There are many fantasy players who look at strength of schedule and use it as a reason to draft one player over another. We’re all looking for articles to give us the smallest of edges, and this one is likely going to be more valuable than strength of schedule based on last year’s numbers.
Between trades, free agency, and the draft, it’s hard for casual fans to keep up with all the changes in scenery. Instead of sending you on a scavenger hunt to find all this information, I’ve gone through all 32 depth charts to ensure I give you the lowdown on each team’s transformation. Which players did they lose? Which players did they acquire? Were they enough to make a difference in their 2020 projection?
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This could help you tremendously to start the season, because while many would’ve been scared to start wide receivers against the Jaguars at the start of last year, their defense has gone through a lot of changes this offseason, and may be a matchup to target early in the year. Here are the changes that happened for all 32 teams this offseason.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (1), RBs (13), WRs (12), TEs (1)
Defense: Clearly a matchup to target for every position, the Cardinals had some moves to make. Drafting Isaiah Simmons in the first round was one of my favorite picks and should help improve their coverage, particularly against tight ends. They snagged a couple defensive linemen in Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence in the fourth round, though they’ll likely be rotational players to help replace the loss of Zach Kerr, who went to the Panthers. They did add both De’Vondre Campbell and Devon Kennard in free agency, though they aren’t high-impact players. I don’t expect this defense to make a massive transition in 2020, but they’ll improve with Simmons, they’ll have Patrick Peterson for the whole season, and Byron Murphy should improve in year two.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position in 2019: QBs (12), RBs (15), WRs (15), TEs (27)
Offense: With improvement on the defense, it should allow Kliff Kingsbury to run more plays per game, like he wants to. The Cardinals lost David Johnson but gained DeAndre Hopkins. I think they’ll be okay. They also placed the transition tag on Kenyan Drake, who is set for the workhorse role. They drafted offensive tackle Josh Jones in the third round, though we don’t know if he’ll play right away. The offense should look somewhat similar this year, though the addition of Hopkins surely rises the stock of someone like Kyler Murray.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (6), RBs (21), WRs (13), TEs (15)
Defense: The Falcons didn’t have nearly as many injuries in 2019 as they had in 2018, but their defense was far from top tier. They hired Raheem Morris to be their defensive coordinator in 2020, though Dan Quinn is still in charge. They also went defense-heavy in the first four rounds, drafting cornerback A.J. Terrell (1st round), defensive lineman Marlon Davidson (2nd round), linebacker Mykal Walker (4th round), and safety Jaylinn Hawkins (4th). They also signed edge rushers Dante Fowler and Charles Harris. It was necessary, though, as they lost CB Desmond Trufant, LB De’Vondre Campbell, EDGE Adrian Clayborn, EDGE Vic Beasley, and IDL Jack Crawford in free agency. With so many moving parts, it’s hard to envision this defense improving much in 2020, though the combination of Grady Jarrett and Marlon Davidson up front will make them tough up the middle.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (8), RBs (22), WRs (4), TEs (9)
Offense: The offense wasn’t the problem in 2020, but the Falcons went ahead and addressed the area they lacked in 2019 when they signed Todd Gurley to a one-year deal and released Devonta Freeman. They lost Austin Hooper to the Browns, but quickly replaced him, trading a second-round pick for Hayden Hurst. They also drafted Matt Hennessy in the third round, and the expectation should be that he replaces the weak link James Carpenter at guard. The offense should be even better in 2020, but they were already one of the better units in the league.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (31), RBs (25), WRs (18), TEs (32)
Defense: This team was dominant on defense last year, and their rank against wide receivers only got better when they acquired Marcus Peters at the trade deadline. They lost some key players this offseason including CB Brandon Carr, DL Michael Pierce, DL Chris Wormley, LB Patrick Onwuasor, and LB Josh Bynes. They didn’t skimp on replacing them, though. They went out and stole DT Calais Campbell from the Jaguars and Derek Wolfe from the Broncos, then drafted linebackers Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison, as well as interior lineman Justin Madubuike. This unit has always been good under John Harbaugh and there’s little reason to see that changing in 2020.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (1), RBs (8), WRs (31), TEs (1)
Offense: Not that this team needed any help on offense after averaging a league-high 31.9 points per game in 2019 and retaining the same coaching staff, but the Ravens added some firepower in the NFL Draft. They snagged running back JK Dobbins in the second round, who should take over as the 1B to Mark Ingram‘s 1A, with the possibility of passing the 31-year-old Ingram. They also drafted wide receivers Devin Duvernay (3rd round) and James Proche (6th round), adding depth to their thin receiver corps. The sudden retirement of Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda was a crushing blow to one of the better offensive lines in football, and it led to the Ravens spending third- and fourth-round picks on offensive guards. The offensive line is likely to take a step back without Yanda, but there’s so many explosive pieces on this team, it’s hard to see them fall off too much. The only other loss of note was Hayden Hurst (traded to the Falcons), who was clearly playing behind Mark Andrews.
