Free Agency Recap - Day 4
· Yahoo Sports
Much like free-agent moves can alter the trajectory of a franchise, a player's decision on where he chooses to sign can change the narrative of his career (in a good or bad way) and have a huge impact on his potential fantasy impact.
The Huddle will provide an extensive breakdown of every meaningful reported signing (at the four primary fantasy positions) and detail what it means from a fantasy perspective. Please check out our recaps on what was a very busy day on March 9 - the first day that teams were allowed to negotiate with free agents. Much more mellow days followed on March 10 and March 11.
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Note: Free agents can officially sign a contract now (as of 4:00 PM ET on March 11). Deals (including trades, such as what happened to Maxx Crosby on March 10) will occasionally fall apart, which is why it is important to note that some of the players moving forward will be in the “signed” phase while others will be in the “agreed to terms” bucket.
QUARTERBACKS
Kyler Murray, Vikings (reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth the league minimum)
Murray's career needed a fresh start just as much as Minnesota needed to have a quarterback who is ready to win now. While it would be a mistake to write off J.J. McCarthy after two injury-plagued seasons, the Vikings saw too much of him missing Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in 10 games last year to run it back and hope for the best in 2026. Murray has become a punching bag of sorts in recent years - in part for his own inability to stay healthy and in part because he never led Arizona to a 10-win season - but it was not so long ago that he was considered among the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. While head coach Kevin O'Connell may not have been able to work his magic on McCarthy in what was essentially the latter's rookie campaign, Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold can both attest to how good he is at his job as a play-caller and play-designer. Murray is a different cat than either of those players and will likely need to get used to playing under center more often under O'Connell, so no one should be surprised if there are a few bumps along the way.
With that said, O'Connell is clearly the sharpest mind (and developer of quarterbacks) that Murray has teamed up with as he enters his eighth year in the league. Josh Dobbs' short stint with the Vikings in 2023 serves as proof that O'Connell can tweak his offense for a mobile quarterback when necessary. Jefferson, Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones give him the most formidable group of pass-catchers he has had at his disposal in the pros as well. While much has been made about Murray's inability to maximize Trey McBride's considerable upside during their time together, the former No. 1 overall pick was the quarterback for some of DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown's finest seasons. Jefferson should be expected to bounce back in a big way as a result.
Early fantasy prognostication: It is rarely ever a bad idea to bet on a talented player who is about to enter the best situation of his career. Minnesota's offensive line is better than anything he worked behind in Arizona - in addition to all the other factors mentioned in the previous paragraph - so he should, at least in theory, be considered a better bet to stay healthier than he did for most of his time with the Cardinals. Murray is about to enter the part of his career where he will likely start running less in the next year or two, but that should not be a concern for him entering his age-29 season. There is too much to like about the situation to consider him anything less than a high-end QB2 with enormous QB1 upside. (The only reason he should not be viewed as a clear QB1 is that he has only played a full season once over the last five seasons.)
RUNNING BACKS
Keaton Mitchell, Chargers (reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $9.25 million)
Mitchell is the latest product of the Harbaugh-to-Harbaugh pipeline, joining Jim's Chargers after three injury-plagued seasons with John's Ravens. When he is healthy, Mitchell is the epitome of a big-play back, which makes him a very nice complement to Omarion Hampton. (To that end, Mitchell has played 26 games and logged 121 carries across three NFL seasons. Of those 121 carries, 22 have covered at least 10 yards and 11 have gone for at least 20.) Although the former undrafted free agent has not shown an ability to stay healthy long enough to be counted on as a team's primary backup, there is a distinct possibility that new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel sees enough similarities with former pupil De'Von Achane to use him in similar ways. Kimani Vidal figures to remain Hampton's primary backup for the short term - at least until Harbaugh and McDaniel feel comfortable with Mitchell's durability - but there is no question that Mitchell's addition means the Chargers will still have the ability to create big plays in the running game even when Hampton needs a rest.
