The 2025 NFL playoffs are still ongoing, but many fantasy managers are already looking forward to the start of next season. A new campaign offers a chance at redemption or defending a title after the offseason shakes up both the NFL and fantasy leagues.

The start of free agency is one of the major events on the league calendar for good reason. A slew of veteran talent changes hands on the open market each year, which can have a sizable impact on the success—or lack thereof—of the teams involved in these transactions.

Not every major free-agent decision pans out. For every deal like Saquon Barkley signing with the Philadelphia Eagles and going on to post a career-best season, there are plenty of transactions—such as D'Andre Swift leaving the City of Brotherly Love for the Chicago Bears—that fail to move the needle.

It's important for fantasy managers to keep tabs on these happenings and pay close attention to where some of the top stars land. Certain destinations can make all the difference between vastly outperforming a draft slot and being a bust that ends up sinking a fantasy squad.

With that in mind, let's look at an ideal fantasy landing spot for five of the most notable free agents.

Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' regular-season PPR data.

QB Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold will be one of the most contested targets when he enters free agency. After joining the Minnesota Vikings with relatively little fanfare this past year, the 2018 No. 3 overall pick-turned-journeyman quickly helped turn Minnesota into a legitimate contender while putting up consistently impressive numbers for the first time in his career.

With little in the way of competition due to a weak draft class and lack of marquee passers set to hit the open market, any team in need of a proven signal-caller should have interest in Darnold. While the impending bidding war for Bleacher Report's No. 1-ranked free agent will be great for Darnold's wallet, it could negatively impact his fantasy prospects.

Darnold has been fortunate to finally start for a franchise that boasts both an elite receiving corps and a sturdy offensive line. Having Justin Jefferson—arguably the league's best wideout—and up-and-coming star Jordan Addison at his disposal has greatly aided Darnold's rise to stardom. The quarterback's chemistry with these and the rest of Minnesota's surehanded crop of pass-catchers resulted in a stellar QB9 finish in 2024.

There's upside for Darnold to improve upon that result if he gets another year to continue what he's started in the Twin Cities. He didn't truly hit his stride until the latter portion of the season, evident by his QB5 ranking from Week 11 onward, and could fare far better across a full season in 2025.

While an exorbitant price tag—Spotrac estimates Darnold's market value to be a whopping $54.7 million annually—coupled with No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings, could result in Minnesota making a change under center, there has been talk that Darnold may stick around beyond this year.

Staying in Minnesota would be the best outcome for Darnold's fantasy prospects. He'd be a great bet to improve upon his already respectable total of 319.8 fantasy points this past season and should have weekly top-5 upside if he makes it to Year 2 with the Vikings.

Ideal Fantasy Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings

RB Aaron Jones

Even though he's getting up there in age, Aaron Jones still has plenty left in the tank and should continue to contribute at a high level when he signs his next contract.

After spending the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, Jones caught on with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason and was a major boon for both his former NFC North rivals and fantasy managers.

Jones began his Vikings tenure hot—ranking as the RB7 between Weeks 1 and 4—before cooling off slightly. He was still consistently above-average and finished the year ranked amongst the top 15 fantasy backs with 241.6 PPR points. He earned this hefty total by tallying 1,138 yards and five touchdowns on 255 carries and adding 408 yards and two scores on 51 catches.

Jones remains a versatile lead back whose presence would jump-start almost any slumping backfield. The Denver Broncos should have plenty of interest in him, especially after their rushing platoon regularly struggled to support standout rookie quarterback Bo Nix and couldn't get anything going during a blowout playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Top Broncos running back Javonte Williams has clearly lost a step due to injuries and looked like a shell of his former explosive self this season. Young backups Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime both flashed potential but failed to stand out enough to seize control of a wide-open backfield.

Acquiring a back of Jones' caliber would unlock head coach Sean Payton's scheme and elevate the Broncos into the league's upper echelon of offenses. Payton's system has traditionally resulted in some massive running back performances, including an RB1 finish for Alvin Kamara in the 2020 season.

While a 30-year-old Jones may not be a realistic candidate to become the league's highest-scoring back next season, he could become a weekly top-10 finisher in the Mile High City.