BUFFALO BILLS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (30), RBs (18), WRs (30), TEs (26)
Defense: The staff will remain intact, which is huge considering this defense continues to trend in the right direction. The biggest losses in free agency were edge defenders Shaq Lawson and Lorenzo Alexander, though they went out and replaced them with Mario Addison and second-round pick A.J. Epenesa. The Bills were active in free agency, also signing defensive tackles Vernon Butler and Quinton Jefferson, as well as cornerbacks Josh Norman and E.J. Gaines. This defense continues to trend up and there were no significant changes, so they are one you should continue to avoid, particularly in DFS.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (10), RBs (30), WRs (20), TEs (24)
Offense: We saw them go out and get John Brown and Cole Beasley last year, which worked out well. This year, they upped the ante and traded for Stefon Diggs. The only player they lost on offense was Frank Gore, and that’s addition by subtraction, as they replaced him with Zack Moss in the third round. They also added wide receiver Gabriel Davis in the fourth round, though he’s not likely to play much without an injury. The biggest free agent signing for them was Daryl Williams, who’ll likely walk in and start at right tackle, which would mean sliding Cody Ford into the guard position. Or, they could choose to put Williams at guard and keep Ford on the edge. Either way, it’s a good thing they acquired Williams. This offense continues to trend in the right direction. Can Josh Allen take the next step?
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (22), RBs (1), WRs (13), TEs (28)
Defense: First off, this is an entirely new coaching staff. They walk into a tough situation on the defensive side of the ball, as Luke Kuechly retired this offseason. Not just that, but they lost defensive linemen Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, and Vernon Butler, as well as edge rushers Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin, safety Eric Reid, and most importantly, No. 1 cornerback James Bradberry. They lost over half their starting lineup. They added a lot of new faces, including Derrick Brown with the No. 7 overall pick, and Yetur Gross-Matos in the second round, but this is a team that’s in complete rebuild mode. This is a defense you’ll be attacking in both season-long and DFS.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (28), RBs (6), WRs (24), TEs (23)
Offense: We have former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule taking over in Carolina, which is likely the reason we saw them sign Robby Anderson in free agency, as he played for him in the past. There’s a completely revamped depth chart at quarterback, too, as Teddy Bridgewater will start, with P.J. Walker likely backing him up. That’s right, Cam Newton and Kyle Allen are gone. The Panthers also traded away stud guard Trai Turner to the Chargers in exchange for Russell Okung. This should help pass protection, but it won’t do Christian McCaffrey any favors. They grabbed John Miller and Michael Schofield to replace Turner, but that’s far from ideal. Given the state of the defense, this team is a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in 2021.
CHICAGO BEARS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (25), RBs (17), WRs (28), TEs (12)
Defense: Many might attribute some of the issues with their defense last year to the loss of Vic Fangio, but the injury to Akiem Hicks was the biggest issue. The Bears made it a point to upgrade the edge rusher opposite Khalil Mack, releasing Leonard Floyd and snagging Robert Quinn and Barkevious Mingo in free agency. They did lose both Prince Amukamara in the secondary but drafted highly-touted cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second round to replace him. They also lost depth at linebacker when Nick Kwiatkowski signed with the Raiders, so they’ll need Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan to stay healthy and on the field. The Bears defense is still a very good unit, though they do have a few question marks in the secondary.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (27), RBs (26), WRs (14), TEs (32)
Offense: The Bears will have a new offensive coordinator, though Matt Nagy will still be calling the plays. After losing Kyle Long to retirement, they snagged Germain Ifedi in free agency, a former high-round pick who’s been disappointing. The Bears didn’t upgrade their offensive line as much as they should’ve. They added Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris in free agency, then drafted Cole Kmet in the second round, so you can see why they cut Trey Burton. They have too many tight ends. They lost Taylor Gabriel to free agency and replaced him with Ted Ginn. Another downgrade. If there was a potential upgrade, they traded for Nick Foles, who’ll come in and compete with Mitch Trubisky for the starting job. If the play-calling is the same as in 2019, there’ll likely be a new coaching staff in 2021.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (7), RBs (5), WRs (19), TEs (16)
Defense: Everyone knows this was a defense to target last year, but did they make enough changes to alter your perception? The biggest losses they had were at cornerback, as they watched four veterans leave via free agency, but the additions of Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander (who played together in Minnesota) are likely upgrades. They also invested in defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who’s been a force up the middle of the field for the Texans for the last four years, and safety Vonn Bell, who has playoff experience with the Saints. Both players are going to help their run defense quite a bit. They also went out and drafted three linebackers, including two of them in the first four rounds. There are a lot of moving parts, so it may take some time to come together, but the Bengals defense will improve in 2020.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (24), RBs (28), WRs (19), TEs (18)
