Fantasy football managers are approaching the middle of their schedules and peak trade season. Knowing which offenses are producing efficiently is key to navigating the trade market.
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NFL Offensive Pace & Efficiency
This series uses expected points added (EPA). For more information on EPA, click here.
Offenses Trending Up
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have become the fifth-highest-scoring team in the NFL over the last three weeks, scoring 102 points in those games. The passing game is carrying this offense and is more efficient than last season, ranking fourth in EPA/pass (0.23).
Sam Darnold is being protected well. The Seahawks have allowed only six sacks this season. Darnold is the fantasy QB15, but is a player fantasy managers should monitor and add for bye weeks. Darnold’s completion rate (73.1%) is by far the best of his career, and his 9.3 yards per attempt lead all quarterbacks. He has six touchdowns on routes between 10 and 20 yards, completing nearly 80% of those throws.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is crushing his preseason average draft position (ADP). The WR4 ranks second in the NFL in receiving yardage (534). He is on pace to shatter his career highs in every receiving category, with Darnold’s passer rating at 134.6 on his targets. Trailing only Puka Nacua in target share, Smith-Njigba is worth acquiring for multiple players. He is a legitimate threat to finish as a top-three fantasy receiver. Move now before the touchdown total explodes.
AJ Barner is the surprise fantasy asset in Seattle. The TE8 has four touchdowns, with five targets in the red zone. This is Tucker Kraft-style usage. Hold him, and use him in DFS.
The running game in Seattle has potential, but it must improve its efficiency. The Seahawks are a top-10 team in rushing touchdowns (six). Kenneth Walker is a solid Flex option at RB17, but can be traded if the return value is fair. Walker has not found the end zone this season, with only eight targets as a receiver.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are the NFL’s yardage leaders, with over 406 yards per game. They have remained efficient and rank third in EPA/play (0.12).
Dak Prescott leads the NFL in passing attempts (195), but is carrying a completion rate of 71.3%. He has dealt with the second-most drops in the NFL (11), but has thrown for 10 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards in five games. Prescott is QB5, with CeeDee Lamb missing the last two weeks. He is worth pursuing, especially to stack with Lamb or George Pickens. The Cowboys throw at the fifth-highest rate in the league, and are third in passing yardage per game (272.2).
Dallas found its new lead back in Javonte Williams. The fantasy RB3 is averaging 5.7 yards per attempt, with six total touchdowns. He has virtually no competition, out-snapping Miles Sanders 91 to 23. The Cowboys are fifth in EPA/rush (0.05). Barring injury, Williams will finish as a top-10 fantasy back. The biggest threat to his production is the return of Lamb. He should not be shopped in the trade market.
George Pickens is the fantasy WR6. Obviously, his production will drop upon Lamb’s return, but he is in a perfect situation for his skill set. Pickens is averaging over 15 yards per catch. He leads the NFL in contested targets (12) and contested catches (nine). It’s tempting to sell high on Pickens, but he’s worth holding. This Cowboys offense could be considered one of the league’s best by Week 18.
There is not much to say about Jake Ferguson other than he is the fantasy TE1. Having an advantage at tight end every week is huge in producing fantasy wins. Do not let him go.
Lamb is one of the most talented receivers in the game. When healthy, he will take the lid off this offense. His ability to run every route will torment defenses with Ferguson running underneath, and Pickens going deep. Look for Lamb to close strong with fantasy production.
Offenses Trending Down
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and rank 26th in total yardage per game (288.4). Arizona has scored more than 20 points in two of its five games to start the season.
Kyler Murray is struggling from the pocket. His six yards per attempt rank 28th among quarterbacks, and his seven batted balls are tied for the league lead. Murray’s mobility has affected his ability to throw consistently. He has taken 16 sacks, a top-five total in the NFL, and must improve considerably on intermediate routes to get this passing game going. The QB17 is not viable in a fantasy lineup.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the No. 1 receiver in Arizona. He is talented, but inefficient. Harrison and Murray have had different routes out of the huddle this year, leading to two interceptions. Catching fewer than 65% of your targets as a No. 1 WR won’t cut it. Harrison is a Flex option with spike weeks.
The Cardinals’ backfield has been a mess in 2025 between season-ending injuries and dropped, undefended 70-yard touchdowns. With Emari Demercado in the doghouse and Trey Benson on injured reserve (IR), Michael Carter is a dart throw in DFS, at best. Arizona is outside of the top 20 in EPA/run (-0.09).
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders rank second in turnovers, with 10 in five games. This scheme is weighted heavily toward the pass. Geno Smith‘s touchdown-to-interception ratio sits at 6:9. Any quarterback with a negative ratio, and averaging over 30 attempts a game, is going to cause problems offensively. Smith is significantly outside fantasy consideration at QB23.
The run game efficiency was a problem for the Raiders last season, and has not improved, with the team ranked 32nd in EPA/run (-0.17). They have only two touchdowns on the ground this season. Ashton Jeanty needs an improved offensive line to be unlocked as a fantasy star.
The Raiders did not address this in the offseason before selecting him sixth overall. He is eighth in rushing yardage (349) and third in explosive runs (12). Jeanty is still a starter for fantasy managers. He is averaging nearly 14 fantasy points per week, but high-Flex production against his ADP is an issue. He is the fantasy RB13 after being a first-round pick.
