Notable Offensive & Defensive Free Agents – Post-NFL Draft – Fantasy Football

The NFL Draft is over and teams will be filling any remaining needs they have through free agency.  It’s time to update the list of free agents available on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball.  While the offensive side of the ball tends to be the side most people who play fantasy football are most interested in, free agents on the defensive side of the ball could affect how your team approaches its draft this week, as well as how your team goes about filling out their remainder of their roster needs after the draft.  The lists that follow are not exhaustive.  

QB

Comments: Dennis Dixon is likely the best available free agent quarterback.  He is a young talent who showed flashes in limited playing time with the Steelers.  We still feelDixon should find a landing spot on a roster somewhere.

RB

Comments:  The list remains long and distinguished.  Tim Hightower is coming off injury, but prior to that, Hightower was tearing up the gridiron for the Redskins.  The Redskins are apparently still interested in his services and the Patriots recently had Hightower out for a workout.  Hightower will play somewhere in 2012.  When Cedric Benson has been given the chance, he has played tough and played well.  But, it appears wherever Benson goes, he will likely be some teams No. 2 running back, or at least be in a committee situation. 

We like many of the other running backs noted above because of their youth (Jackie Battle), because they have not reached the end of their careers (Ryan Grant), or have been effective when called upon (Derrick Ward).  Ryan Grant had his first full season back from injury last season, and it wasn’t the greatest.  In part, you can blame it on a crowded back-filed and an offense built to pass, not run.  With two years removed from an injury that caused Grant to miss most of the 2010 season could be the time needed to heal.  From all appearances, Grant may not return to the Packers.

Players that may have reached the end of their careers are former fantasy football starlets Thomas Jones and LaDanian Tomlinson.  While they could still find a home this season, their roles would likely be extremely diminished. 

Laurence Maroney has been out of the league for almost a year.  But, he had some really good days with the Patriots.

WR

Comments: The majority of the available wide-receivers above haven’t seen their best days of fantasy football in some time.  Still, Plaxico Burress was a good red-zone target for the Jets last year and Terrell Owens proved to be effective in his last season playing in the NFL for the Bengals.  The Jets have reportedly shown interest in bringing back Braylon Edwards. However, with the Jets having drafted Stephen Hill, it’s now possible that he does not return.  Still, Edwards played well with QB Mark Sanchez in his limited time with the Jets.  All these receivers have upside and experience.  Let’s see what teams, if any, takes a chance.

TE

Comments:  We are still surprised Dallas Clark is a free agent because when healthy, he was one of the top-three receiving tight-ends in the league.  Clark should be signed by some team.  Both Visanthe Shiancoe and Jeremy Shockey should still have something to contribute, but their offensive roles have diminished quite a bit in the last few seasons.

K

Comments:  The Vikings chose to release Ryan Longwell and go with rookie Blair Walsh.  It would be hard not to think that Longwell does not find himself a home somewhere in the NFL.  A decent kicker is hard to find for any team. 

OFFENSE (OTHER)

These were some free agent players that stood out as still being free agents.

DEFENSE

Similarly, these are some free agent defensive players that remain unsigned.  Some of them should be signed soon enough.