Offense: Talk about being dealt a poor hand in your first year of coaching. Zac Taylor had A.J. Green out for the year, John Ross out for half the season, first round pick and starting left tackle Jonah Williams out for the year, while several other offensive lineman missed time. Now, you add No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow under center, Green back as the No. 1 receiver, and Williams back as the blindside protector, you have what could be a potent offense. The drafting of Burrow meant Andy Dalton was going to be cut, so Ryan Finley will be Burrow’s backup. The Bengals also drafted Tee Higgins, who’ll likely battle Ross for the No. 3 wide receiver job. This could be the 2020 version of the 2019 Buccaneers offense.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (12), RBs (8), WRs (26), TEs (6)
Defense: Everyone has talked about all the talent on the Browns roster (myself included), which led to them bringing on a whole new coaching staff. Former 49ers defensive backs coach Joe Woods will take over as the coordinator. The biggest weakness they have is up the middle of the field, as they lost linebackers Joe Schobert, Christian Kirksey, and Adarius Taylor this offseason. They’re also going through a transition at safety, losing Damarious Randall and Morgan Burnett, transitioning to Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph, and second-round pick Grant Delpit. They did add Adrian Clayborn to help their pass rush, which should be stout, as well as Andrew Billings to the defensive line. They have talent, but it’ll be up to Woods to deliver results.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (26), RBs (12), WRs (18), TEs (19)
Offense: We all saw this offense struggle last year, so the Browns decided to bring Kevin Stefanski aboard as the head coach. The Vikings took a major step forward last year with him as the offensive coordinator, and particularly their run game, but was that due to the assistant hire of Gary Kubiak? After adding road grater Jack Conklin to take the right tackle spot in free agency, the Browns drafted offensive tackle Jedrick Wills in the first round to play the other side. They also snagged Austin Hooper in free agency, while retaining David Njoku, and drafting Harrison Bryant in the fourth round. It’s clear this team wants to run the ball with a lot of 2TE sets. They didn’t really lose anyone of value on the offensive side of the ball, but certainly added talent.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (20), RBs (20), WRs (27), TEs (8)
Defense: The Cowboys got a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, and along with him came Mike Nolan as the defensive coordinator. Nolan was the Saints linebackers coach for the last three years. They lost some talent in free agency this offseason, as DL Maliek Collins, EDGE Robert Quinn, and CB Byron Jones all departed. That led to the Cowboys selecting defensive players with four picks in the first five rounds of the draft, including cornerback Trevon Diggs in the second round and defensive lineman Neville Gallimore in the third round. They added Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe to the defensive line, though that duo didn’t work out well in Carolina last year. HaHa Clinton-Dix will replace Jeff Heath at safety. Will Leighton Vander Esch return to the lineup healthy? There are plenty of question marks surrounding a defense that was not fantasy friendly last year.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (2), RBs (9), WRs (2), TEs (12)
Offense: Despite Mike McCarthy taking over as the new head coach, he decided to retain offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, which makes sense considering they averaged a robust 27.1 points per game last year. And all they did was replace Randall Cobb with CeeDee Lamb, who went No. 17 overall in the draft. The only negative mark on the offseason for the Cowboys was the retirement of Pro Bowl center Travis Fredrick. They traded up to draft Tyler Biadasz in the fourth round as his replacement, and while I like Biadasz a lot, he’s unproven and could impact the effectiveness of the offensive line as a whole. Still, this is an offense that will move the ball. Even if Dak Prescott needed to miss time, they signed Andy Dalton as his backup, who’s proven to carry fantasy players during his time in Cincinnati.
DENVER BRONCOS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (25), RBs (23), WRs (20), TEs (23)
Defense: In their first year under Vic Fangio, some may have considered them a disappointment, but did you know they were one of just three teams who didn’t allow any position to finish better than No. 20 against them? The 49ers and Patriots were the other two. The only name of significance they lost this season was Chris Harris Jr., though they did replace him with A.J. Bouye, and then drafted Michael Ojemudia in the third round. The cornerback position is the biggest question mark, but the front seven are going to bring pressure to help them. Not only will they get Bradley Chubb back on the edge, but they traded for stud interior lineman Jurrell Casey this offseason. This defense is not one to target in matchups and is likely a steal in fantasy drafts.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (31), RBs (18), WRs (30), TEs (22)
Offense: Talk about a complete makeover. The Broncos offense will look completely different in 2020. Not only will they have Pat Shurmur calling the plays as the coordinator, but they’ll have Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler alongside Courtland Sutton at wide receiver, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay at running back, Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam at tight end, Lloyd Cushenberry replacing Connor McGovern at center, and Graham Glasgow replacing Ron Leary at right guard. If Drew Lock can’t make it work with this group, he never will. It may take time for them to mold as one unit, but they have a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball.
