Each year, NFL teams go to great lengths to retool their teams for the upcoming season. Players are traded, released, drafted, and signed during free agency. Year-to-year, the names on the back of jerseys seem to change almost as frequently as the price of petrol. But it’s not just the players that are moving, coaches are moving all the time too. We really don’t spend a lot of time analyzing the coaching carousel during the pre-draft prep season, but we should.
Today, I’m going to give you what I consider five of the most important coaching changes affecting fantasy football. We really need to consider these new situations when we start crafting our rosters. Being informed here gives us insight on players to target and players to avoid. I’m here to help!
Let’s get right to it.
Los Angeles Chargers
This is arguably the most exciting (fantasy wise) coaching change during the offseason. Of course, I’m talking about Mike McDaniel becoming the Chargers OC. The name “McDaniel” has become synonymous for quick-throwing, RPO-heavy offenses. Look at this comparision: the Chargers ranked 29th in the league in average number of plays per game last season. The Dolphins under McDaniel…9th.
That should get you extremely excited about Justin Herbert’s fantasy outlook this season. Rumor has it, McDaniel is working on Herbert’s footwork to better fit that style of passing attack.
Despite coming off a disappointing fantasy season, that bit of news should also get you excited again for Ladd McConkey. Ladd still racked up over 106 targets in 2025, but his share dropped over 3% from his career-highs in 2024. Imagine what that looks like in a faster moving offense. Ladd is also primarily a slot WR (take a look at our Wide Receiver Fantasy Points Scored Slot vs. Wide Tool (https://football.razzball.com/wide-receiver-fantasy-points-scored-slot-vs-wide/) if you don’t believe me) and stands to be the “P” beneficiary in the RPO attack.
Before I leave the Chargers, we should also discuss what this means for Omarion Hampton. With the Miami recency bias in our minds, it’s easy to forget McDaniel was the RB coordinator under Kyle Shanahan. In fact, Miami led the league in explosive run rate on RB carries last year. Sure, a lot of that was a product of handing the rock to De’Von Achane (he’s a pretty good RB) but part of that success is also tied directly to scheme. McDaniel used an undersized center and a great fullback to create those big-play opportunities on the ground. Guess who followed McDaniel to the west coast? That’s none other than FB Alec Ingold. The Chargers spent some time retooling their OL as well, which should help. I’m predicting the Chargers end the season as a top 8 offense. If they’re not, I’ll eat these words.
Seattle Seahawks
The World Champs run it back with the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Who they don’t have on that bus is Klint Kubiak, who’s now controlling the reigns in Vegas. JSN logged his career year at the right time. He turned that success into a new contract that makes him the highest-paid wideout in league history. In Kubiak’s offense last year, he was targeted 163 times, resulting in almost 1800 yards (leading the league) and 10 scores.
The Seahawks didn’t go far to grab their new OC, bringing in Brian Fleury from the Niners. There’s some expectation that Fleury is planning to keep as much of Kubiak’s scheme as possible – which would certainly be a smart play. There’s also some chemistry carrying forward between JSN and Sam Darnold. In fact, Darnold has been quoted as saying the new OC “hasn’t been too much of a transition.”
I’m not predicting JSN fall off a cliff this season by any means. What I am telling you though is I’m concerned he’ll have trouble returning value on his extremely high ADP. Buyer beware.
Tennessee Titans
Admittedly, this one is a bit under the radar but in a SuperFlex or 2 QB league, there may be something here. When you think QB whisperers to develop Cam Ward into a fantasy-relevant QB, Titans OC Brian Daboll’s name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Ben Johnson – YES. The aforementioned Mike McDaniel – YES. Brian Daboll – well…
To be fair though, Daboll has an impressive QB resume in the top drawer. He helped develop that QB in Buffalo during his 4 years with the club. He introduced the fantasy world to Daniel Jones – which paid some of us dividends last year. He also made a splash with Jaxson Dart last year. One common theme amongst these names – running game. All three had success on the ground and near the goal line. Any production on the ground for Ward would be a bonus – his designed runs last year failed to make double digits (9 to be exact). The league average for QBs was 5.4%. Ward’s percentage was 3.7%. Under Daboll, his prior QBs were somewhat better (Allen – 7.3%, Jones – 7.5%, and Dart – 9.2%)
Point being, Daboll may very well be an underrated OC that helps Ward become fantasy relevant this year and worth a flyer later in drafts.
