Fantasy Football Contract Year Players 2017

We’ve all seen the narrative before, and will undoubtedly read or hear it again repeatedly as the 2017 NFL season approaches. Players- motivated by the prospect of securing that long-awaited big payoff- are extra motivated, work harder, and often perform better when they’re playing as a pending free agent.

Of course, there’s no tangible proof that there is an increase in production in a contract year, and some are downright dismissive of the theory, altogether.

Regardless of the differing opinions of the contract year motivation in the NFL, in fantasy football, knowing a player’s status is an important part of building your roster- especially in dynasty leagues. A pending free agent joining a new club can drastically affect his future value, so that has to be taken into consideration before and after your draft or auction.

Here are the top fantasy-relevant players heading into the final season of their contracts in 2017.

Salary information courtesy Spotrac

* denotes Restricted Free Agent

Quarterbacks

Some big NFL names will become available concluding the 2017 season, but there probably won’t be a lot of elite signal-callers signing with new teams. Drew Brees has indicated he thinks he can play several more years and he can’t be franchised. Already with the third-highest contract in the NFL, Brees is likely to sign an extension with the New Orleans Saints. If he were to entertain offers from other clubs, Brees could potentially command $25 million per season. Player Team Pos Age Exp. Salary Drew Brees QB 38 16 $24,250,000 Kirk Cousins QB 28 5 $23,943,600 Derek Carr QB 26 3 $1,342,950 Matthew Stafford QB 29 8 $17,666,667 Jimmy Garoppolo QB 25 3 $870,975 Sam Bradford QB 29 7 $18,000,000 A.J. McCarron * QB 26 2 $690,000 Tom Savage QB 27 3 $630,146 Teddy Bridgewater QB 24 2 $1,712,376 Josh McCown QB 37 15 $6,000,000

If any of the top-tiered quarterbacks do hit the open market, Kirk Cousins is the most likely candidate to sign with a new club. Cousins and the Redskins have been working towards a deal, but the negotiations have often been tenuous. Cousins has been franchised tagged in consecutive years and could be again by Washington next season. Rumors of Cousins reconnecting with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco have already begun, and Cousins could command a 4-year deal worth $90-$100 million if he has another solid season in 2017.

Derek Carr is one of the most underpaid players in football. Carr’s 2017 salary ranks 49th among NFL quarterbacks. There’s no chance the Raiders let Carr enter free agency, so they’ll likely agree to a 4-or-5-year deal that will pay Carr well north of $20 million per season.

The Lions and Matthew Stafford have already had preliminary talks about a long-term deal. He’s likely due for a relatively big raise and should end up as one of the top-10 highest paid quarterbacks. At 29, Stafford is still in his prime and should be in the Lions long term plans.

Bill Belichick has rebuffed all attempts to trade Jimmy Garoppolo, who was rumored to be worth multiple first-round picks to the Patriots. Although Tom Brady has claimed he feels like he can play for several more years, the Patriots seem content to hold onto Garoppolo as the heir apparent. As of now, the expectations are that Belichick with tag Garopplo and he’ll remain under New England’s control, but if he were to be traded or hit the open market, he’d command much more than Brock Osweiler‘s 4-year $72 million dollar deal with Houston in 2016.

Sam Bradford cost the Vikings a first-round pick and played reasonably well for Minnesota, but has major injury concerns and limited upside. Another playoff run for the Vikings could convince the staff to re-sign Bradford, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them move on…Cincinnati’s A.J. McCarron was involved in offseason trade rumors, but the Bengals’ supposed asking price was way too high. A talented thrower stuck behind Andy Dalton, McCarron could still be an interesting trade piece as a restricted free agent….Tom Savage should open the season as Houston’s starter, but with DeShaun Watson already waiting in the wings, Savage will need an unlikely big statistical season to warrant anything above backup money in free agency…After a devastating knee injury last summer, it’s good to see Teddy Bridgewater taking part in OTAs. The Vikings declined their option, but if he’s healthy, Bridgewater could still beat out Sam Bradford and, depending on the outcome, end up staying in Minnesota.