DETROIT LIONS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (7), RBs (3), WRs (6), TEs (19)
Defense: The Lions haven’t been the defense they’d hoped when they hired Matt Patricia, but they hope to improve under new defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, though Patricia will still be the guy. The loss of Darius Slay won’t help matters (traded to Eagles), nor will the losses of Damon Harrison, Mike Daniels, Devon Kennard, and A’Shawn Robinson, but they did at least spend a couple high picks on defensive players. Cornerback Jeffrey Okudah was tops on almost everyone’s draft board, while edge rusher Julian Okwara was one of my favorite steals in the third round. Still, this reeks of a young unproven defense you can target in fantasy matchups.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (14), RBs (27), WRs (5), TEs (25)
Offense: Getting Matthew Stafford back should help. However, losing two starters on the offensive line is less than ideal. Both Graham Glasgow and Rick Wagner are no longer with the team, so insert the combination of Jonah Jackson (3rd round) and Logan Stenberg (4th round) to replace them. The Lions upgraded their running back unit when they drafted D’Andre Swift in the second round, though it leaves many question marks about how they’ll use both him and Kerryon Johnson. My guess would be a 60/40 type split in favor of Swift. They also added depth to their wide receiver stable, drafting Quintez Cephus in the fifth round, and signing Geronimo Allison in free agency. The offense should get a bit better, though Stafford’s numbers were inflated at the start of last year.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (28), RBs (9), WRs (22), TEs (12)
Defense: The team made major strides in 2019 but didn’t quite get to the untouchable territory, allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs. They replaced linebacker Blake Martinez with Christian Kirksey, which should be considered an upgrade, though not enough to make them a defense to worry about with running backs. They didn’t re-sign Tramon Williams, which I believe is a mistake, considering Kevin King and Josh Jackson haven’t shown much consistency throughout their career. Outside that, this defense remains pretty much status quo.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (16), RBs (4), WRs (21), TEs (21)
Offense: We expected things to change, but the only major signing on offense for the Packers was Devin Funchess, and that’s a stretch to call him major. The two biggest strengths on the team were quarterback and running back, yet the Packers decided to use their first, second, and third-round picks on a quarterback, running back, and fullback. Not great, Bob. Not only that, but the Packers lost Bryan Bulaga at right tackle and replaced him with a lesser player in Rick Wagner. We also saw Jimmy Graham and Geronimo Allison leave in free agency. The offense will remain competent because of Aaron Rodgers, but they didn’t get any better this offseason.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (4), RBs (10), WRs (11), TEs (9)
Defense: This defense was a playground for fantasy teams last year and it’s hard to see that changing after they lost stud interior lineman D.J. Reader in free agency, as well as moving on from long-time starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph. They drafted defensive tackle Ross Blacklock in the second round and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard in the third round, but they won’t turn this defense around. This is one to target in matchups for practically every position.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (3), RBs (21), WRs (11), TEs (13)
Offense: Well, they lost their best player (DeAndre Hopkins) in exchange for an aging running back (David Johnson). They tried to help make up for that loss by trading for Brandin Cooks and signing Randall Cobb, but it’s a net loss. They also lost Carlos Hyde in free agency, though they didn’t have a need with Johnson coming over in the trade. Outside of those moves, the offense got no other names in free agency or in the first two days of the draft. Deshaun Watson is going to be asked to carry this team.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (14), RBs (27), WRs (10), TEs (17)
Defense: The Colts felt they had a weakness up the middle, so they traded their first-round pick for stud interior lineman DeForest Buckner. They also snagged cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and T.J. Carrie in free agency while releasing Pierre Desir. I’m not sure they got better in the secondary, though Buckner will help the pass rush. They were relatively quiet in the draft, selecting safety Julian Blackmon in the third round, but no other defensive player in the top five rounds.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (23), RBs (14), WRs (28), TEs (10)
Offense: They have another new quarterback… Philip Rivers is now the signal caller and he’ll be handing the ball off to Jonathan Taylor, and throwing the ball to Michael Pittman, the two Colts second-round picks. They also signed Trey Burton to replace Eric Ebron (who went to the Steelers), though it’s tough to see him bouncing back from such a bad tenure in Chicago. Outside of Ebron, they lost wide receivers Devin Funchess, Chester Rogers, and Dontrelle Inman, as well as offensive tackle Joel Haeg. All in all, the Colts upgraded their offense this offseason and should be a contender in 2020.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (12), RBs (2), WRs (20), TEs (10)
Defense: This team has done a complete 180 from two years ago when they were the most feared defensive unit in the league. Not only did they lose LB Telvin Smith to personal reasons and CB Jalen Ramsey in a trade in 2019, but they lost IDL Calais Campbell, IDL Marcell Dareus, and CB A.J. Bouye this offseason, while top edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue says he won’t play for them and wants to be traded. The Jaguars picked up linebacker Joe Schobert in free agency and did draft C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson in the first round, which was somewhat of a necessity considering all the players they’ve lost. This team is rebuilding, and they’ll be one to target in fantasy matchups, particularly with running backs.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (15), RBs (29), WRs (7), TEs (29)
