Coaching Changes and Fantasy Impact
Check it out, this is the section we call "Coaching Changes," where we're going to give you the fantasy-viable situations. If a coach or an OC went to a different team, we'll give you examples of some players you can choose from these teams and how this coaching change affects them negatively or positively. So without further ado, let's get started.
**Atlanta Falcons:**
First up, I want to talk about the Atlanta Falcons. Their new head coach is Raheem Morris, and the offensive coordinator is Zach Robinson. Both of these guys are coming from the Sean McVay system. Now, let’s get into the situation we're going to talk about with Atlanta after the Arthur Smith experience. I’ll get more into that later on in another video from another team where Arthur Smith went, so I don't want to dive too deep on Arthur in this particular video. But he's gone now, and we have Raheem Morris as the new head coach. He was a former defensive coordinator and brought in another Sean McVay disciple, Zach Robinson, who was a pass game quarterbacks coach for the Rams. He's going to bring a similar style and system. I'm not saying they’re going to be a carbon copy of the Rams' offense, but I do believe there will be similarities.
For example, with the obvious upgrade at the quarterback spot, not only will Bijan see lighter boxes, but Atlanta will finally have a consistent aerial attack. Drake London is one of those guys that I truly think will see a significant increase in volume and productivity, and his ceiling is extremely high, especially with Kirk Cousins. Seeing what Kirk did with Justin Jefferson, we're not saying that Drake London is a carbon copy of Justin Jefferson, but we do know he is a high-end wide receiver. He hadn’t had the quarterback play that could accentuate his talents. Now, bringing in Kirk Cousins, we have that. So Drake London is a great play. Along with Bijan, we consider both great in this offense due to these coaching changes. Lastly, Kyle Pitts could finally be fantasy-relevant. Kirk Cousins has shown a tendency to target tight ends throughout his career. Nearly 27% of his passes last year were directed towards his tight ends, ranking fifth in the NFL. He made TJ Hockenson one of his favorite targets and a top tight end option in fantasy. With no clear number two pass-catching option in Atlanta, Pitts may just be that.
**Los Angeles Chargers:**
Next up, I want to talk about the Los Angeles Chargers and the dynamic duo they brought in this season: Jim Harbaugh as the head coach and Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator. Harbaugh's arrival has generated a wave of excitement in Los Angeles, and rightfully so. He left the University of Michigan after a highly successful 9-year stint, culminating in a National Championship win this past season. Hopes are high that those winning ways will follow him to LA. Harbaugh’s NFL experience came with the 49ers, and oddly enough, he and Greg Roman both tag-teamed together from 2011 to 2014 in San Francisco, as well as back in Stanford in 2009-2010 with Andrew Luck. They’ve teamed up before and have had successful coaching stints, leading powerful offenses. During their time with the 49ers, the team thrived with Roman’s offensive schemes and Harbaugh’s leadership, winning multiple NFC Championship games. This success together should hopefully translate to LA.
One of the main pieces I think will thrive in this new regime, despite some thinking it will be a run-first offense, is Justin Herbert. He’s a franchise quarterback, and they won’t limit his throws to 15-20 times a game. They’ll run to set up the pass, which is typical in a Greg Roman offense. Speaking of Greg Roman’s offense, when he was the OC for the Ravens, their offense ranked in the top 10 three out of four years. This could translate well to the Chargers. I'm not comparing Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson; they are different quarterbacks, but they do have similarities. Herbert isn’t as mobile as Lamar, but Roman’s offense will accentuate Herbert’s strengths. Gus Edwards is another player to look at later in drafts. He has an opportunity to simulate what James Conner did in 2021, with around 750 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns. Edwards should receive goal-line work. For pass-catching weapons, it could be a mixed bag. They drafted Quentin Johnston and still have Joshua Palmer and Mike Williams. My dark horse is Brennan Rice, Jerry’s son. He’s a big-bodied receiver who was Caleb Williams’ top receiver at USC. Rice might be a late-round draft pick to consider. Herbert could still be a great play, similar to Mahomes last season, where the distribution was spread, but you get Herbert at a lower price point.
