Joe Sargent/Getty Images. Pictured: James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster
With the franchise tag deadline in the rearview mirror, the stage is set for what should be an eventful 2021 NFL free agency.
Free agency officially kicks off when the new league year opens on March 17, but the legal tampering period begins on March 15. This means teams can begin to speak to players starting on Monday, though no contracts can be signed until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
The league announced last week that the 2021 NFL salary cap will be $182.5 million — a $15.7 million (8%) decrease year-over-year — which could mean some teams may not be well-positioned to make splashy offers during this iteration of free agency.
Below are The Action Network’s top free agents by position — accompanied by their most recent teams, current ages, last season’s performance (half PPR in Weeks 1-16) and any relevant news — that all savvy fantasy managers should keep an eye on.
2021 NFL Free Agency Rankings
Players are listed in order of their positional rankings in our way-too-early edition of 2021 fantasy football rankings.
Top Free Agent Running Backs
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: RB16 (14.6 points per game)
The Seahawks did not exercise the franchise tag on Carson and did not attempt to extend the injury-prone running back last offseason.
Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: RB14 (12.4 points per game)
The Cardinals did not exercise the franchise tag on Drake after playing under the transition tag in 2020.
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: RB37 (9.2 points per game)
Leon Halip/Getty Images. Pictured: Buccaneers RB Leonard FournetteJames Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 25
2020 fantasy performance: RB25 (11.5 points per game)
Todd Gurley II, Atlanta Falcons
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: RB22 (10.5 points per game)
Le’Veon Bell, Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 29
2020 fantasy performance: RB61 (6.1 points per game)
Duke Johnson, Houston Texans
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: RB56 (6.4 points per game)
Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers
Age: 28
2020 fantasy performance: RB12 (11.8 points per game)
Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts
Age: 25
2020 fantasy performance: RB128 (7.1 points per game)
Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers
Age: 25
2020 fantasy performance: RB38 (8.4 points per game)
James White, New England Patriots
Age: 29
2020 fantasy performance: RB51 (6.2 points per game)
Mark Ingram Jr., Baltimore Ravens
Age: 31
2020 fantasy performance: RB75 (4.6 points per game)
Top Free Agent Wide Receivers
Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: WR100 (11.2 points per game)
The Lions did not exercise the franchise tag on Golladay and will likely part ways with the receiver.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 24
2020 fantasy performance: WR18 (11.3 points per game)
Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers
Age: 24
2020 fantasy performance: WR27 (11.3 points per game)
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 32
2020 fantasy performance: WR96 (9.0 points per game)
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: WR32 (11.7 points per game)
Rob Carr/Getty Images. Pictured: Corey Davis and teammates celebrateWill Fuller V, Houston Texans
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: WR25 (14.8 points per game)
Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions
Age: 30
2020 fantasy performance: WR29 (10.4 points per game)
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
Age: 31
2020 fantasy performance: WR43 (8.9 points per game)
John Brown, Buffalo Bills
Age: 30
2020 fantasy performance: WR90 (8.1 points per game)
Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: WR30 (10.4 points per game)
Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: WR84 (7.0 points per game)
Rashard Higgins, Cleveland Browns
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: WR62 (8.0 points per game)
Breshad Perriman, New York Jets
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: WR81 (6.8 points per game)
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 32
2020 fantasy performance: WR67 (5.9 points per game)
Top Free Agent Tight Ends
Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: TE11 (8.2 points per game)
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
Age: 25
2020 fantasy performance: TE9 (9.1 points per game)
Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 31
2020 fantasy performance: TE8 (8.2 points per game)
Leon Halip/Getty Images. Pictured: Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski, Chris GodwinGerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams
Age: 26
2020 fantasy performance: TE25 (4.6 points per game)
Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
Age: 33
2020 fantasy performance: TE18 (8.5 points per game)
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
Age: 31
2020 fantasy performance: TE37 (4.3 points per game)
Top Free Agent Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
Age: 27
2020 fantasy performance: QB65 (1.3 points per game)
Winston is likely the only free agent signal-caller who could land in a starting role after Dak Prescott’s mega deal was announced last week. Winston served as an understudy for veteran Drew Brees, who announced his retirement over the weekend, and could be a productive fantasy QB in spite of turnover and consistency issues.