Offense: The Jaguars still haven’t let go of Doug Marrone, but they do have a new offensive coordinator in the recently fired Jay Gruden. His offense in Washington ranked 29th and 32nd the last two years. The only notable loss for the Jaguars offense this season was Nick Foles, who was traded to the Bears. That means this will be Gardner Minshew‘s team in 2020. They drafted wide receivers Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson, while also signing veterans Tyler Eifert and Chris Thompson in free agency. It’s fair to say this offense got slightly better this offseason, though the lack of defense may not allow them to be on the field very much.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (18), RBs (7), WRs (30), TEs (11)
Defense: Not many realized just how much better the Chiefs defense was last year. Outside of running backs, they weren’t a defense you needed to attack with fantasy players. The biggest surprise was their cornerback play, which will change a bit in 2020. They lost both Kendall Fuller and Morris Claiborne but didn’t draft a cornerback until the seventh round. They also lost Emmanuel Ogbah and Terrell Suggs on the edge, though they did sign Taco Charlton from the Dolphins and draft Michael Danna in the fifth round to replace them. They hope the addition of linebacker Willie Gay in the second round will help their run defense, but it’s hard to say this defense improved this offseason.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (6), RBs (17), WRs (8), TEs (4)
Offense: Take the best offense in the NFL, and remove aging running backs LeSean McCoy and Spencer Ware, then add in my favorite running back in the draft, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. That’s all that happened with this offense this offseason. They did draft tackle Lucas Niang in the third round, who adds depth to their already solid offensive line, but he’s not expected to start right away. This offense will continue to ascend.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (4), RBs (11), WRs (8), TEs (2)
Defense: Talk about rebuilding a defense. The Raiders were busy in free agency, adding interior lineman Maliek Collins, edge rusher Carl Nassib, linebackers Nick Kwiatkowski and Cory Littleton, and safeties Jeff Heath and Damarious Randall. They did lose safety Karl Joseph, cornerback Daryl Worley, and linebackers Tahir Whitehead, Will Compton, and Vontaze Burfict, but what they were doing clearly wasn’t working, as every position finished top-12 against them. They didn’t stop with free agency, either. They drafted cornerback Damon Arnette in the first round, linebacker Tanner Muse in the third round, and cornerback Amik Robertson in the fourth round. This defense will look a lot different in 2020, though I’m hesitant to say everything will come together right away.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (22), RBs (13), WRs (29), TEs (3)
Offense: The only notable name to leave the Raiders offense this offseason is DeAndre Washington, and it’s not like he was a big part of the offense. We all know they lacked playmakers at wide receiver last year, so what did they do? Went out and snagged Henry Ruggs in the first round, then took both Lynn Bowden and Bryan Edwards in the third round. It’s clear they wanted to provide Derek Carr with more weapons to succeed. They also added depth to the skill positions, signing quarterback Marcus Mariota, tight end Jason Witten, and wide receiver Nelson Agholor. There is a lot more talent on their offense heading into 2020.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (27), RBs (12), WRs (29), TEs (24)
Defense: This is a team going through a transition on offense, so the defense will need to carry them. They did a great job this offseason, replacing Brandon Mebane with Linval Joseph on the defensive line, then replacing Thomas Davis and Jatavis Brown with first-round pick Kenneth Murray and Nick Vigil at linebacker. They also went out and snagged Chris Harris Jr, making their cornerback unit what might be the best in the NFL. This is not a team you’ll be targeting in fantasy matchups very often.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (21), RBs (2), WRs (26), TEs (16)
Offense: You might be shocked to see this team without Philip Rivers, but that’ll be the case in 2020. They have Tyrod Taylor and No. 6 overall pick Justin Herbert as their quarterbacks. They also lost Melvin Gordon in free agency, leading to them drafting Joshua Kelley in the fourth round. The offensive line wasn’t great to begin with, but they traded away left tackle Russell Okung in exchange for guard Trai Turner, then signed Bryan Bulaga, who’s been playing right tackle in Green Bay. You have to wonder what they’re doing at left tackle. This offense wasn’t great last year, but it’s hard seeing them getting any better this year.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (21), RBs (14), WRs (23), TEs (19)
Defense: This team felt like they were in the running for a championship when they traded for Jalen Ramsey last year, but this offseason brought a lot of bad changes to the team. They have a new defensive coordinator in Brandon Staley. They lost edge rushers Dante Fowler and Clay Matthews, linebacker Cory Littleton, cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, and safety Eric Weddle. The replacements? IDL A’Shawn Robinson, EDGE Leonard Floyd, third round EDGE Terrell Lewis, and sixth round safety Jordan Fuller. This defense still has Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, and Jalen Ramsey, so they won’t completely fall off, but they’re likely going to be worse in 2020.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (18), RBs (20), WRs (3), TEs (7)
Offense: This offense will look a bit different in 2020, as both Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks are gone. The replacements are second-round picks Cam Akers and Van Jefferson. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to them, right? The oddest thing about the Rams offseason is that they didn’t acquire any offensive linemen of note. That’s a real problem for a team that struggled to block anything in 2019. Sean McVay needs to work miracles in 2020 to improve.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (2), RBs (6), WRs (2), TEs (12)
Defense: There wasn’t a team in the NFL as busy as the Dolphins this offseason. The players they lost were interior defensive lineman John Jenkins, edge rushers Charles Harris and Taco Charlton, and safety Reshad Jones. So, in the end, nothing to detrimental. Now for the players they added: Edge rushers Shaq Lawson, Kyle Van Noy, Emmanuel Ogbah, and fifth-round pick Curtis Weaver, second-round interior lineman Raekwon Davis, linebacker Elandon Roberts, cornerbacks Byron Jones and first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, and third-round safety Brandon Jones. This defense suddenly has a lot more talent than when Brian Flores took over. They were a matchup to continually attack in 2019, but things are changing. I wouldn’t be so confident in saying they’re a plus matchup anymore.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (17), RBs (32), WRs (10), TEs (20)
