New Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter could turn Mike Evans into the league’s supreme big play threat
As mock drafts are being conducted, and fantasy owners fight with themselves over which strategies to implement, owners are glossing over the fact that football is back. Players and teams have been reporting to camp all week. Player stock is changing by the minute. By now, we know the vets who’ve been performing at a high level for years. We know which quarterbacks yield big numbers for their teammates. We don’t know what each coaching change necessarily means for each fantasy relevant player. Many teams brought new faces to franchises for the 2015 season. I will briefly highlight my top five coaching changes that will be sure to alter/confirm previous notions about players’ draft stocks. Honorable mentions are at the bottom.
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Top Coaching Changes
Dirk Koetter – Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
Now the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, Koetter will use his patented heavy vertical attack to give Mike Evans numerous opportunities to make plays. Last year with Koetter in Atlanta, Julio Jones caught 104 balls for 1,593 yards. This absurd 15.3 YPC will only translate into positive things for Mike Evans.
Bill Musgrave – Raiders Offensive Coordinator
Musgrave, who was the OC in Minnesota from 2011-2013, placed the ball in Adrian Peterson’s hands all the time, as he averaged 20 carries per game over that three-year span. Calling the plays in Jacksonville in 2003, he gave Fred Taylor the rock 345 times over 16 games. That’s good for 21.5 carries a game. Signs are pointing to Latavius Murray carrying a big load in the Oakland Raiders’ offense for 2015.
Gary Kubiak – Broncos Head Coach
Now the head coach for the Denver Broncos, Kubiak brings a long history of favoring the run game. As head coach for the Houston Texans, Kubiak gave tailback Arian Foster all he could handle when he was healthy. With defenses worrying about Peyton Manning, C.J. Anderson should have ample room to put together a fantastic season.
Adam Gase – Bears Offensive Coordinator
Marc Trestman did wonders for Matt Forte’s receiving totals while he was calling the shots in Chicago, but now it is Alshon Jeffrey’s turn to shine. Adam Gase brings nothing but promise to the 25-year-old wide receiver who is ready to explode if Jay Cutler can stay healthy. While in Denver, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders were both able to put up huge numbers under offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Look for Jeffrey to ameliorate his 2014 numbers.
Marc Trestman – Ravens Offensive Coordinator
By now most fantasy junkies know about Marc Trestman. The infamous offensive coordinator who throws the ball to running backs like it’s the only thing he knows how to do. Heck, Matt Forte caught 102 balls last year. We will see a pass-first Baltimore Ravens squad in 2015, with Justin Forsett on track to catch well over 50 passes. Trestman is a quarterback’s dream OC, and I expect Flacco to deliver big numbers in 2015.
Honorable Mentions
- Kyle Shanahan – Falcons OC
- Jim Tomsula/Geep Chryst – 49ers
- Greg Olson – Jaguars OC
- Rex Ryan – Bills HC
- Chan Gailey – Jets OC
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Daniel Oppenheimer is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, follow him @DanOpp31.