Running Backs

The days of running backs breaking the bank like Adrian Peterson are over. Even an elite, 3-down franchise back like Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, who is currently the second-highest compensated running back, ranks 87th in the NFL among all player salaries. As long as he stays healthy and out of trouble, Bell will likely re-sign a 4-or-5-year deal with the Steelers that will pay his $10-$12 million per season. Devonta Freeman is an interesting name to monitor this season. The Falcons and Freeman have begun long-term contract negotiations, but Freeman is one of the best young running backs in the NFL and is looking to be paid like one. With an average salary well under $1 million, Freeman will command a 10-to-12-fold raise. With Tevin Coleman also in the fold and able to carry the load, Freeman’s elite productivity could price him out of Atlanta’s budget. Expectations are that Freeman will re-sign with the Falcons, but it’s not inconceivable that he could wind up setting the market and suiting up with a new club in 2018. Player Team Pos Age Exp. Salary Le’Veon Bell RB 25 4 $12,120,000 Devonta Freeman RB 25 3 $676,106 Carlos Hyde RB 25 3 $920,420 Isaiah Crowell RB 24 3 $2,746,000 Spencer Ware RB 25 4 $1,800,000 Eddie Lacy RB 27 4 $4,250,000 Jeremy Hill RB 24 3 $938,401 Charles Sims RB 26 3 $768,330 LeGarrette Blount RB 30 7 – Rex Burkhead RB 26 4 $3,150,000 Thomas Rawls RB 23 2 $615,000 Ryan Mathews RB 29 7 $3,666,667 Chris Thompson RB 26 4 $2,746,000 Dion Lewis RB 26 6 $1,300,000 Terrance West RB 26 3 $1,797,000 Frank Gore RB 34 12 $4,000,000 Jamaal Charles RB 30 9 $2,500,000 Jerick McKinnon RB 25 3 $691,250 Darren Sproles RB 33 12 $4,500,000 Zach Zenner RB 25 2 $615,000 Shane Vereen RB 28 6 $4,116,667 Tim Hightower RB 31 9 $1,107,000 Lance Dunbar RB 27 5 $1,500,000 Darren McFadden RB 29 9 $980,000 Ka’Deem Carey RB 24 3 $665,845 Alfred Blue RB 26 3 $584,483 Branden Oliver RB 26 3 $690,000 Damien Williams RB 25 3 $1,797,000 Kenjon Barner RB 28 4 $690,000 Alfred Morris RB 28 5 $1,750,000

You would think that offensive guru Kyle Shanahan coming to San Francisco would be an exciting development for Carlos Hyde, but Hyde has become a very polarizing 2017 fantasy selection, with most analysts recommending you avoid him. A good fit for a zone-blocking scheme or not, Hyde has flashed some big time ability but managed to acquire the dreaded “injury prone” tag along the way. Shanahan has proven to be a smart coach, who readily adjusts his offense to fit his talent, so chances are that Hyde will do just fine in 2017. But if he struggles, or misses multiple games with another injury, Hyde could find himself settling for a disappointing second contract and part of a shared backfield.

[the_ad id=”66786″]A restricted free agent,is seeking a long-term deal but is under Cleveland’s control for 2017. With an improved offensive line and commitment to make Crowell a bigger part of the offense, Crowell should exceed 200 carries for the first time in his career and have the chance to prove he’s a lead back. If Crowell does receive a bigger role, he’s got a real shot at exceeding 1,200 rushing yards and he’d be in line to earn upwards of $25-$30 million over his next contract.

Similar to Carlos Hyde, Spencer Ware is considered a risky fantasy pick this season. Ware faded down the stretch in 2016 but should start the season as Kansas City’s primary runner. There’s an excellent chance that Andy Reid will work in rookie Kareem Hunt, so Ware may have trouble earning a big contract if he can’t prove to be capable of being a three-down workhorse. If Ware has a moderately successful 2017 season, the most likely outcome is that he’ll re-sign with the Chiefs.

