The NFL landscape changes yearly. The variance spreads from free agent signings, NFL Draft picks, coaching hires and more. Understanding what a team’s offensive scheme could look like and meshing that with relevant nuggets from the previous year helps shape our view of teams and players for the upcoming season.
That’s where this series will come in handy. Discussing pace, red zone usage, deep passing and everything in-between, I’m venturing down the rabbit hole to provide context for all 32 NFL teams and the fantasy football players you’ll select this year.
*All data utilized in this article courtesy of FantasyPros, PFF, Football Outsiders, Rotoviz and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified.*
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
- Dallas Cowboys Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
- New York Giants Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
- Washington Commander Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
NFC North
- Green Bay Packers Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
- Minnesota Vikings Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
- Detroit Lions Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
Chicago Bears Fantasy Football Stats to Know:
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- Since 2020 with Luke Getsy as the Packers’ pass game coordinator, Aaron Rodgers was third and fourth (13.2-14.5%) in screen rate (minimum 100 dropbacks).
- Last year Justin Fields was 39th out of 44 quarterbacks (minimum 100 dropbacks) in screen rate (6.2%)
- Since 2019 David Montgomery has ranked 42nd, 25th, and 36th in yards created per touch.
- Trestan Ebner‘s yearly collegiate yards per route run ranks among running backs (minimum 20 targets):
- 2021: 30th
- 2020: 11th
- 2019: First
- 2018: 10th
- 2017: Third
- In 2021 Darnell Mooney ranked 11th in total route wins, win rate against man coverage and target rate against man coverage.
- In his final four full starts of last season, Fields was seventh in big-time throw rate while also having the 10th-lowest turnover-worthy play rate.
- Since 2000, tight ends with at least 60 targets that failed to score a touchdown:
- Jordan Reed (2014)
- Eric Johnson (2002)
- Rob Housler (2012)
- Jeremy Shockey (2008)
- Jared Cook (2015)
- Marcedes Lewis (2011)
- Cole Kmet (2021)
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- Montgomery finished fourth (80.0%) and first (90.0%) in opportunity share over the last two seasons.
- Fields was third in deep ball rate (15.9%) and 14th in deep adjusted completion rate (minimum 20 deep attempts).
- Byron Pringle was 29th in yards per route run and 11th in passer rating when targeted deep last season.
Chicago Bears’ Top Fantasy Football Takeaways
The Chicago Bears’ depth chart and offensive outlook have been debated all offseason. The consensus has been doom and gloom. While they won’t be a top-10 unit in 2022, the front office has made low-key moves to add players that can fit their scheme and Fields’ strengths.
Last year Matt Nagy and company made things incredibly difficult for Fields. He wasn’t afforded any easy completions on screens, which will change with Getsy in the building. While this sounds like a possible boost for Montgomery’s volume prospects, it could be quite the opposite.
Since 2020 Aaron Jones has seen 60.6% (18th) and 52.7% (25th) opportunity shares, which is a massive departure from Montgomery’s snap hog ways. While Darrynton Evans and Khalil Herbert weren’t plus receiving options in college, Ebner was. Ebner was excellent in the passing game at Baylor while also standing at 5’11” 209 lbs. He could eat into some early-down work as well.
Ebner will help with the short passing game, and Pringle was brought in to assist Mooney when Fields winds up deep. Fields showed growth down the stretch as a passer providing big plays and limiting turnovers. He was also above average, throwing deep while showing the willingness to go downfield often. Mooney will have opportunities at all field levels after displaying the talent to win against man coverage and zone last season. He was seventh in passer rating when targeted against zone coverage in 2021 (minimum 10 targets).
With the Bears yearning for pass-catching options, Kmet will reprise his high-volume role this season. With the target share sown up, Kmet has to score this year, right? Back-to-back seasons as the Miles Sanders of tight ends aren’t likely to happen.
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