solve their starting quarterback gig. The NFC South is up for grabs after the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons finished with an identical 8-9 record in 2025. It shouldn’t be dismissed that they could bring in a fresh face at quarterback, and Malik Willis would be fun.
His running ability would be a force multiplier for Bijan Robinson and the team’s rushing attack. The landing spot would also be a plus for Willis, as Drake London is a quality No. 1 wide receiver, and the organization could retain Pitts as an explosive play-making tight end.
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – FA): Landing Spot – Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have leaned into reclamation projects and cheap options at running back, having gotten fantasy football-friendly results in the previous two years. What if Brian Schottenheimer wants more straight-line speed in the backfield and Jerry Jones ponies up for Travis Etienne Jr?
Etienne has missed only two games in the last four years, logged over 250 touches three times, amassed double-digit touchdowns twice (12 in 2023 and 13 in 2025), and had at least 1,399 scrimmage yards in three of those four years. The 2021 first-round pick in the NFL Draft was the RB13 in half-point per reception (half-PPR) points per game (13.9) in 2025, and he could kick it up a notch in Dallas.
Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams dialed up an effective running game for the Cowboys last year after serving as Arizona’s offensive line coach and helping design their running game in 2023-24. The Cowboys could also be a landing spot for James Conner if the Cardinals cut the veteran running back and Dallas opts for another veteran bounce-back option.
Javonte Williams (RB – FA): Landing Spot – Houston Texans
Players don’t return to pre-surgery form after significant injuries at the same rate, and some never do. Javonte Williams might not have fully returned to his pre-surgery form, but he got his career back on track with the Cowboys in 2025.
Williams was a legitimate RB1, finishing as the RB12 in half-PPR points per game (14.1). Among 55 running backs with at least 75 rush attempts in the regular season, Williams was 10th in rush attempts (252), seventh in rushing yards per game (75.1), tied for 12th in yards per carry (4.77), tied for 38th in yards before contact per attempt (1.85), third in yards after contact per attempt (2.91), tied for 15th in explosive run rate (5.2%), tied for eighth in team run rate inside the 5-yard line (66.7%), seventh in rushing touchdowns (11), 11th in stuff rate (40.5%), and tied for ninth in success rate (56.0%).
He isn’t just a two-down banger, either. Instead, among 67 running backs with at least 75 routes in the regular season, Williams was 13th in route participation rate (46.4%), 31st in target share (7.8%), tied for 20th in receptions (35), 51st in receiving yards per game (8.6), and tied for 14th in receiving touchdowns (two). In addition, among 41 running backs and fullbacks with at least 75 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season and playoffs, Williams was 10th in Pro Football Focus’s (PFF’s) pass-blocking grade. Williams was an inefficient receiver in 2025, but he was trusted, including in pass protection. Woody Marks was dreadful as a runner, and he was only a fourth-round selection. The Texans could stand to upgrade at running back, and Williams’ ability to generate yards after contact at a high rate should appeal to Houston, as they were just 19th in PFF’s run-blocking grade last season.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
