Arguably the most significant name on the free agent quarterback list is off the board. Russell Wilson agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants worth up to $21 million ($10.5 million guaranteed) on Tuesday.
Wilson, rumored to multiple teams with the Giants not being the frontrunner, will join a struggling, rebuilding team this season, alongside newly signed Jameis Winston. It will be the 36-year-old’s fourth team in his 14-year career, and third in the last five.
Although rebuilding, the Giants improved the defense in free agency and also have position players in key roles returning. This won’t put them in the postseason this upcoming season, but not finishing last in the NFC East could be a realistic goal with their Vegas win total moving up to 5.5 from 3.5.
Plus, this is the first stability the Giants have had at the quarterback position since 2019. And the move doesn’t prevent them from drafting another signal caller with the third overall pick.
But who are the fantasy football winners and losers of Wilson to the Giants?
WINNER: MALIK NABERS GETS MASSIVE VERTICAL BOOST
This will be the wide receiver’s fourth quarterback during his NFL career. Malik Nabers is entering his second season.
While he had a 1,200-yard season as a rookie, he was underutilized as a deep ball threat. Nabers ranked first in his draft class in deep receiving grade (97.8, Pro Football Focus), but only caught seven balls of 20 or more yards as a rookie.
Nabers is pairing with Wilson, who PFF ranked as the best deep-ball passer last season. Wilson was better than 50% and accumulated 851 yards and eight touchdowns on throws of 20 or more. This will not only give a boost to Nabers, but it’ll give Darius Slayton a bump in Underdog Best Ball drafts, as well.
Even if Wilson is a one-and-done in New York, his experience will also likely be a lasting footprint on Nabers.
LOSER: THE STEELERS STILL DON’T HAVE A QB
All the speculation was that Pittsburgh was trying to decide between Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback, both of whom the team invested in one season ago.
They ended up with neither.
When Fields took a multi-year deal to be the New York Jets starting quarterback, it looked as though the Steelers had their guy. Especially after bringing in his old teammate, D.K. Metcalf.
Instead, Aaron Rodgers is in a tier of his own with available free agents that Pittsburgh could choose from. Other names include Mason Rudolph, who re-signed with the Steelers after a stint in Tennessee, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz…you get the idea.
If Wilson’s age deterred the Steelers at all, they would turn their noses up even more at Rodgers, as he is older and holding them hostage at the moment.
So, will they draft and start someone else? The Steelers have had a solid defense for ages, and were adding depth to the offense. But what team succeeds without a solid answer at the quarterback position?
WINNER: TYRONE TRACY JR. WILL ACTUALLY SEE THE RED ZONE
While New York could draft a running back out of this loaded class to bolster its backfield, it’d be giving up a lot to prioritize the position it just drafted last year for similar reasons.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., a 2024 fifth-round pick, became the starter and didn’t look back in Week 5 last season.
He jumped out to 129 rushing yards in his first start and has three 100-yard games to his name in his professional career so far.
However, seven of those games saw him post 50 yards or under.
A competent quarterback will allow the Giants to remain on offense longer and put points on the scoreboard more often. They’ll also be in the red zone at a higher clip and be more competent in general with Wilson under center.
I may not jump in fantasy drafts and rely on Tracy Jr. as an every-week starter, but finding sole starters is a key to success in fantasy. Depth that makes sense gives me confidence that Tracy Jr. could be in Flex/RB3 slot, especially if no competition is added. The Wolf currently has Tracy as his RB23, right in that area.
LOSER: IS JAYLEN WARREN READY TO CARRY THE OFFENSIVE LOAD?
Jaylen Warren had a second-round tender applied to his contract this month, almost solidifying he’ll remain a Steeler for the 2025 season. Should a team try to sign him, it would forfeit a second-round pick.
Now that Najee Harris has shipped off to Los Angeles, Warren is slated to be the starter. In a committee situation last season, Warren never rushed for more than 71 yards in any game. Warren will be in the opposite situation of Tracy, where he does not have a competent quarterback to lean on and engineer consistent drives.
He’ll likely see a similar set-up with ex-Eagle Kenneth Gainwell now donning the black and gold. Both Warren and Gainwell are 26, while Cordarrelle Patterson (34) is currently slated to fill in for either or operate as the No. 3 option. The Steelers have also been linked to several rookie running backs during the NFL Combine and Pro Days.
It doesn’t make much sense for Pittsburgh to draft an even younger rusher, but Warren not remaining a sole starter following Harris’ departure is concerning for fantasy. Another two-headed (or three) backfield that isn’t appealing for fantasy managers, especially with no quarterback as we head into the draft.
WINNER(S): DIVISIONAL RIVALS REJOICE
Any time a team in your division chooses a short-term option, even if it’s a veteran, in a rebuild phase, the odds are stacked against them to be successful and competitive.
The Giants still have too many holes, and if Wilson’s arm is the only thing on offense that consistently scares me, those three team’s defenses can plan for those matchups. For fantasy purposes, streaming those defenses when possible in the respective matchup should garner points.
