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Matthew Berry’s Love/Hate from 2023 NFL Free Agency

Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

I will be honest. I have a different perspective these days on free agency.

A year ago at this time I was about to go through a version of it myself, as I knew it was likely that my time at ESPN was coming to an end. I have written and spoken at length about the decision to come to NBC and I’ve also spoken about it on a bunch of podcasts. A quick Google search of “Matthew Berry goes to NBC” will get you there.

But what I haven’t really spoken about was the “free agency” process. That once I announced publicly I was leaving ESPN, how nerve wracking it was not knowing where I was going to land.

My phone was blowing up with people wondering where I was going to go. I was hearing from friends and former ESPN colleagues who had moved onto other places: “Come over here, man, it’s awesome.” When I was talking to my agents: “These are the places that are interested and can pay you what you want. This place isn’t interested. This place is much smaller than you’re used to, but is offering crazy money. This place is bigger, but is budget strapped and you’d have to take a pay cut. This place can offer great exposure, but you’d have to move cross-country, etc etc.”

Every potential opportunity my agents and I spoke about had positives and negatives and I had to make a decision quickly. Plus, meetings had to happen and deals had to be struck in a short time frame because the NFL preseason was going to be arriving sooner than later.

Every day was pressure-filled and I was on a tight timeline, while everyone in my life – wife, family, friends, agents, parents – all had an opinion. Opinions that weren’t always the same. Plus, everywhere I went people were asking, texting, DMing, calling: Where you gonna go? The pressure-filled drum beat was constant and loud and got more intense every passing day I didn’t have an answer.

And that’s just dumb me, right?

So, I can’t imagine what it’s like for NFL players, where the money and the stakes are much, much higher. Their shelf life is much shorter than, say, a media personality. And unlike a media personality who could, if they wanted, just go off on their own and do their own podcast/YouTube channel/newsletter etc etc, there are really only 32 places they can work if they want to continue to be an NFL player.

High stakes, indeed.

I ended up getting lucky that NBC gave me such an incredible opportunity to come home, join Football Night in America and be a part of the Rotoworld re-birth that the decision was easy for me. And I’ve never been happier.

But not everyone is that lucky to get a no-brainer offer. So I have a lot more empathy for NFL players this time around free agency than I previously had.

Of all the many factors that go into NFL players deciding where to sign (or, in some cases, re-sign), I am 10% positive that what their fantasy value will be in their new home is NOT a factor at all. Nor should it be.

That’s what I’m here for.

What follows is my “Love/Hate” for free agency. The premise is simple. Every move in free agency has a ripple effect on not just their own fantasy value, but the fantasy value of their new teammates and the ones they left behind.

This column breaks down the free agency moves that improved a player’s fantasy value (“Loves”) and the moves that hurt his fantasy value (“Hates”). To be clear, this is not saying I Love or Hate these players, but just whether or not a player’s fantasy value went up or down.

For example, Baker Mayfield makes the “others receiving votes” section below not because I think he’ll be fantasy relevant this year, but because, as the likely starter in Tampa Bay he obviously has more fantasy value than as Matthew Stafford ‘s backup in LA. He’s not a draftable fantasy option, but assuming he is the Bucs’ starting QB, he at least is on the bye week fill-in radar, which is an improvement in his fantasy value.

Got it? Good. Let’s get to it.

QB Free Agency Moves I Love

Daniel Jones , QB, New York Giants

After transforming Josh Allen into a quarterbacking monster in Buffalo, Brian Daboll guided Daniel Jones to a career year in his first season at the helm of the Giants. Daboll is the Quarterback Whisperer. Although his style is probably less whispering, more yelling-loudly-in-your-face-with-cigar-breath. But hey, whatever works. Jones had career highs in passing and rushing yards last season on the way to finishing as QB9 (and QB8 in PPG). He had nine games with 30-plus rushing yards (fourth-most among quarterbacks) and five games with 20-plus fantasy points. That’s the same number of 20-plus games he had over the previous two seasons combined. And this offseason the Giants retained his top weapons (Saquon Barkley , Darius Slayton , Sterling Shepard ) and then went out and added two more pieces in Darren Waller and Parris Campbell . Maybe you don’t think Daniel Jones is worth a $160 million contract, but the good news is that you don’t have to pay him any of that money to put up numbers for your fantasy team.