Offense: The offense did better than most expected last year, yet they felt the need to move on to a new coordinator. In comes Chan Gailey, whose teams have finished outside the top-20 in scoring on four of the last six seasons he’s coached. The Dolphins did get their franchise quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, but they’re still carrying both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen. They also started to overhaul their offensive line, adding first-round pick Austin Jackson, second-round pick Robert Hunt, fourth-round pick Solomon Kindley, Ereck Flowers, and Ted Karras through the draft and free agency. It’s clear they knew it was a problem. They also revamped the running back room, adding Jordan Howard in free agency and trading a fifth-round pick for Matt Breida. The Dolphins are trending in the right direction, so if Tagovailoa turns into what most think he can be, they’ll be a contender before long.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (23), RBs (21), WRs (9), TEs (31)
Defense: The Vikings are a team going through quite a bit of changes in 2020. They have a laundry list of players who are no longer with the team: Interior defensive linemen Linval Joseph and Stephen Weatherly, cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander, safeties Jayron Kearse and Andrew Sendejo, and potentially edge rusher Everson Griffin, who’s still unsigned after opting out of his contract. The only player they added in free agency was defensive tackle Michael Pierce. Everything else was done through the draft, as they snagged cornerbacks Jeff Gladney in the first and Cameron Dantzler in the third, which should help replace the departed. They’ve been very good under Mike Zimmer, but are there too many changes to make them an above average unit?
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (25), RBs (3), WRs (23), TEs (14)
Offense: They didn’t have much movement on offense this offseason, but the movement they did have was big. They traded away Stefon Diggs to the Bills, then drafted Justin Jefferson in the first round to replace him. They also drafted offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland in the second round to help bolster the offensive line. The question now becomes: Will new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak allow more pass attempts? They may need to with the transition their defense is going through right now. We could see an uptick for the offense overall.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (32), RBs (32), WRs (32), TEs (25)
Defense: The Patriots have lost big names on their defense before and they always seem to come out alright, and they’ll need to do so again in 2020. They lost IDL Danny Shelton, EDGE Kyle Van Noy, LBs Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts, as well as S Duron Harmon. It’s extremely tough to say their draft picks (weren’t active in free agency) will make up for these losses. The three biggest selections were S/LB Kyle Dugger and EDGE Josh Uche in the second round, and then EDGE Anfernee Jennings in the third round. I’ve learned not to doubt a Bill Belichick team, but they’re not going to be nearly as dominant as they were in 2019.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (19), RBs (5), WRs (13), TEs (31)
Offense: In case you’ve been living under a rock, Tom Brady is no longer a Patriot. It appeared like the Patriots were rolling with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer as their quarterbacks this season, but they made a splash this weekend when they signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal. There weren’t many other moves they made outside of drafting two tight ends (Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene) in the third round, and snagging two veteran receivers in Damiere Byrd and Marqise Lee. The offense wasn’t particularly efficient last year, though volume helped make things look better. It’s hard to think losing Brady will help anything.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (11), RBs (29), WRs (5), TEs (22)
Defense: The Saints are maybe the most well-rounded football team in the league, and they added to an already talented defense this offseason, snagging Malcolm Jenkins in free agency, then stealing edge rusher Zack Baun in the third round. They did lose Eli Apple, but most forget that they signed Janoris Jenkins at the end of the year to play opposite Marshon Lattimore. If they remain healthy, this defense is likely top-five in the league, though depth is an issue.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (4), RBs (16), WRs (16), TEs (5)
Offense: We all know Michael Thomas carried the wide receivers last year, right? The Saints chose to replace aging Ted Ginn with another aging receiver in Emmanuel Sanders, but Sanders can move around the formation. They also added center Cesar Ruiz in the first round, and their future tight end in the third round of the draft when they took Adam Trautman. The only other thing that changed was the quarterback depth chart behind Drew Brees. Out with Teddy Bridgewater, in with Jameis Winston, though it’s apparently a competition with Taysom Hill for the backup job. The Saints should continue to rack up the points.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (3), RBs (18), WRs (4), TEs (17)
Defense: This was a defense to target in 2019 and they’ll be one to target once again in 2020. They have a new coaching staff with Joe Judge taking over as the head coach, and he’s been a special teams coordinator with the Patriots since 2012. There are tons of questions and this team isn’t littered with talent on defense. They swapped linebacker Alec Ogletree with Blake Martinez in free agency, then replaced safety Antoine Bethea with second-round pick Xavier McKinney. The one spot they did upgrade was cornerback when they signed James Bradberry. He’s a welcomed addition, but this won’t be a matchup to run from.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (11), RBs (24), WRs (9), TEs (11)
Offense: The Giants have plenty of talent on offense, so they decided to capitalize on their strength. They drafted offensive tackle Andrew Thomas in the first round and then another tackle (Matt Peart) in the third round. The offense will look different in 2020, as Jason Garrett will be calling the plays. Outside of that, there were just a bunch of depth pieces moving around. If the offensive line additions work out, this offense should take a step forward this year.
