The first couple of weeks of free agent acquisitions are vital in each fantasy sport. Often this is the first opportunity since Draft Day to improve our roster, and plenty enough has changed to create new value. Moreover, a player you land now carries a lot more impact than someone you can acquire in Week 10.
That might not necessarily be true this week, and certainly not in leagues where FA's have been open before Week 1. But there are still some gems to find - at least in many leagues the Baltimore RB picture remains wide-open. Additionally, Allen Hurns is someone who I discounted before last week, but I'm willing to make small bids now to see if he's for real.
Here are the results from my three Yahoo Leagues, which all have Tuesday night at midnight deadlines for the first wave of free agent moves:
Stopa Law Firm League: (12-team, PPR, Super Flex, Two-TE league)
| Player Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Jermaine Gresham Cin - TE Free Agent | Salfino's Team ( Davis Mattek ) Sep 10, 7:58 am |
| Isaiah Crowell Cle - RB Free Agent | Sack Freddie Mac Sep 10, 7:52 am |
| Allen Hurns Jax - WR Free Agent | Sack Freddie Mac Sep 10, 5:43 am |
| Riley Cooper Phi - WR Free Agent | The Strike Team Sep 10, 3:05 am |
| Justin Forsett Bal - RB Free Agent | japanese ice Sep 10, 1:15 am |
| Cody Parkey Phi - K Free Agent | japanese ice Sep 10, 1:11 am |
| Green Bay GB - DEF Free Agent | japanese ice Sep 10, 1:09 am |
| San Francisco SF - DEF Waiver | Peter S's Team Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Buffalo Buf - DEF $1 Waiver | Salfino's Team Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| DeAngelo Williams Car - RB $3 Waiver | japanese ice Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Brandon Myers TB - TE $3 Waiver | Peter S's Team Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Steve Smith Sr. Bal - WR $5 Waiver | Sack Freddie Mac Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Levine Toilolo Atl - TE $5 Waiver | Lawyers Guns & Money Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Hakeem Nicks Ind - WR $6 Waiver | Peter S's Team Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Chad Henne Jax - QB $8 Waiver | Salfino's Team Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Larry Donnell NYG - TE $8 Waiver | Coked Up Johnnies Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Garrett Graham Hou - TE $9 Waiver | Secret Treasure Loaf Sep 10, 12:29 am |
| Chris Ivory NYJ - RB $10 Waiver | El Jugador Mejor Sep 10, 12:29 am |
- I had the winning bid on Toilolo. Because we start two TEs, any tight end with a pulse in the red zone has value. Toilolo had a one-yard TD reception last week and also saw red zone looks last year. Moreover, the Bengals allowed a slew of TE receptions last week against Baltimore and could be without LB Vontaze Burfict, which could help free up the middle for Toilolo. Similarly, Donnell saw a lot of red zone love on Monday night against the Lions.
- Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson both had solid games against the Raiders last week, and they look like they'll each get extensive work going forward. The Jets' running matchup against the Packers looks promising.
- We have first-come, first-serve FA's immediately available after the FAABs are run, hence all the "Free Agent" moves already after the winning bids were announced. It was a small surprise to see Hurns and Forsett not go in the bidding, but as FCFS pickups thereafter.
Y! Friends & Family (14-team, two-flex, .75 PPR league, 4-man bench):
| Player Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Harry Douglas Atl - WR Free Agent | FantasyGuru.com Sep 10, 6:21 am |
| Cecil Shorts III Jax - WR O Free Agent | PFF - Mike Clay Sep 10, 5:54 am |
| Miami Mia - DEF Free Agent | Y! - Del Don Sep 10, 3:11 am |
| Green Bay GB - DEF Free Agent | Y! - Pianowski Sep 10, 1:24 am |
| Brian Quick StL - WR Free Agent | Y! - Pianowski Sep 10, 1:24 am |
| New Orleans NO - DEF Waiver | PFF - Mike Clay Sep 10, 1:15 am |
| Allen Hurns Jax - WR $5 Waiver | RotoWire_Erickson Sep 10, 1:15 am |
| Larry Donnell NYG - TE $5 Waiver | Y! - Evans Sep 10, 1:15 am |
| Lorenzo Taliaferro Bal - RB $10 Waiver | Salfino Sep 10, 1:15 am |
| Bobby Rainey TB - RB $10 Waiver | Salfino Sep 10, 1:15 am |
| Justin Forsett Bal - RB $16 Waiver | Y! - Behrens Sep 10, 1:15 am |
- I was the second-place bid on both Forsett and Rainey. Running backs are a lot tighter in this league, and more than half the league played QB Chicken at the draft, waiting forever to take one. Hence the spirited bidding here on Forsett, Rainey and Taliaferro.
- I ended up with Hurns - I'm not thrilled with him still, as he could disappear when Cecil Shorts returns and he still has Chad Henne passing to him, but what if he's legit? It's hard to find impact players in a deep league like this - I grabbed him under the "What Could Go Right?" principle.
Big Money (12-team league, PPR, 2-RB, 3-WR, Flex league):
| Player Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Rod Streater Oak - WR Free Agent | The Chilean Miners Sep 10, 7:50 am |
| Isaiah Crowell Cle - RB Free Agent | The Chilean Miners Sep 10, 7:42 am |
| Tampa Bay TB - DEF Free Agent | Deadites Sep 10, 7:36 am |
| Green Bay GB - DEF Waiver | Deadites Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Brian Quick StL - WR Waiver | 7 1 3 Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Minnesota Min - DEF Waiver | 7 1 3 Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Carson Palmer Ari - QB Waiver | 7 1 3 Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Martellus Bennett Chi - TE Waiver | AA Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Malcom Floyd SD - WR Waiver | El Chingon Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Houston Hou - DEF Waiver | El Chingon Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| San Francisco SF - DEF Waiver | Armenian Money Train Sep 10, 12:24 am |
| Justin Forsett Bal - RB Waiver | Armenian Money Train Sep 10, 12:24 am |
- I'm streaming defenses in this league and had the Jets last week. They play the Packers this week and have a number of other bad matchups coming up, so snagging the Niners at home against Jay Cutler seems like a good play. I suppose I could have preferred Houston first, but I'd rather go with the home team first. I also like the Bucs at home this week against the Rams if you're streaming defenses.
Hopefully these early returns give you some ideas for your leagues that run free agents on Wednesday or Thursday.