Kirk Cousins has quietly been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the world of fantasy football, averaging at least 17 points per game in four straight years. In that time, he averaged 18.5 points overall. This past season, Cousins was on pace to finish as a top-eight field general before tearing his Achilles tendon.
Now heading into his age-36 season, Cousins will have no shortage of suitors on the free agent market (assuming he has no setbacks in his rehab from the Achilles). He can’t be franchised by the Minnesota Vikings, so he’ll be available to any and every team that wants to pay for his services. Based on the going rate for a field general at Cousins’s level, he could garner around $40 million per year.
Here are five landing spots where Cousins would be best served, in terms of both real and fantasy football, for the final stages of his memorable NFL career.
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Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons will most likely be targeting Justin Fields, as will most of the teams on this list, but Cousins would be a strong pivot. Atlanta has potential on offense, using first-round picks on Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson in the last three years. With a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson, who has worked with Sean McVay since 2019, Cousins would remain a low-end starter in fantasy.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders will no doubt move on from Jimmy Garoppolo and look to upgrade from Aidan O’Connell, and Cousins could be their best bet. He would have some talent in the passing game in the form of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, not to mention sleeper tight end Michael Mayer. His presence would be a serious boon for Adams, as he was inconsistent catching passes from Garoppolo and O’Connell.
Minnesota Vikings
If it ain’t broke, don’t fit it! Most fantasy managers would agree that Cousins staying with the Vikings is his best fantasy landing spot. He knows the offense and has some wicked talent in the passing game with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson all at his disposal. Coach Kevin O’Connell loves to throw the football, and that would make Cousins a potential top-eight fantasy field general.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers reached the playoffs last season with some less-than-stellar players under center, so adding Cousins would make them a stronger contender in the AFC North. He would have a nice arsenal of weapons, too, as the Steelers boast Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in their backfield and Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth in the passing game, so Cousins would remain a QB1.
San Francisco 49ers
This one seems very unlikely. After all, Brock Purdy has led the 49ers to the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons. Still, this is all about Cousins’s best “fantasy” landing spots, right? Imagine Cousins back together with coach Kyle Shanahan, in an offense that includes Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle? That would be one heck of a fantasy friendly offense, and it would keep Cousins well into the QB1 conversation.
