As we approach the 2020 NFL season, one of the largest aspects of fantasy football is navigating the coaching changes from the previous season. One extremely influential change is a new coach.
We’ve seen positive change re-surge careers (Sean McVay with Jared Goff), but we’ve also seen extremely negative repercussions for an awful hire (literally every player Adam Gase ever coached).
In 2020, we saw a total of 16 coaching changes that could impact your fantasy star’s outlook. In this article, I’ve detailed how these coaching changes could affect the performance of all players involved. Some hires have led to me hammering trade offers during the off-season while others have me dry heaving at the mere thought that someone thought that was a good idea. Sit back and enjoy!
How 2020 NFL Coaching Changes Will Impact Fantasy Football
Carolina Panthers
New Head Coach: Matt Rhule
New Offensive Coordinator: Joe Brady
Matt Rhule was a highly sought-after head coach candidate that decided to head to Carolina after seven years in College Football at Temple and Baylor. The one constant at every stop for Rhule was each team consistently improved each season.
With a limited talent pool at Temple, Rhule was able to improve a two-win 2013 team to back-to-back ten-win seasons just three years later. At Baylor, a one-win 2017 turned into an eleven-win season just two years later. I trust that Rhule will make a positive impact in Carolina as he leads the rebuilding effort.
Joe Brady may seem like a one year wonder to most, but LSU might have orchestrated the greatest college football season of all time. After just two years as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints, Joe Brady became passing game coordinator at LSU. All he did in his one year was help LSU gain the most yards in college football history and the sixth-best yards per play since 2000.
Joe Brady will bring a spread passing attack similar to the New Orleans Saints’ philosophy, where his main form of attack will be overwhelming defenses with options to cover. This will open up incredible matchups for receivers, and it will lighten boxes for Christian McCaffrey. I’m buying every bit of Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, Robby Anderson, Ian Thomas, and Teddy Bridgewater I can this off-season.
Chicago Bears
New Offensive Coordinator: Bill Lazor
Bill Lazor has been around in his career. This is now his fifth stop as an offensive coordinator at the college or pro level, and none of his prior seasons give me much hope for a Bears turnaround.
In his past three seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator, his teams have finished in the bottom seven in total offense. This move reeks of re-tread.
However, it is still Matt Nagy’s offense, even though that might not be a good thing either. I still believe that Mitch Trubisky can be an average starter in the NFL, and if not, Nick Foles can at least be a decent bridge option. Average starters have sustained fantasy-relevant players before. Just last year, David Montgomery finished as the RB24 and Allen Robinson finished as the WR10. They’re both plenty viable in all formats, but maybe leave starting Trubisky/Foles to the superflex leagues.
Cleveland Browns
New Head Coach: Kevin Stefanski
New Offensive Coordinator: Alex Van Pelt
Kevin Stefanski grew through the Minnesota Vikings organization. Beginning as an assistant to the head coach in 2006, he passed through many different roles before landing as full-time offensive coordinator in 2019. All he did there was give Kirk Cousins great opportunities to complete passes and the highest TD% and lowest INT% of Cousins’ starting career. He also orchestrated Dalvin Cook’s 1,600 yards season in 2019 while spreading the ball around to their plethora of receiving options. I see Stefanski’s arrival as a BIG plus to the entire offense.
Alex Van Pelt has been around many QB rooms in his day. Hanging around the NFL as a player for 11 years and a coach in his 15th season, Van Pelt has helped orchestrate a great Josh Freeman season in Tampa, Andy Dalton’s best season in Cincinnati, and spent four years leading the QB room in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers. Van Pelt will bring plenty of wisdom and experience that will only help Baker Mayfield’s development.
Dallas Cowboys
New Head Coach: Mike McCarthy
So the good news for the Cowboys is Kellen Moore has remained offensive coordinator and play-caller. He’s a really smart kid and will only continue to grow as a coach.
This was the best-case scenario for the Cowboys. Mike McCarthy as the CEO-type head coach could work well in Dallas. As long as McCarthy keeps his hands out of the offense, I look for Dallas to be just as potent as before with Kellen Moore.