The receiving corps in Las Vegas is in trouble. Geno Smith is throwing for 4.28 yards per attempt when factoring in sacks and interceptions. Smith is facing significant pressure, having been sacked 16 times already. Brock Bowers is TE19. He is questionable to return from injury this week. He is averaging over three fewer targets per game from last year, and he has not scored a touchdown. Tre Tucker has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy purposes. As the fantasy WR13, he is startable in 10- and 12-team leagues. Tucker is rostered on only 57% of ESPN fantasy teams.
Efficiency Statistics
| Team | PPG | YPG | EPA/ Play | EPA/ Pass | EPA/ Run | RZ Conv % | ANY/A | QB Pressure % | Sacks | Turnovers |
| Indianapolis Colts | 32.6 | 381.2 | 0.18 | 0.26 | 0.09 | 60.0% | 8.25 | 34.9% | 4 | 3 |
| Buffalo Bills | 30.6 | 395.8 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.11 | 63.6% | 8.01 | 22.3% | 8 | 4 |
| Detroit Lions | 34.8 | 365.0 | 0.12 | 0.27 | -0.02 | 76.0% | 8.58 | 31.8% | 8 | 3 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 30.2 | 406.6 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.05 | 68.4% | 6.67 | 31.5% | 7 | 6 |
| Green Bay Packers | 26.0 | 347.3 | 0.11 | 0.23 | -0.02 | 70.6% | 8.11 | 36.3% | 8 | 2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 25.0 | 361.0 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 63.2% | 6.71 | 25.8% | 7 | 2 |
| Washington Commanders | 26.8 | 349.0 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 71.4% | 6.74 | 31.8% | 11 | 3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 27.0 | 353.8 | 0.05 | 0.12 | -0.05 | 47.1% | 7.58 | 39.1% | 9 | 2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 24.6 | 401.8 | 0.04 | 0.15 | -0.13 | 52.4% | 8.18 | 30.6% | 9 | 6 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 29.2 | 358.4 | 0.03 | 0.23 | -0.16 | 72.2% | 8.90 | 33.8% | 6 | 8 |
| New England Patriots | 25.0 | 336.6 | 0.03 | 0.16 | -0.15 | 63.2% | 7.35 | 36.2% | 17 | 7 |
| Houston Texans | 21.6 | 314.4 | 0.02 | 0 | 0.03 | 54.5% | 6.35 | 33.3% | 12 | 5 |
| Denver Broncos | 23.4 | 355.2 | 0.01 | 0.03 | -0.01 | 66.7% | 5.82 | 23.2% | 5 | 6 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 28.2 | 311.8 | -0.01 | -0.01 | -0.02 | 53.3% | 6.90 | 37.7% | 16 | 7 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 21.2 | 375.8 | -0.01 | 0.07 | -0.16 | 42.1% | 6.83 | 34.1% | 7 | 8 |
| Miami Dolphins | 21.4 | 278.6 | -0.01 | 0.03 | -0.09 | 76.9% | 5.93 | 33.7% | 11 | 5 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 25.4 | 342.6 | -0.02 | -0.07 | 0.03 | 55.0% | 5.27 | 23.9% | 6 | 6 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 25.0 | 261.6 | -0.03 | -0.09 | 0.04 | 92.3% | 6.16 | 40.9% | 15 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 24.0 | 263.5 | -0.04 | -0.03 | -0.04 | 69.2% | 6.38 | 27.9% | 9 | 3 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 19.6 | 352.2 | -0.04 | -0.09 | 0.04 | 38.5% | 5.81 | 40.6% | 17 | 7 |
| Chicago Bears | 25.3 | 328.0 | -0.06 | 0.01 | -0.16 | 63.6% | 6.95 | 30.5% | 7 | 4 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 19.0 | 362.8 | -0.06 | -0.09 | -0.04 | 46.2% | 6.06 | 32.2% | 5 | 5 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 20.6 | 288.4 | -0.06 | -0.04 | -0.09 | 58.8% | 4.70 | 29.7% | 16 | 6 |
| New York Jets | 22.4 | 319.4 | -0.07 | -0.02 | -0.14 | 61.5% | 5.74 | 50.8% | 16 | 8 |
| Carolina Panthers | 20.4 | 315.0 | -0.08 | -0.16 | 0.03 | 66.7% | 4.84 | 35.4% | 9 | 8 |
| New Orleans Saints | 18.4 | 307.2 | -0.09 | -0.12 | -0.04 | 41.2% | 5.17 | 37.0% | 9 | 3 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 24.6 | 305.0 | -0.13 | -0.13 | -0.13 | 66.7% | 5.54 | 34.8% | 21 | 9 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 16.6 | 322.8 | -0.15 | -0.14 | -0.17 | 35.7% | 4.28 | 38.9% | 16 | 10 |
| New York Giants | 17.4 | 320.6 | -0.18 | -0.23 | -0.11 | 31.6% | 4.94 | 37.7% | 14 | 8 |
| Cleveland Browns | 14.6 | 288.2 | -0.23 | -0.36 | -0.02 | 66.7% | 3.81 | 39.8% | 11 | 8 |
| Tennessee Titans | 14.6 | 233.8 | -0.26 | -0.33 | -0.14 | 44.4% | 3.54 | 39.4% | 19 | 7 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 17.0 | 228.6 | -0.31 | -0.38 | -0.16 | 72.7% | 3.76 | 38.1% | 15 | 11 |
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