Early fantasy prognostication: Vidal is not exactly an insurmountable hurdle for Mitchell to overtake on the depth chart, but the latter needs to display some sort of durability before it happens. If Mitchell can earn that kind of trust at some point in 2026, then he becomes a very interesting handcuff for an offense that wants to pound the rock and will have a creative offensive mind in McDaniel running the show. Mitchell's ability to turn any running play into a long touchdown should make him a viable flex option in deeper leagues and a solid RB4 choice with massive upside - especially if the Chargers enjoy better injury luck on the offensive line than they did in 2025.
Emanuel Wilson, Seahawks (reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth up to $2.1 million)
While no one will confuse Wilson with Kenneth Walker III, it is hard to argue with the thinking on this one. Wilson clearly emerged as the preferred backup running back behind Josh Jacobs in Green Bay last season and looked like the better option at times (mostly when Jacobs was playing hurt). At this price, it is honestly hard to understand why the Packers didn't bring him back. Be that as it may, Wilson joins a backfield that just lost Walker in free agency and may not have Zach Charbonnet for at least part of the 2026 season after he tore his ACL in the NFC Divisional Round. The timing of that injury makes it extremely unlikely Charbonnet will be ready to contribute for at least the first month or two of the season, and that is if all goes well with his recovery. As a result, Wilson may only have to fight off George Holani and Kenny McIntosh to be the Week 1 starter if the Seahawks do not add anyone else of consequence this spring.
Early fantasy prognostication: Without question, this is one of the best outcomes Wilson could have asked for after entering the offseason as a restricted free agent. He wasn't going to see regular playing time in Green Bay for as long as Jacobs was around. In Seattle, it appears he will get a chance to be a regular contributor right away behind an improving offensive line. If we assume the Seahawks do not add another running back in the draft (Seattle has only four picks as of March 12, including only one on Day 3), Wilson should also see plenty of volume as the Seahawks' defense will likely keep their offense in favorable game scripts. There is a path to low-end fantasy RB2 value as long as Charbonnet is sidelined, but fantasy managers will need to wait until after the draft to feel good about Wilson's upside for 2026.
Rachaad White, Commanders (reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year contract, financial terms undisclosed)
A familiar theme in some of the recent agreements/signings has been connections. In this case, White is headed to the nation's capital to play with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels. It is also an addition that makes sense for both sides since Washington was one of the few remaining teams that could offer him a starting job. The former Buccaneer is a dynamic weapon in the passing game and a huge upgrade over Jeremy McNichols in that regard, but it is hard to get overly excited about him as a runner given the relative lack of explosiveness he displayed across four seasons in Tampa Bay. (To that end, he broke only two runs of at least 20 yards on 132 carries in 2025 and two 20-plus yard runs on 145 totes in 2024.) At the very least, White should serve as the primary backfield option on passing downs and steal a few reps on early downs from Jacory Croskey-Merritt, although that assumes the Commanders do not spend a Day 1 or Day 2 pick on another running back (and Austin Ekeler is slow to recover from his torn Achilles).
Early fantasy prognostication: Any running back who should handle the bulk of reps on passing downs and average about 8-10 carries per game is going to be worth some consideration in fantasy leagues. Unlike most running backs who excel in the passing game, however, White isn't explosive enough to push for weekly flex consideration unless he beats out Croskey-Merritt for the starting job. If he does, he could make for a mid-range RB2 option in fantasy. With that said, a one-year contract will not keep Washington from adding another player - perhaps a power back to handle goal-line work - to the roster. If that happens and White plays a similar role to the one McNichols handled last year, then White becomes more of a fringe RB3/RB4 option.
Honorable Mention
RB Emari Demercado, Chiefs
WR Tutu Atwell, Dolphins
WR Calvin Austin, Giants
TE Kylen Granson, Titans
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: 2026 Free Agency Recap - Day 4