Geno Smith , QB, Seattle Seahawks

While the Jets are willing to trade away everything to land a 39-year-old quarterback coming off a career-worst season, it’s interesting to think where the franchise might be if they had just stuck with their 2013 second-round pick, Geno Smith . I get it, hindsight is always 20/20. (Unless you are on a darkness retreat. Then you have no sight at all.) But the fact is, Smith has been excellent in Seattle. Last season he led the NFL in completion percentage and was tied for having the most games with multiple touchdown passes (12). He put up 17-plus fantasy points in 11 of 17 games and ran for 20-plus yards eight times. It added up to a QB5 finish overall. There’s still a chance Seattle drafts a QB early, but that player is likely to be more of a developmental guy, while Smith is the starter in 2023. And considering Smith’s consistency last season, combined with the fact that Seattle didn’t lose any key offensive starters, there’s every reason to think he should be a borderline QB1 once again in 2023.

Others receiving votes: Feels weird to have Justin Fields here, but I want to mention him because the addition of DJ Moore obviously helps Fields a lot but he’s only in the “votes” section because I’m just not sure how much more it helps in terms of fantasy ranking. Fields was already borderline top 5 and you can’t move him ahead of the likes of Patrick Mahomes , Josh Allen, Joe Burrow , Jalen Hurts . So, yes, Justin Fields ’ fantasy value somehow both went up and stayed the same…. You are not drafting Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo this season in any leagues, other than maybe the deepest of two QB leagues. But the fact is, both guys were not going to start this year for their teams last year, so getting to a place where they can start and throw to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for Baker or Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers for Jimmy G is an upgrade in fantasy value for both. Both guys at least have a chance at fantasy relevancy next year as a bye-week fill in or deep 2 QB league plays.

QB Free Agency Moves I Hate

Nothing. Honestly, there aren’t really any moves where I feel like a QB lost significant fantasy value. I mean, sure, Jarrett Stidham went from potentially being the Raiders starter to now backing up Russell Wilson in Denver and the Niners signing Sam Darnold along with the emergence of Brock Purdy makes things more complicated for Trey Lance , but really, there’s been nothing that gives me some real names for this section. But I’m writing this just so you know I didn’t forget. As many legal documents like to say, this section intentionally left blank.

RB Free Agency Moves I Love

Josh Jacobs , RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh Jacobs would have loved a lucrative long-term deal this offseason. Instead, he got the franchise tag. Not ideal for him … but outstanding for fantasy. Because here’s the thing about running backs on the franchise tag, they get A LOT of work. A ton. They get more volume than the front row of a death metal show. And don’t forget: when Jacobs led the league in touches (393) last season, he ended up as the NFL rushing leader. Jacobs had nine games with 19-plus fantasy points (tied for most among all backs) and six games with 150-plus total yards. He was also just the third back since 2014 with 390-plus touches AND 2000-plus scrimmage yards in a season, joining Christian McCaffrey in 2019 and Derrick Henry in 2020. Volume was very good to Josh Jacobs . And if you don’t believe me when I tell you that the Raiders plan to use him just as much this season, then consider this: this offseason Vegas re-signed Ameer Abdullah and fullback Jakob Johnson … and added no one else to the backfield. Jacobs is their guy. You’ll do well if he’s your guy, too.

Tony Pollard , RB, Dallas Cowboys

I haven’t been this excited about the potential for a Tony since I wrote The Producers, my musical about high-floor RB2s and WR2s who produce a consistent level of fantasy points each week. Unfortunately, it turns out there was already a musical of the same name from some guy named Mel Brooks and my masterpiece never made it to Broadway and therefore never won the Tony it deserved. Anyway … Tony Pollard . Last season he was one of just six running backs with 1,200-plus total yards and 12-plus touchdowns. Nine of those scores were rushing touchdowns, even though he saw just 12 carries inside the 10-yard line compared to 26 carries for Ezekiel Elliott . So, as good as Pollard was in 2022 — RB8 in PPG and RB2 from weeks 8-16, averaging 22.0 PPG over that span — there’s every reason to think he hasn’t even scratched his ceiling yet. Assuming the Cowboys don’t draft a major RB or do something else unexpected, Pollard will be a major fantasy producer in 2023 and will flirt with top 5 value.