NEW YORK JETS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (15), RBs (23), WRs (7), TEs (29)
Defense: Somehow, the Jets staff is the same as last year. Not much changed in the personnel, either. They released cornerback Trumaine Johnson, then lost Darryl Roberts in free agency, leading them to snag Pierre Desir in free agency, then Bryce Hall in the fifth round. If Hall can stay healthy, he’s going to be a steal. Still, there’s problems in New York, as safety Jamal Adams has demanded a trade. We don’t know how that’s going to work out just yet, but they did draft safety Ashtyn Davis in the third round. I’m not convinced the Jets are going to be very good on the defensive side of the ball this year.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (29), RBs (31), WRs (22), TEs (26)
Offense: Adam Gase is still the play caller. That led the team to sign 36-year-old Frank Gore to “take the load off” Le’Veon Bell. They also drafted Lamical Perine in the fourth round. You can’t make this stuff up. They did go out and get Sam Darnold a couple receivers, signing Breshad Perriman to a one-year deal and snagging Denzel Mims in the second round. They also acknowledged that their offensive line is an issue, so they spent a first round pick on tackle Mekhi Becton, a fourth-round pick on tackle Cameron Clark, and snagged linemen Greg Van Roten, George Fant, and Connor McGovern in free agency. The offensive line will take some time to come together, so I’m not holding my breath for too much improvement just yet, but it’s a great thing they addressed one of their biggest issues.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (18), RBs (26), WRs (3), TEs (29)
Defense: This is going to look like a different defense in 2020, as there are a lot of new names in the fold. They signed Javon Hargrove to boost the defensive line, Jatavis Brown to start at linebacker, Nickell Robey-Coleman at slot cornerback, and then traded for Darius Slay. Suddenly, the Eagles have a very talented trio at cornerback. They did lose safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback Ronald Darby, but I’d say they upgraded. The question becomes: Who starts at safety for them? They drafted K’Von Wallace in the fourth round, signed Will Parks in free agency, and said that Jalen Mills will move to safety. This won’t be the matchup to target with wide receivers like it was last year.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (13), RBs (7), WRs (32), TEs (2)
Offense: It wasn’t as bad as the Packers trading up in the first round to take a quarterback, but the Eagles decided to use a second-round pick on Carson Wentz‘s backup. At least they snagged versatile speedster Jalen Reagor in the first round. They also drafted another speedster John Hightower in the fifth round, then traded for Marquise Goodwin, so it appears they’re trying to stretch the field a bit more. They did add offensive lineman Jack Driscoll in the fourth round, though that’s not likely to make up for the loss of Brandon Brooks, who tore his Achilles while training a few weeks ago. This offense should be a bit more creative in 2020. The key losses this offseason were RB Jordan Howard and LT Jason Peters.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (28), RBs (28), WRs (24), TEs (19)
Defense: This defense was so good that the Steelers actually had a shot at the playoffs last year despite their poor quarterback play. They did lose interior lineman Javon Hargrave, edge rusher Anthony Chickillo, and linebacker Mark Barron this offseason. The added Chris Wormley to replace Hargrave and Alex Highsmith (third-round pick) to replace Chickillo. They’re a bit top-heavy with questionable depth, but if healthy, they should be exceptionally good once again in 2020.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (32), RBs (23), WRs (27), TEs (30)
Offense: The Steelers will get Ben Roethlisberger back, which should certainly help. They also went out and drafted two skill-position players in running back Anthony McFarland (fourth round) and wide receiver Chase Claypool (second round). They also signed Eric Ebron, though it’s odd to see where he fits in, as they retained Vance McDonald. Either way, they’ve started to add depth, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (23), RBs (30), WRs (24), TEs (27)
Defense: This defense will essentially just be a year older, as there’s only one major move from the offseason. That came when they traded defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Colts, then drafted Javon Kinlaw to replace him. It’s incredibly hard to follow the season they just had, and their top cornerback Richard Sherman did struggle a bit in the playoffs while getting up there in age, but they’re still going to be a matchup that’s best avoided.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (20), RBs (1), WRs (17), TEs (6)
Offense: The biggest chance you’ll see on the 49ers is the loss of Joe Staley at left tackle, as he retired this offseason. The 49ers shouldn’t miss a beat, though, as they went out and traded for Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams to protect Jimmy Garoppolo‘s blindside. They traded away Marquise Goodwin to the Eagles, but drafted Brandon Aiyuk in the first round to start opposite Deebo Samuel. Speaking of Samuel, he broke his foot in offseason workouts and might miss the start of the season. The other transaction the 49ers made was trading Matt Breida away for a fifth-round pick. We’re expecting Jerick McKinnon to take on most of his role.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (17), RBs (15), WRs (15), TEs (4)