Eddie Lacy landed in a good spot, signing a one-year deal with Seattle. The run-first Seahawks should provide an excellent opportunity for Lacy to put up solid numbers, score plenty of touchdowns, and eat a lot of china food…After the Bengals drafted Joe Mixon, Jeremy Hill is persona non grata in fantasy circles. Still, Hill has an excellent nose for the end zone and will draw attention from several NFL teams next spring that are looking for a tough, inside compliment. Hill could make sense for teams like the Bills, Bucs, Colts or Ravens…While Doug Martin is suspended, Charles Sims has the opportunity to earn a much bigger role in Tampa that could attract some attention as a free agent…LeGarrette Blount‘s salary hasn’t been disclosed but removed from the ideal landing spot in New England, Blount is likely to be a disappointment in Philly as a soon-to-be 31-year old runner who failed to eclipse 3.9 yards-per-carry last year. Blount won’t have near as many goal line chances as he had in New England and could attract little attention in 2018….Don’t sleep on Thomas Rawls as a late-round waiver claim in 2017. Rawls might not play much behind Eddie Lacy and C.J. Prosise, but he looked perfect for the Seahawks in 2015 and should attract several teams looking for running back depth.

Wide Receivers

Big names also highlight the top half of the 2018 free agent wide receiver class. DeAndre Hopkins is one of the best young wideouts in the game and a huge part of Houston’s offense. Since the Texans did next to nothing in free agency and ranked fifth in the league with available cap space, there’s a strong possibility that Texans GM Rick Smith will work out an extension with Hopkins before the 2017 season kicks off. Regardless of Bill O’Brien’s future with the club, Smith recognizes Nuk’s importance to the team’s future. Look for Hopkins to earn between $14 and $15 million per season starting next year. Allen Robinson dropped off quite a bit in 2017, mainly due to the deteriorating play of QB Blake Bortles. Perhaps the addition of a legitimate ground game in the form of RB Leonard Fournette will take some pressure off of the passing game, and A-Rob’s numbers will bounce back in a contract year. Robinson’s teammate, Allen Hurns signed a 4-year, $40 million dollar deal with $16 million guaranteed. Robinson is a much better player than Hurns, so he’ll likely command an annual salary of $11-$12 million per season. Player Team Pos Age Exp. Salary DeAndre Hopkins WR 25 4 $1,906,676 Allen Robinson WR 23 3 $877,718 Jarvis Landry WR 24 3 $868,728 Sammy Watkins WR 24 3 $4,983,901 Alshon Jeffery WR 27 5 $9,500,000 Terrelle Pryor WR 27 6 $6,000,000 Davante Adams WR 24 3 $983,351 Donte Moncrief WR 23 3 $702,130 Larry Fitzgerald WR 33 13 $11,000,000 Martavis Bryant WR 25 4 $664,805 Jordan Matthews WR 24 3 $1,237,317 Willie Snead * WR 24 2 $615,000 Mike Wallace WR 30 8 $5,750,000 Cameron Meredith WR 24 2 $615,000 John Brown WR 27 3 $699,725 Tyrell Williams WR 25 2 $615,000 Taylor Gabriel WR 26 3 $2,746,000 Quincy Enunwa WR 25 3 $615,000 Marqise Lee WR 25 3 $1,293,506 Kamar Aiken WR 28 6 $2,600,000 Danny Amendola WR 31 9 $1,700,000 Corey Brown WR 25 3 $690,000

With 289 receptions in his first three seasons, Miami’s Jarvis Landry has warranted a No. 1 receiver salary, even though he’s not the traditional No. 1 wideout. With only 13 receiving touchdowns in 48 games, Landry is a move-the-chains, inside receiver as opposed to a dominant X-receiver typically associated with big-money deals. The Miami Herald thinks the Dolphins and Landry have a good shot at ironing out an extension this summer, but should he hit the open market, Landry could get offers for $12 million per year for a 4-5 year deal.