David Montgomery , RB, Detroit Lions

In all four of his seasons in Chicago, David Montgomery had at least 230 touches and 1,000-plus scrimmage yards. He also had 300-plus receiving yards in each of his last three seasons. But Montgomery has now moved on to Detroit, where he will play behind one of the league’s best lines and take on Jamaal Williams ’ role. That’s the role that a season ago gave Williams 262 total carries, 38 goal-to-go carries (15 more than any other back) and a league-leading 17 rushing scores. It’s been clear the Lions do not want to give D’Andre Swift a big workload – he’ll stay in the 8 to 10 touch a game role – so Monty once again finds himself in a heavy volume role. But it’s not all good news because I’m not sure Montgomery can be as good as Williams at introducing himself . And that’s important. But everything else? Non-intro things? I love the fantasy fit for Montgomery in Detroit.

Rhamondre Stevenson , RB, New England Patriots

Bill Belichick was asked at the League Meetings last week why Patriots fans should have any reason for optimism and he replied: “The last 25 years.” That is a very good answer. But I also would have accepted: “The existence of Rhamondre Stevenson .” Last season, Stevenson was RB3 in PPG from Weeks 3-13 (18.7 PPG) and set a career high in receptions with 69, fourth among all running backs. That usage in the passing game should stay high because New England replaced Damien Harris with James Robinson, who is not much of a pass catcher. In fact, last season Robinson had a target share of just 4% and averaged less than 5 yards per reception. Stevenson was a top 10 back overall and in PPG last season and there’s every reason to think he will be again.

Rashaad Penny , RB, Philadelphia Eagles

The Kelce Brothers had a great segment on a recent New Heights podcast in which Travis struggled mightily to identify NFL head coaches in the annual head coach photo. As poorly as he did, I bet he’d do even worse attempting to identify the running backs on Jason’s Eagles team. For those playing at home, the depth chart is: Rashaad Penny , Kenneth Gainwell , Boston Scott and Trey Sermon . Yeah … not great. With Miles Sanders vacating 259 carries (15.2 per game), the bulk of them should go to Penny. And get this: over the past two seasons, Penny’s rank among running backs with 150-plus carries is first in yards per carry (6.2), first in yards after contact per rush (4.4) and 10th in tackles avoided per rush (22.7%). Yeah … pretty great! I’m contractually obligated to say that, of course, he needs to stay healthy. But considering the Eagles ranked third in red zone rush rate last season, and that they put up a ton of points, if healthy, I love Penny’s upside in Philadelphia in 2023.

Rachaad White , RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By now you have likely heard the big Tampa Bay player personnel announcement from this offseason that ended an era in the NFL. That’s right: Leonard Fournette is no longer a Buccaneer. Fournette’s absence opens up 262 touches, while Rachaad White averaged 13.6 PPG in the five games last season in which he had 15-plus touches, and he had 100-plus scrimmage yards in both of his games with 20 or more touches. It also seems that the Bucs see White as their guy going forward considering he had at least 11 touches in each of his last eight games (excluding Week 18). Lots to like with White in 2023. And, hey, since Tampa’s new quarterback is a No. 1 overall talent and not some sixth-round scrub like the last guy, you have to like the offense as a whole, too.

Others Receiving Votes: I love Samaje Perine heading into the 2023 season almost as much as Sean Payton loves using multiple running backs. In five of his last six seasons in New Orleans, Payton gave 150-plus touches to multiple backs. It’s a big reason why Perine signed with Denver. And a big reason Payton wanted Perine is the fact that the former Bengal is very efficient with the ball in his hands. In Perine’s four games with 10-plus touches last season, he averaged 21.3 PPG. Perine’s move to Denver moves him into the weekly RB2 conversation in 2023…. Sean McDermott said they want to limit the number of hits Josh Allen takes this year. Easier said than done because once on the field, it’s hard to get Josh Allen to stop being Josh Allen, but maybe they call Allen’s number less around the goal line now that Damien Harris is in town. While Harris’ situation is about the same (he was in a committee with a better RB in New England and now he’s in a committee with a better RB in Buffalo), the fact is the Bills are a much more explosive offense than New England and will be in scoring position more often. Also, much as I love James Cook , I’d argue he’s less competition for Harris than Rhamondre Stevenson . Slight upgrade for Harris here who could be a poor man’s Jamaal Williams this year with a bunch of cheap touchdowns.

