Free Agency Recap – Day 3 – Daily News N Blog

Much like free-agent moves can alter the trajectory of a franchise, a player’s decision on where he chooses to sign can change the narrative of his career (in a good or bad way) and have a huge impact on his potential fantasy impact.

The Huddle will provide an extensive breakdown of every meaningful reported signing (at the four primary fantasy positions) and detail what it means from a fantasy perspective. Please check out our recaps on what was a very busy day on March 9 – the first day that teams were allowed to negotiate with free agents – and a much more mellow day on March 10.

Note: Free agents can officially sign a contract now (as of 4:00 PM ET on March 11). Deals (including trades, such as what happened to Maxx Crosby on March 10) will occasionally fall apart, which is why it is important to note that some of the players moving forward will be in the “signed” phase while others will be in the “agreed to terms” bucket.

RUNNING BACKS

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars (reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $10 million)

Dec 7, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) rushes the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

This one might feel inconsequential, but it is always important to remember how vital connections are in the NFL. The connection here is that Rodriguez served as Liam Coen’s workhorse back during the first of his two one-year stints as the offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky in 2021. Does that mean Rodriguez moves to the front of the line in Jacksonville’s backfield following the departure of Travis Etienne? Of course not. For all the improvement that Rodriguez made in 2025, he is still a non-factor in the passing game, so LeQuint Allen’s role in this offense is safe. Rodriguez is also nowhere near the explosive athlete that Bhayshul Tuten is, so Tuten’s ascension to the lead role is probably safe – so long as the fumbling issues he had in college don’t rear their ugly head again in 2026.

What Rodriguez provides is power, which was lacking from this backfield a year ago. That makes Rodriguez the overwhelming favorite to be the preferred option at the goal line in Jacksonville. The size of the contract suggests Coen probably has more in mind for Rodriguez, such as serving as Tuten’s clear change-of-pace back.

Early fantasy prognostication: Barring a surprising amount of positive press regarding how Rodriguez looks in camp (or how Coen intends to use him above and beyond what was laid out in the previous paragraph), the ex-Commander will probably be drafted no earlier than the final few rounds of most drafts. While much of Rodriguez’s workload will depend on how sharp Tuten looks in the preseason, the general expectation should be roughly six to eight carries per game for the former – including most of the work in short-yardage situations. Since he offers virtually nothing in the passing game, Rodriguez’s upside is likely no higher than a nice flex option even if Tuten misses time due to injury. With that said, he should emerge as the clear handcuff to Tuten, which is where most of his fantasy value should lie in 2026.

TIGHT ENDS

Chig Okonkwo, Commanders (reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $30 million)

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo (85) runs in a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.

It is mildly surprising that the 26-year-old Okonkwo finds a new home before the 29-year-old (and much more accomplished) David Njoku, although age usually plays a key role in which players are scooped up more quickly in free agency. (Njoku’s price tag may also be too high for the team’s tastes.) For now, this signing provides the team with a viable alternative early in the season as unrestricted free agent Zach Ertz continues his rehab from a torn ACL late last season. Beyond 2026, he appears set to occupy Ertz’s role in the offense. In some ways, he is a much younger version of Ertz in that he brings little as a blocker but can be a very nice weapon in the short and intermediate passing game. Where Okonkwo differs the most from Ertz is the amount of damage he can do after the catch.

New offensive coordinator David Blough has seen similar tight ends in recent years (he played with Sam LaPorta in his final year as an NFL player and was on the Commanders’ coaching staff over the last two years with Ertz around) to have a good idea of what he wants at the position as he prepares for his first job as a play-caller. Still, it is a curious move for Washington to add a one-trick tight end considering the offensive line is still coming together. Furthermore, the team has no sure thing at running back and Deebo Samuel appears unlikely to return.

Early fantasy prognostication: The Commanders have much work to do on their offense this spring, so it is difficult to ascertain at this point how impactful Okonkwo can be in 2026. The addition of a player like Brandon Aiyuk would make Okonkwo no more than the third-best option in the passing game. There is also a question about the 30-year-old Blough’s competence as an NFL play-caller. He is entering his third season as a coach (his first two were as Washington’s assistant quarterbacks coach) following a brief NFL playing career. Barring the addition of a receiver like Aiyuk, Okonkwo could conceivably push for low-end TE1 production for however long Ertz is sidelined (and that assumes he re-signs at some point), but the much safer bet is to view him as a solid TE2 option with a fair amount of upside should Jayden Daniels stay healthy and Blough exceed expectations.