Ideal Fantasy Landing Spot: Denver Broncos

WR Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins is set to become the most coveted receiver on the free-agent market. He's already been a major fantasy asset for a half-decade, but he may finally get a chance to show his chops as a true WR1 if he chooses to part ways with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Higgins has routinely posted strong numbers as Joe Burrow's second option, including when he amassed 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns on 73 receptions this year. He finished as the WR17 in PPR formats.

Higgins has had some minor injuries, including a hamstring injury that sidelined him for five games during an uncharacteristically disappointing 2023 campaign. But even with Spotrac projecting an annual salary of $25-plus million on his next contract, Higgins should have plenty of suitors willing to make him the centerpiece of an offense.

Although Higgins could vault into fantasy superstardom regardless of where he winds up, the 25-year-old could truly shine on the New England Patriots. The Pats need a true No. 1 wideout to pair with prized quarterback prospect Drake Maye.

The No. 3 overall pick in 2024 just wrapped up a promising rookie season despite a severe lack of weapons in the receiving corps and a shaky offensive line. He could take a massive leap if he has a receiver like Higgins to work with, especially if New England uses some of its league-high $125.7 million of cap space to beef up the offensive trenches. The Pats could also benefit from hiring a top-tier offensive coordinator to augment new head coach Mike Vrabel.

With little in the way of competition for looks within New England's inexperienced receiving corps, Higgins could conceivably pace the NFL in targets and have the high-end production to match during his stint in Foxborough.

Ideal Fantasy Landing Spot: New England Patriots

WR Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin has been a foundational part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiving corps since he first became a Pro Bowler in 2019. Although he hasn't earned any more Pro Bowl nods in the five years since, Godwin was on the verge of a fourth consecutive 1,000-yard campaign before an ankle injury prematurely ended his 2024 campaign.

Prior to his injury, Godwin put up 137.8 PPR points over his first seven games. He trailed only Ja'Marr Chase in fantasy points among receivers in that span. Despite missing the final 10 games of the season, Godwin still finished as the WR53.

It remains to be seen how Tampa will approach an extension for a player who has missed multiple games in all but one season since 2019. Spotrac estimates Godwin's market value to be $22.5 million annually—only a slight raise over the three-year, $60 million extension he had been playing on—but he'll be 29 next year, which is close to the age that many NFL wideouts tend to decline.

Still, Godwin has been a fantastic fit in Tampa and was a big reason for Baker Mayfield's career turnaround under center. Even with Jalen McMillan doing a decent job replacing Godwin's scoring production—the rookie wideout secured seven touchdowns over the final seven contests of 2024—the team will have a much better chance of advancing deeper into next year's playoffs with Godwin and Mike Evans remaining as the top two wideouts.

Fantasy managers should hope Godwin re-ups with the Bucs as well. He's been a consistent top-30 finisher at his position during his time with the club and was trending toward a career-best year before it was cut short. If Godwin remains in place, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect him to pick back up right where he left off and have a quality 2025 campaign.

Ideal Fantasy Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TE Zach Ertz

It seemed that Zach Ertz would fade into irrelevance after his injury-plagued tenure with the Arizona Cardinals. But upon being released midway through the 2023 season, the tight end's decision to sign with the Washington Commanders rejuvenated his flailing career.

He's now poised to enter free agency at a perfect time.

Ertz managed to stay healthy for all 17 games for the first time since 2021 and went on to put together his best statistical season since then as well. He quickly established himself as a safety valve for Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jayden Daniels, turning that rapport into a stat line of 66 catches, 654 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 targets.

While Ertz benefitted from a lack of weapons on the Washington roster—his receiving stats were all second on the team behind only Terry McLaurin—he showed he could still be a premier fantasy option at a position that lacks consistent talent. He ended 2024 with 177.4 PPR points, making him the season's TE7.

The Commanders have to be happy with the returns on their one-year, $3 million investment into Ertz. While he'll likely earn a raise on his next deal, retaining the 34-year-old should be a priority for a team that has the third-most projected cap space in the league.

Even if the Commanders find another star wideout to pair with McLaurin, Ertz has been a pivotal part of an offense that just helped the squad earn its first playoff victory in nearly two decades. As long as he stays healthy, there's reason to believe Ertz can continue to thrive in this same role going forward.

Expect another top-10 season from Ertz in 2025 should he opt to remain in the nation's capital.

Ideal Fantasy Landing Spot: Washington Commanders