Fantasy Football News: Russell Wilson, Mike Evans, Jason Kelce

Things are heating up around the league as the free-agent signing period approaches and even though it is the offseason, fantasy football players need to stay dialed in.

On Monday, several news stories broke around the league and we are going to look at their impact on fantasy football. Also, if you have any of these players on your dynasty roster, you may want to be thinking about their futures.

Russell Wilson

Though it should be a surprise to no one, the Denver Broncos have informed Russell Wilson that he will be released when the new league year begins. In the process, the Broncos will take an NFL record $85 million dead cap hit.

Though Russ is entering the latter part of his career, he is still going to be looking for a starting job. Where could that be? Places like Atlanta and Pittsburgh seem to have clear openings, but free agency could also open up some more possibilities for Wilson.

If you have Wilson on a dynasty roster, you will likely just have to hold onto him and hope that he ends up in the best possible spot so that he can still offer your team something as a backup. Wilson didn't achieve the success that the Broncos thought he would but his departure is more connected to the relationship he had with head coach Sean Payton than it is poor play.

If Wilson can find a good spot, he still offers something as an NFL QB. He could provide a nice spot start here and there for your fantasy team or even be a guy to turn to if you starter goes down with injury, something that happened to a bunch of starting QBs this past season.

Mike Evans

I recently took a look at the best possible landing spots for free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans but instead, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose not to even let it get that far, signing him to a two-year contract extension.

Good move for the Bucs.

If Evans is on your roster, there is nothing to be upset about here. Sure, going somewhere like Kansas City likely would have been more fun, but he has produced in every season he has been with the Bucs.

This news should also be a good sign that the Bucs will also bring back Baker Mayfield, who had perhaps the best season of his career last year.

With Mayfield throwing him the ball last season, Evans caught 79 passes (his most since 2018) for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns. Evans' value stays about where it was and perhaps even goes up a bit.

He is another player you should hang onto in dynasty leagues as the trade value, based on him staying where he was, is not going to be what it could have been if he went to a new team, as fantasy players know what to expect from him in Tampa.

Jason Kelce

One of the best centers of his era, Jason Kelce called it a career on Monday, announcing his retirement.

It's not often that a center is discussed in fantasy football, but one has to wonder how much his loss will hinder the Philadelphia Eagles' rushing attack. The Eagles' backfield remains in question as D'Andre Swift, Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny are all free agents. That leaves Kenneth Gainwell, Lew Nichols and Tyrion Davis-Price as the only RBs on the roster.

But where Kelce's loss will likely be felt most will be on the famous "tush push" play, the play that has allowed QB Jalen Hurts to get a slew of 1-yard touchdowns. Will the Eagles even run this play anymore?

This play was rumored to be looked at by the competition committee this offseason, but it doesn't sound like it's going anywhere. However, without Kelce, it may not be nearly as effective as it has been, which has been next to unstoppable.

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