Minnesota Vikings
Going back to the topic of “QB whisperers,” the Vikings HC, Kevin O’Connell’s name is on that plaque as well. His QB list includes Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford in LA and Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold in Minnesota. Each of these QBs are generally considered big-framed pocket passers. Kyler Murray, on the other hand, is clearly not.
That’s not to say Murray won’t fit in O’Connell’s offense. To be fair, Kevo was able to get semi-fantasy relevant production from QBs like Nick Mullens and Joshua Dobbs. Murray still has more talent than either of these two fine gentlemen, maybe combined, and throwing the ball to this WR room will elevate any NFL QBs play, but I’m still a little hesitant. I’m intrigued enough to take a late flyer but probably not much more. I’m also aware I may miss the bus on this one too…and I’m o.k. with it.
[Author’s Note: Ok, I realize there’s not a team “coaching change” here but it does involve a fantasy-relevant player who is experiencing a significant coaching change. Hey, authors get a little leeway in their takes! I don’t make the rules.]
Baltimore Ravens
Here’s another one that may fall under your fantasy radar but will likely have big impacts to many of our fantasy teams. At some point, we all have to face the reality that a NFL team’s window to a ring is going to close. In Baltimore, that window is closing fast (sorry Ravens fans!). The summers where Lamar Jackson is considered the MVP frontrunner (fantasy and reality) are in the past. The summers where Derrick Henry is considered the best RB in football (fantasy and reality) are in the past. Although it pains me to say this, Mark Andrew’s best fantasy days are in the past. Zay Flowers has been ascending in early drafts but is that really viable or just helium? I think more the latter.
This might very well be the last summer for a while where we’re talking up Raven’s skilled positions. Let’s not forget two of their young exciting players, Isaiah Likely and Keaton Mitchell are donning new uniforms this season too. On paper, this version of the Ravens looks to be slowing down.
Enter first-year OC Declan Doyle. In an attempt to slow the aging process, the Ravens made Doyle the NFL’s youngest OC at just 29 years old. For those tracking at home, Doyle is less than a year older than his starting QB. By all accounts, Doyle is considered somewhat a prodigy, maybe even an offensive “genius” in some books. His track record speaks for itself. As OC of the Bears offense last year, but Ben Johnson as play caller, the team went from last in the NFL in total yards to top 6. Perhaps in a season or two, we’ll consider Doyle the first real branch off the Ben Johnson tree. In the meantime, we need to be concerned with the fantasy impact.
Accounts suggest his vision for the offense is to be explosive, and the players are buying in. Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers are on the record saying all the right things. Is this summer enthusiasm or is there real flames under that smoke? I can see both scenarios in the fantasy game: (1) Ravens players return tremendous value or (2) Ravens players are “meh” at best.
For me, I’m leaning toward the latter.
That’s All Folks!
My colleagues and I at Razzball will be tracking all this and more throughout the NFL season. As always, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU to dive into the data each week of the season so you can better understand the trends your players are performing. This will help you immensely as you prepare to win your leagues.
Remember, our #1 priority is the CHAMPIONSHIP! Nothing else matters.
Don’t take my word for it. Go check out all our free and premium tools at https://football.razzball.com.
Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you of our award-winning (well, not yet but it’s coming…) weekly LIVE Start-Sit show.
As always, the show airs LIVE (yes, LIVE) on the Razzball YouTube channel each Sunday from 11:00 am EDT (8:00 PDT) right up right up to gametime. Sky – @SkyGuasco, Matt – @Stiles08, Dave – @Crewser128, Jeff – @Jefferson__21 and I will be there to answer all your fantasy football questions. Don’t miss it.
As always, look for my articles right here each week and be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Derek_Favret. I’m also on BlueSky as well (@dfavret.bsky.social).
Until next time, my friends.
