Every August the calls for contract year players start to come in. Many fantasy owners seek out those players they fell will give an "extra effort" during the final year of their contract, in the hopes of a big payday the next year. The actual numbers may or may not prove this theory to be true, but for those who believe in the contract year theory you will find a list below. The list is void of the many big names like last season when we say the likes of Shaun Alexander, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Randy McMichael and others. Keep in mind that some of those listed, like Deion Branch, may receive a new long-term deal before the season starts or even during the season.
| QUARTERBACKS |
RUNNING BACKS |
WIDE RECEIVERS |
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Unrestricted free agents are players who will have completed four or more accrued seasons of service and whose contracts will expire. They will be free to sign with any club.
Restricted free agents are players who will have completed three accrued seasons of service and whose contracts will expire. They will be free to negotiate with any club. If a player accepts an offer from a new club, the old club will have the right to match the offer and retain the player. If the old club elects not to match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the level of the qualifying offer made to the player. |
| Unrestricted |
Unrestricted |
Unrestricted |
| Chris Simms, TB |
Chris Brown, TEN |
Deion Branch, NE |
| Patrick Ramsey, NYJ |
Dominic Rhodes, IND |
Drew Bennett, TEN |
| Tim Rattay, TB |
Ahman Green, GB |
Kevin Curtis, STL |
| Jeff Garcia, PHI |
T. J. Duckett, WAS |
Ashley Lelie, ATL |
| Restricted |
Najeh Davenport, GB |
Andre Davis, BUF |
| Matt Schaub, ATL |
William Green, CLE |
Tyrone Calico, TEN |
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Ladell Betts, WAS |
Jabar Gaffney, PHI |
| TIGHT ENDS |
Correll Buckhalter, PHI |
Shaun McDonald, STL |
| Unrestricted |
Maurice Hicks, SF |
Bobby Engram, SEA |
| Daniel Graham, NE |
LaBrandon Toefield, JAC |
Dennis Northcutt, CLE |
| Eric Johnson, SF |
Marcel Shipp, ARI |
David Boston, TB |
| Zack Hilton, NO |
Anthony Thomas, BUF |
Travis Taylor, MIN |
| Jerramy Stevens, SEA |
Antowain Smith, TEN |
Kelly Washington, CIN |
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Nick Goings, CAR |
Justin Gage, CHI |
| KICKERS |
Patrick Pass, NE |
Restricted |
| Unrestricted |
Restricted |
Samie Parker, KC |
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| Rian Lindell, BUF |
Michael Turner, SD |
Ernest Wilford, JAC |
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| Olindo Mare, MIA |
Artose Pinner, DET |
Clarence Moore, BAL |
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Musa Smith, BAL |
Patrick Crayton, DAL |
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Scottie Vines, DET |
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