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.

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 Stats to Know & Top Takeaways

NFC South

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
• Carolina Panthers Stats to Know & Top Takeaways
• Atlanta Falcons Stats to Know & Top Takeaways

*All data utilized in this article courtesy of FantasyPros, PFF, Football Outsiders. Rotoviz, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified.*

New Orleans Saints Fantasy Football Stats to Know:

• Last season Jameis Winston was fifth in aDOT (10.0) and second in big-time throw rate (7.1%) behind only Kyler Murray (minimum 100 dropbacks).
• In 2020 30.7% of Michael Thomas‘s target volume was 0-10 yards downfield in the middle of the field. Last year Winston’s highest target percentage (17.3% of his attempts) was aimed at this area of the field.
• Alvin Kamara has finished top-10 in yards per route run among running backs in four of his five NFL seasons (minimum 20 targets).
• In 2021 Jarvis Landry finished 30th in yards per route run, immediately ahead of Keenan Allen and Mike Evans.
• Deonte Harty ranked sixth in yards per route run and third in target per route run rate last year.
• In Chris Olave‘s collegiate career, 40.8% of his receiving yardage and 60% of his receiving touchdowns came on targets 20 or more yards downfield.
• Last year Mark Ingram ranked 27th in yards after contact per attempt, immediately ahead of teammate Alvin Kamara (28th).
• In 2021 the Saints finished 25th and 27th in neutral pace and passing rate.

New Orleans Saints Top Fantasy Football Takeaways

The Saints’ offense could run quite differently this season. Last year with depleted skill positions, the game plan for New Orleans was to run the ball and play in slow motion as they tried to grind out wins. With a restocked cupboard, Jameis Winston could take to the sky more often in 2022.

If Michael Thomas returns and resembles anything close to his 2020 self, Winston could pepper the middle of the field while also taking deep shots galore. The last time we saw Thomas, he was 24th in yards per route run securing 85% of his targets within ten yards of the line of scrimmage in the middle of the field. Jarvis Landry wasn’t the sexiest addition this offseason, but he’s far from being washed. Pairing Landry with Chris Olave, a downfield maven in college, could be a masterstroke given Winston’s downfield propensity. Last year Winston had the seventh-highest deep passing rate (13.7%) in the NFL (minimum 20 deep passing attempts). No, I’m not glossing over Alvin Kamara’s receiving prowess either while also mentioning efficiency diamond in the rough Deonte Harty. This roster is well-balanced and talented.

This offense is primed to improve their 19th and 14th ranks last year in points per game and red zone scoring attempts per game. If Kamara misses any time due to suspension, New Orleans could lean further into their passing attack. Also, don’t expect them to miss a beat with veteran backup Mark Ingram who is well versed in this offensive scheme and proved he wasn’t ready to be put out to pasture last year.

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