**Carolina Panthers:**
Next up, we want to talk about the Carolina Panthers and their new head coach Dave Canales. During his tenure as the OC in Tampa Bay, Canales' offense supported multiple fantasy-viable positions, notably improving Baker Mayfield. This was a major reason they brought him to Carolina after spending high draft capital on Bryce Young last season. Young didn’t succeed due to the environment, not his fault. Bringing in Canales with his reputation and experience from Tampa Bay, we expect Bryce Young to improve vastly. They’ve already started bringing in great pass-catching weapons like Deontay Johnson, who should be a great safety valve. They also drafted Xavier Leed, a big-play receiver who can stretch the field and give Bryce that 50/50 guy for easier targets. Bringing in a true alpha RB1 in Jonathan Brooks will also help Bryce. These three guys, in my opinion, will be fantasy-viable. Jonathan Brooks is a question mark due to his ACL injury, but all indications suggest he’ll be ready by week one. Canales has a tendency to use tight ends well. My dark horse pick is Tommy Tremble. With Hayden Hurst gone, Tremble steps in as the TE1 for the Panthers. He’s been raving about Tremble and his possible usage, comparing him to Noah Fant, who finished as TE8 in 2020 under Canales. This is very good for a late-round dart throw. So again, we have a lot of fantasy-viable options in Carolina.
**Philadelphia Eagles:**
Next up is the Philadelphia Eagles and their new OC Kellen Moore. Moore's coaching credentials speak for themselves. During his four seasons as the Cowboys' OC from 2019 to 2022, he helped Dak Prescott develop into a star quarterback and orchestrated one of the league's most potent offenses. The Cowboys consistently ranked among the top offenses in points scored and yards gained under Moore’s leadership. Moore’s play-calling is known for its creativity, often utilizing pre-snap motion, misdirection, and RPOs to keep defenses guessing. Last year with the Chargers wasn’t great due to injuries, but going to Philly, he gets a fresh start. With all the new pieces the Eagles have added, I think this will translate well into Moore’s system.
For fantasy, the usual suspects are viable, but the standout at his ADP is Saquon Barkley. Under Moore, Barkley has the upside of being used more in the passing game, taking pressure off Jalen Hurts. This will help Hurts avoid injuries by not staying in the pocket too long, especially with the O-line losing some key components. Getting Barkley out in space using Moore’s pre-snap motion and special plays will accentuate Barkley’s talents as a pass-catcher. As fantasy managers, we hope Moore will use Dallas Goedert similarly to how he used Dalton Schultz in Dallas, where Schultz had a TE1 finish. Goedert’s well-rounded skill set makes him a valuable asset. He can line up flexed out, creating matchup problems for linebackers and safeties. His ability to catch passes over the middle and be a reliable target on third downs will be crucial. Moore’s addition to the Eagles should bring out and accentuate the talents of AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and others.
**Las Vegas Raiders:**
Next up, I want to talk about the Las Vegas Raiders and their new OC Luke Getsy, the previous offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. This season, the Raiders entered with a clear vision to revamp their offense after a disappointing season. Bringing in Getsy hopefully signifies a potential shift in philosophy for the Raiders, focusing on a smashmouth running game potentially taking center stage. During his two seasons with the Bears, he orchestrated one of the league's most dominant rushing attacks. Under his guidance, the Bears led the NFL in rushing attempts twice and rushing yards per game.
The fantasy-relevant pieces from this coaching change, combined with the mindset and mentality of Coach Pierce, include Zamir White. He could be a great option, especially for those who implement a zero RB strategy. With Josh Jacobs gone, White has a high chance to lead the backfield. His last four-game trajectory had him finishing as RB7, averaging 12.9 PPR points per game, which would make him an RB1. His potential is high, especially with Getsy’s offensive scheme. Another player to watch is Brock Bowers. He has the draft capital to support high usage. Going back to Getsy’s OC days in Chicago, the tight end position was key. Cole Kmet was a viable option, and Bowers' skill set is on another level. His combination of size and athleticism makes him a mismatch nightmare for defenses. He can line up as a blocker, flex out as a receiver, and even get snaps out of the backfield. In the offseason, he’s been used all over the field. Bowers has extremely high ceiling potential and can be a late-round steal in drafts
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