Denver Broncos
New Offensive Coordinator: Pat Shurmur
Shurmur is the prototypical “better coordinator than head coach” in the NFL. As a head coach, he has a 29% winning percentage dating back to 2011. As a coordinator, he’s done well at his two previous stops. In 2013-15 with the Eagles, he headed up a potent offense; however, some of that success could’ve had something to do with Chip Kelly. In 2017 with the Vikings, he boosted Case Keenum to the best season of his career and helped establish a great running game. He has experience with young QBs so he’ll know what to expect with Drew Lock, and the running game in Denver should take a step forward, as well.
Jacksonville Jaguars
New Offensive Coordinator: Jay Gruden
As an offensive coordinator from 2011-13, Gruden helped improve Andy Dalton in Cincinnati each of his first three years in the pros. As head coach of the Redskins, he also helped mold Kirk Cousins into a competent QB in the NFL. He’ll be an excellent addition to this team and more importantly Gardner Minshew. He can aid in the young QB’s development, and help the Jags maximize return on the sixth-rounder.
When given a competent RB, Gruden understands the necessity to give him touches. For Leonard Fournette, I see this move as a plus. When there’s a clear bellcow, Gruden has shown the tendency to give him over 260 carries in a season. My only worry would be a possible reduction in targets thanks to the addition of Chris Thompson, whom Gruden featured heavily out of the backfield in Washington.
Los Angeles Rams
New Offensive Coordinator: Kevin O’Connell
With Sean McVay unlikely to give up play-calling duties, I don’t imagine this coaching change will carry much weight. The LA offense is predicated on good OL play that they just didn’t have in 2019.
O’Connell brings a passing game knowledge that could potentially benefit Jared Goff with some fresh ideas in the room. However, I don’t see this move as anything more than that.
Miami Dolphins
New Offensive Coordinator: Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey has plenty of experience with Ryan Fitzpatrick. In 2015 and 2016, Gailey was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. With good weapons in 2015, the Jets registered a top-11 scoring offense. With an Eric Decker injury in 2016 and a poor defense, the Jets couldn’t get much going.
For a Miami Dolphin offense that ranked 25th in points last year, I don’t see how the familiarity between OC and QB could hurt them this year. Add in a breakout Devante Parker, returning Preston Williams, and an emerging Mike Gesicki, and you’ll see that things are pointing up in Miami.
Minnesota Vikings
New Offensive Coordinator: Gary Kubiak
I see much of the same for the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. Kubiak has been around the NFL for years and has worked with many great minds. As an offensive advisor in Minnesota last year, he knows what works for that team right now. Pounding the run, play-action passing with Cousins, and moving the ball efficiently was their formula for success. As long as Justin Jefferson can give a fraction of the production they lost in Stefon Diggs, this offense should continue humming along.
New York Giants
Head Coach: Joe Judge
New Offensive Coordinator: Jason Garrett
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We’re about to find out who the problem was in Dallas. In an interesting move, New York decided to re-tread the forever clapping Jason Garrett, and I don’t see this ending well for New York. Garrett’s offenses were either carried by Tony Romo or limited by his own hand.
The only positive for New York is they have a stud RB to carry their rookie QB. Saquon Barkley should absolutely be locked in as a top-three fantasy pick in 2020, but Daniel Jones will have an uphill battle to improve in 2020.
Philadelphia Eagles
New Offensive Coordinator: N/A
Why would I add this coaching change if no OC was named? Because it doesn’t matter. This is still the Doug Pederson show. He mentioned in an interview with the Eagles Insider Podcast, “It’s not about one coach who has to do everything. It’s a collaborative effort.” I don’t see things changing for the Eagles in 2020. If DeSean Jackson can stay healthy or Jalen Reagor steps up as their primary field stretcher, watch out.
Washington Football Team
New Head Coach: Ron Rivera
New Offensive Coordinator: Scott Turner
Not only is this team poorly run at the top, but they brought in a coach who used complete nepotism in multiple spots to fill roles on the coaching staff. None of those moves are more glaring than the addition of Scott Turner. He doesn’t have any coordinator experience, and he was only an offensive assistant at Michigan just three years ago. He was also the QB coach in Carolina for two years.
There are also two other Turner brothers on the coaching staff. Rivera must see something in the young Turner to bring him over from Carolina. I don’t see much positivity in 2020 for Washington. Maybe Derrius Guice is viable with some health, and maybe Terry McLaurin doesn’t get ruined by a brand new offensive coordinator. I’d be hesitant to draft a Washington player in 2020.
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