RB Free Agency Moves I Hate

Alvin Kamara , RB, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans didn’t bring in Jamaal Williams with his 262 carries and 17 rushing scores to not play him. Which means Alvin Kamara is going to have to split touches. Williams is an upgrade over Mark Ingram (Kamara’s main competition recently) so that’s a loss for AK47 and really, I’m not sure Kamara even deserves a full workload anymore. Over the past two seasons, Kamara is averaging just 3.9 YPC compared to 5.0 over the previous four seasons. Over the same stretch he has just six rushing scores on 463 carries, and Kamara scored in just two games last season. He also had a career low target share last season of 18%, averaging just 5.1 targets per game. But there is something that can stop Kamara from piling up bad stats every week: a looming suspension. So he’s got that going for him?

D’Andre Swift , RB, Detroit Lions

D’Andre Swift played less than 45% of snaps in nine of his 14 games in 2022 and had only three games with more than 13 touches. Yes, part of that is because the Lions were easing him back in from injury, but Swift also gets injured a lot. He has missed at least three games in each of his three NFL seasons. And while Jamaal Williams is gone, his exit could actually result in even less usage for Swift because new Lions back David Montgomery provides more versatility than Williams.

Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman , RBs, Chicago Bears

Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman will form a true timeshare for the Bears this season. And not a good timeshare either. I’m talking one of those timeshares with stained carpets and broken air conditioning that is nowhere near the beach unless you think a 27-minute walk counts as “beachside.” I mean, I like Herbert and Foreman in a vacuum – especially if that vacuum is used on those stained timeshare carpets – but this Chicago offense saw multiple backs get 10-plus carries just twice last season. The run game mostly runs through Justin Fields , who had 160 carries last season, including 15 inside the 10-yard line. If Herbert and Foreman were pass catchers I might feel differently. But Herbert’s career target share is 3.5% and Foreman’s is 2.5%. I just don’t see the path to consistent production this season for either player.

Alexander Mattison , RB, Minnesota Vikings

The Year is 2074. ChatGPT10046 writes this column. The jokes are actually funny. The puns are punderful (so not like that). And Alexander Mattison is still the backup running back for the Minnesota Vikings. As talented as Mattison is – 21.7 PPG in four starts over the past two seasons – his path to significant playing time remains blocked barring Dalvin Cook leaving town. There is still a chance Cook leaves Minnesota but as of this writing he is still there. Plus, the previously injury prone Cook played all 17 games last season, giving Mattison five or fewer touches 12 times. Mattison also saw 11 games with a snap rate under 30%. All of which adds up to Mattison, despite all of his upside, remains little more than Dalvin Cook insurance. But, hey, maybe the 2075 season will be different.

WR/TE Free Agency Moves I Love

Chris Olave , WR, New Orleans Saints

Many of Chris Olave ‘s numbers from his rookie year look like a guy on the cusp of WR1-dom. (Yeah, that’s a word.) Olave had a target share of at least 21% in 13 of his 15 games and his 28% target share from Week 2 on was Top 10 among wide receivers. He also had double-digit fantasy points in 11 of 15 games. Now, he gets a quarterback in Derek Carr who, over the past two seasons, ranks Top 5 in both deep ball rate and deep ball completions. We’ll call it a Carr bump. (Not to be confused with a bumper car, still the world’s leader in delivering whiplash injuries to 8-year-olds.) I like Olave to make a big jump in his second year.

Garrett Wilson , WR, New York Jets

Aaron Rodgers ’ seemingly eternal decision-making process is putting the Jets and Packers in a bit of a bind as they attempt to navigate the offseason and their 2023 roster constructions. But the biggest victim in Rodgers’ dithering? That’s right: Me, your old friend Matty B. Because look, if Rodgers is the Jets quarterback, Garrett Wilson ‘s upside enters the stratosphere. Last season — with Not Aaron Rodgers throwing him passes — Wilson put up 1,103 receiving yards (most by a Jets rookie in franchise history), earned a 25% target share and posted six games with 90-plus receiving yards. But how am I supposed to post a comprehensive early-April list of my fake football Loves and Hates if Rodgers hasn’t made his decision? What a selfish jerk. Anyway, even if Rodgers doesn’t decide on the Jets, I’m still very high on Wilson … as long as his quarterback isn’t Zach Wilson . G. Wilson’s per game averages last year with Z. Wilson throwing to him were 6.2 targets, 49.7 yards, 8.6 fantasy points. Gross! But with Mike White and Joe Flacco under center, those numbers jumped to 11.4 targets, 82 yards, 17.3 FPPG. So Wilson with Rodgers is a Love; and with anyone not named Zach Wilson he is a Very Much Like.