Sammy Watkins is another polarizing player. Watkins has flashed huge potential, but also battled injuries. The Bills declined his fifth-year option, so Watkins enters 2017 with plenty of motivation to earn a lucrative multi-year deal next spring. Although he could return to Buffalo, chances are that Watkins will be playing elsewhere in 2018 and there will be no shortage of suitors looking to sign the 24-year old star.

Alshon Jeffery bombed in his bid to secure a long-term deal last season, missing time due to a suspension and setting career lows in most categories. Still, Jeffery got a 1-year deal for over $9 million and moved on to a much better situation with the Eagles. He’ll get the chance to rebound if he can show the skills that made him one of the top young wideouts in the league from 2013-2014.

Terrelle Pryor was terrific in his first full season playing receiver and is in an excellent position to capitalize. Pryor exceeded 1,000 receiving yards for a moribund Cleveland offense and now gets the chance to be the top pass catcher for Kirk Cousins…Green Bay’s Davante Adams had a huge 2016 campaign after a couple of inconsistent efforts to begin his career. He’ll need another strong showing in 2017 to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. The best course of action for Adams might be to remain in Green Bay with the league’s best quarterback…Donte Moncrief battled injuries last season that held him to only 30 grabs, but he still produced seven touchdown grabs. Moncrief could earn high WR2 money in free agency, $8-$10 million per season…This is widely considered to be the final year of Larry Fitzgerald‘s brilliant career. Even if he returned in 2018, it would likely be a team-friendly deal with the Cardinals…With significant off-the-field concerns, Martavis Bryant has a lot to prove before he can expect a lucrative multi-year deal. Instead, he may have to settle for a 1-year “prove it” deal.

Tight Ends

2018 won’t be a great year for team’s looking for an elite tight end. It’s very doubtful that any of the options that could be on the market next March will earn more than $8-$9 million annually. Tyler Eifert simply can’t stay healthy but has been terrific when he’s on the field. Eifert’s extensive history of injuries could keep cause teams to shy away from viewing him as a stand-alone tight end. His best option might be to remain in Cincinnati. At 30, Jimmy Graham is still in his prime but won’t earn $10 million per year again. Graham has only scored eight touchdowns in two seasons with the Seahawks. Even though Graham admirably bounced back from a devastating patellar injury, he’s simply not as much of a part of Seattle’s offense as he was for the Saints. Graham should draw attention from teams that plan to utilize him as a receiving threat and red zone option, but he may have to settle for a 1-2-year deal. Player Team Pos Age Exp. Salary Tyler Eifert TE 26 4 $2,064,000 Jimmy Graham TE 30 7 $10,000,000 Cameron Brate * TE 25 3 $690,000 C.J. Fiedorowicz TE 25 3 $798,779 Erik Swoope * TE 25 2 $480,000 Antonio Gates TE 36 14 $5,500,000 Zach Miller TE 32 8 $2,750,000 Niles Paul TE 27 6 $2,000,000 Ben Watson TE 36 13 $3,500,000 Luke Willson TE 27 4 $1,800,000 Brent Celek TE 32 10 $4,333,333 Mychal Rivera TE 26 4 $1,625,000 Richard Rodgers TE 25 3 $690,254 Darren Fells TE 31 5 $1,000,000 Anthony Fasano TE 33 11 $2,750,000

[the_ad id=”63633″]

Cameron Brate is a restricted free agent who could become expendable with Tampa Bay selecting O.J. Howard in the first round…Look for all of Houston’s tight ends to be less involved now that Brock Osweiler is no longer the Texans signal-caller. C.J. Fiedorowicz is a solid blocker and pass catcher and will be a priority for Houston to retain, especially if Bill O’Brien returns…Keep your eye on Erik Swoope this season, who could break out as the TE2 for the Colts.