Defense: The Seahawks defense is one I’m expecting to take a step back. They lost both Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods on the defensive line, and it appears they’ll lose Jadeveon Clowney, Mychal Kendricks, and Ezekiel Ansah on the edge. The biggest signing they made in free agency was cornerback Quinton Dunbar, but he’s likely going to be suspended for a while after committing armed robbery. They did go defense in the first two rounds of the draft, selecting linebacker Jordyn Brooks in the first and then edge rusher Darrell Taylor in the second. They also snagged Bruce Irvin in free agency, though their unit is nowhere near as good as it was in 2019.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (7), RBs (11), WRs (6), TEs (15)
Offense: Knowing their defense is likely to take another step back, we could see this offense produce more volume. With Russell Wilson‘s hyper efficiency, that would be big. The only notable loss was on the offensive line with George Fant, their right tackle. They swiped Brandon Shell in free agency, but both are below average players. They did improve the depth on the offensive line though, snagging B.J. Finney and Chance Warmack in free agency, as well as Damien Lewis is the third round of the draft. For whatever reason, they felt the need to go out and sign Greg Olsen and Carlos Hyde in free agency. My guess is that they’re insurance for Will Dissly and Rashaad Penny (who’s expected to start the season on the PUP list). The offense shouldn’t look too much different than last year, but maybe with more volume.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (9), RBs (31), WRs (1), TEs (6)
Defense: This defense took some strides over the second half of the year but were dominant against running backs all season. The only losses they had were interior defensive lineman Beau Allen and edge rusher Carl Nassib. They went heavy offense in the draft, selecting just one defensive player in the first five rounds, though it was one of my favorites with Antoine Winfield Jr. in the second round. The cornerback group is their biggest concern, because even though they got better as the season went on, there’s more bad tape than good tape.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (5), RBs (19), WRs (1), TEs (17)
Offense: Welcome to Tom Brady‘s new home. He also brought Rob Gronkowski out of retirement to come play with him out in Tampa Bay. Because of Brady’s signing, the Bucs moved on from Jameis Winston. The only notable losses on offense were Breshad Perriman and Peyton Barber. They upgrades they made far outweighed the losses, as they snagged offensive tackle Joe Haeg in free agency, then drafted Tristan Wirfs in the first round. The offensive line should be improved. They also drafted running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the third round, then Tyler Johnson in the fifth round. Can Brady carry this offense? I don’t believe they’ll score the 28.6 points per game they did last year, though they should still be in the top half of the league.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (16), RBs (16), WRs (17), TEs (5)
Defense: The Titans defense is going to be missing a few of its staple pieces in 2020 after they traded away defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, then allowed Logan Ryan walk in free agency. They also lost Cameron Wake on the edge, replacing him with a disappointing Vic Beasley. One of my favorite moves they made was in the draft when they stole cornerback Kristian Fulton in the second round, but rookie cornerbacks typically don’t make a massive impact. This defense wasn’t one to fear last year and I don’t think it’s one you should fear in 2020.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (9), RBs (10), WRs (12), TEs (8)
Offense: They have decided to move forward with Ryan Tannehill as their franchise quarterback, signing him to a long-term deal. That allowed them to move on from Marcus Mariota. They also moved on from running back Dion Lewis, wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, tight end Delanie Walker, and starting right tackle Jack Conklin. That’s a lot of changes. They drafted tackle Isaiah Wilson to replace Conklin at the end of the first round, then snagged Darrynton Evans to replace Lewis in the third round. The efficiency was going to take a step back naturally, and it’s hard to say the offensive line will be as good without Conklin. I’m expecting a middle-of-the-pack offense.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Rank of Most Fantasy Points Allowed in 2019: QBs (10), RBs (4), WRs (16), TEs (2)
Defense: There’s a whole new coaching staff in Washington, led by Ron Rivera. If anyone can get the most out of the defensive talent they have, it’s probably him. They lost cornerbacks Quinton Dunbar and Josh Norman in free agency, replacing them with Kendall Fuller and Ronald Darby. Overall, that may be a wash. They also signed Kevin Pierre-Lewis and Thomas Davis in free agency, strengthening the linebacker corps. Did I mention they took the best edge rusher in the draft at No. 2 overall? Chase Young will improve the pass rush immediately. I’m expecting this defense to be better in 2020.
Rank of Fantasy Points Scored by Position: QBs (30), RBs (25), WRs (25), TEs (28)
Offense: They’re sticking with Dwayne Haskins for at least one more year, though they did him no favors trading away Trent Williams. They don’t have a left tackle that would inspire the least amount of confidence. That’s a problem for the whole offense. The only tackle they took in the draft was Saahdiq Charles in the fourth round. They added Antonio Gandy-Golden (fourth round) and Antonio Gibson (third round) to the receiving corps, though Gibson is expected to be used as a running back/receiver hybrid. The Redskins also now have more running backs than they know what to do with, as their depth chart might be 10 deep, and I’m not exaggerating. They also moved on from Chris Thompson, Paul Richardson, Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, and guard Ereck Flowers. This is a team that’s in the running for No. 1 overall pick in 2021, and it has a lot to do with the offense. New offensive coordinator Scott Turner will have his hands full.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.