K.J. Osborn , WR, Minnesota Vikings

In a case of popular-fantasy-team-names-becoming-reality, this off-season the Minnesota Vikings actually Lost That Adam Thielen . The veteran receiver’s departure, along with that of tight end Irv Smith , vacates 143 total targets — as well as 27 red zone targets — in Minnesota’s offense. K.J. Osborn should see the bulk of them. He played more than 70% of snaps in 12 of his 17 games last season and, in his 12 career games with at least six targets, Osborn is averaging 17.0 PPG.

Jameson Williams , WR, Detroit Lions

Despite losing most of his rookie season to injury, Jameson Williams still managed to post one catch for 41 yards and a touchdown, and one run for 40 yards. Hey, I’ll say it, even if no other fantasy analyst is brave enough to: if Jameson Williams averages 40.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per touch for his career, he will be very good. But even in the off chance his per-touch numbers drop a smidge, I still love him. First of all, the Lions clearly do, too. It’s no accident that the only wide receiver they signed in free agency is Marvin Jones. I also expect Williams to be the go-to target in Detroit’s passing game. Remember, Jared Goff ranked Top 5 in completion rate on deep passes last season. Now, he gets a fully healthy Jameson Williams with an entire season of the playbook under his belt? Oh, baby. I love me some Jameson Williams in 2023.

T.J. Hockenson , TE, Minnesota Vikings

Second place is the first loser. I yell those exact words to the youth soccer team I help coach every chance I get even though the league doesn’t even have standings. But finishing in second place when it’s a contest that includes Travis Kelce ? That’s nothing to be ashamed of. TJ Hockenson ended the 2022 season as TE2 overall and TE4 in PPG (12,7). After his trade from Detroit, he averaged 9.4 targets per game (excluding Week 18), posted five or more receptions in seven of his nine Minnesota games, and was TE2 in PPG (14.1). With Thielen and Smith now gone, there’s no reason to think Hockenson’s heavy usage in Minnesota’s passing game will decline. He’s a clear Top 5 TE again in 2023. Just don’t tell my youth soccer team that. I can’t lose our team fantasy league again this year to those jerks.

Darren Waller , TE, New York Giants

Sometimes a player puts up numbers simply on talent alone. Sometimes a player produces because he happens to be a perfect fit for a system. And sometimes a player puts up numbers simply because he wants to make your fantasy team lose. But you really have something in fantasy when both talent and system are in play. We might have that with Darren Waller on the Giants. Since 2019, Waller is fourth among tight ends in yards per route run, while posting the third-most receptions on crossing routes over the same stretch. Why is that significant? Because last season Daniel Jones targeted crossing routes at the third-highest rate. Look for Waller to finish much higher this season than the TE9 in PPG he managed in 2022.

Others receiving votes: Yes, it’s easy to Love anyone who is running around in the same jersey as Patrick Mahomes and eligible to catch a pass from him. A scarecrow on a push cart could probably go for 5 catches and 60 yards most weeks. But Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore showed flashes late last season of being far more than just some randos who happen to be on the same team as the sport’s best player. Including the playoffs, Moore had six-plus targets in three of his four games with at least 15 routes run. And Toney’s talent really started to pop in KC, with 8.2 yards/target and three touchdowns on 21 receptions (including the postseason). With JuJu Smith-Schuster ‘s exit opening up 101 targets — and the likes of Marquez Valdes-Scantling , Cornell Powell , Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Justyn Ross as the other options in that receiver room — there’s every reason to think that Toney and Moore take big steps forward in 2023…. Believe it or not, Chigoziem Okonkwo led all tight ends in yards per route run and yards per target last season. I know, it’s hard to believe anything related to Tennessee’s passing game was at the top of any statistical category from last season outside of Face Palms Generated (FPG). But despite Ryan Tannehill ‘s absence, Okonkwo’s abilities were evident. From Weeks 12-18, he was TE11 in PPG (9.5) and, in the three games he ran 15-plus routes, Okonkwo averaged 13.1 FPPG. (To be clear, that’s Fantasy Points Per Game, not Face Palms Generated). With Tannehill back — and Austin Hooper , who played 50% of the snaps, gone — Okonkwo’s role, and fantasy production, will only grow in 2023….. Most people see someone in an Austin 3:16 t-shirt and think of Stone Cold Steve Austin. But those of us who had Austin Hooper on our fantasy teams last year, Austin 3-16 reminds us of Hooper’s standard stat line. (Sadly, he only bested a 3-catch, 16-yard performance four times in 2022.) But I truly believe this season will be better with Hooper in Las Vegas. Raiders tight ends had a significant 18% target share last season and now Hooper will be paired with Jimmy Garoppolo who loves checking down almost as much as he loves adult film stars. Since 2019, Garoppolo ranks 38th out of 39 qualified quarterbacks in aDOT. Hooper’s numbers will benefit greatly from Jimmy G in 2023.

WR/TE Free Agency Moves I Hate

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin , WRs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I’ve done my research, crunched the numbers, spent time in the fantasy lab and it turns out that a receiver’s production is unlikely to improve when he goes from Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield as his quarterback. You’re welcome! But fine, if you’re still unconvinced, I’ll show my work. During the Brady era, Tampa averaged 702 pass attempts per season — most in the NFL. Meanwhile, Mayfield has eclipsed 500 pass attempts in a season just once. Mayfield also ranks 32nd out of 35 qualified quarterbacks over the past two seasons in completion percentage. And even with Brady there were a few red flags. Evans, for example, finished last season as WR17, but 22% of his total points came in Week 17 alone. Through Week 16 he was just WR30 in PPG. Godwin got eight-plus targets in every game in which he played 80% of snaps last season, but it’s unlikely he’ll be such a target monster in an offense that will throw much less. Evans and Godwin both drop down a tier in fantasy entering the 2023 season.

Allen Lazard , WR, New York Jets

Allen Lazard has to be feeling like he got stood up on a date. Aaron Rodgers made it seem like he was coming any minute, even reportedly requested Lazard’s presence … and now, weeks later, Lazard is stuck at the Jets team facility, sipping drinks and checking his watch while he glances at the door. Obviously Lazard’s prospects take a big hit if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t ultimately decide to go to North Jersey. But even if Rodgers becomes a Jet, I don’t love Lazard’s upside. Garrett Wilson would be the clear WR1 and Lazard has struggled to produce when he’s not the top option. Last season was the first of his career with more than 550 receiving yards, and even in a career year he averaged just 9.2 FPPG in the eight games in which he saw less than seven targets. He also had only three games all season with 70-plus receiving yards. Lazard may have been on Aaron Rodgers ’ 2023 wish list, but he shouldn’t be on yours.

Darnell Mooney , WR, Chicago Bears

Darnell Mooney has a 26% target share over the past two seasons. That’s huge. That’s also over. Because DJ Moore (and his 28% target share over the same stretch) has arrived in Chicago and there just won’t be enough volume in that passing game to see them both put up numbers. The Bears threw just 377 times last season, 38 less than any other team. I mean, 26 teams put it up over 500 times. If Mooney was the WR2 on any of those teams, I’d still like his upside. But over the past two seasons, when Mooney has fewer than seven targets, he has cracked 60 yards just twice. All that makes Mooney a Hate for me.

Dalton Schultz , TE, Houston Texans

They won’t be remembered in NFL circles exactly like Montana-to-Rice, but Dalton Schultz and Dak Prescott truly did have a significant connection. In Schultz’s 31 games (including playoffs) with Prescott over the past two seasons, he had 16 touchdowns. In just the last nine games together, he had seven. Now Schultz joins a team that would probably be happy to have seven touchdowns total in nine games. Houston’s offense last season was — might want to grab your sickness bag first — 31st in yards per game, 31st in offensive points per game, 31st in time of possession, 27th in red zone efficiency and 25th in passing yards per game. It can’t get worse … right? But Schultz will likely never have it better than he did in Dallas with Dak Prescott .

Matthew Berry, the Talented Mr. Roto, is glad he’s not a free agent anymore.