NFC South Division Preview

NFC South Team Previews

It’s NFC Week! More specifically, it’s NFC South Day. We’re going team-by-team through the NFC South, previewing the 2023 season for the Saints, Falcons, Panthers, and Cardinals. We’ve got everything from personnel and coaching changes, depth charts, draft picks, schedules, fantasy football advice, and more.

Atlanta Falcons Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                   NFC South
2022 Finish (Record):           4th (7-10-0)

Head Coach:                          Arthur Smith
Offensive Coordinator:         Dave Ragone
Play Caller:                            Arthur Smith

 

2022 Top PPR Scorers and Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• Quarterback – No QB taken in the draft. Mariota is now gone and Heinicke brought in as backup for Ridder
• Run Heavy – Last in pass rate in 2022, no significant receivers added, drafted an Elite RB prospect

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.08 – Bijan Robinson RB
• 2.07 – Matthew Bergeron OT
• 3.12 – Zach Harrison EDGE
• 4.11 – Clark Phillips III CB
• 7.07 – DeMarcco Hellams SAF
• 7.08 – Jovaughn Gwyn G

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• Taylor Heinicke – Quarterback
• Kaleb McGary – Offensive Tackle
• Mack Hollins – Wide Receiver
• Jonnu Smith – Tight End
• Scotty Miller – Wide Receiver

Notable Players who have left

• Marcus Mariota – Quarterback
• Billy Price – Center
• Olamide Zaccheaus – Wide Receiver
• Damiere Byrd – Wide Receiver

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Bijan Robinson RB9
• Drake London WR35
• Kyle Pitts TE6
• Tyler Allgeier RB43
• Desmond Ridder QB25

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Desmond Ridder
• Taylor Heinicke
• Feleipe Franks

Position Rank: 25th

Running Back

• Bijan Robinson
• Tyler Allgeier
• Cordarrelle Patterson
• Avery Williams
• Keith Smith

Position Rank: 4th

Wide Receiver

• Drake London
• Mack Hollins
• Scott Miller – Slot
• KhaDarel Hodge
• Frank Darby

Position Rank: 32nd

Tight End

• Kyle Pitts
• Jonnu Smith
• Parker Hesse
• MyCole Pruitt

Position Rank: 6th

Offensive Line

• LT – Jake Matthews
• LG – Matthew Bergeron
• C – Drew Dalman
• RG – Chris Lindstrom
• RT – Kaleb McGary

Position Rank (PFF): 7th

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• Bijan Robinson

Fantasy Football Values

• Tyler Allgeier
• Mack Hollins

Fantasy Football Avoids

• None

Our Targets

• Tyler Allgeier

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	v	Carolina Panthers
Week 2	v	Green Bay Packers
Week 3	@	Detroit Lions
Week 4	LONDON	Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5	v	Houston Texans
Week 6	v	Washington Commanders
Week 7	@	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 8	@	Tennessee Titans
Week 9	v	Minnesota Vikings
Week 10	@	Arizona Cardinals
Week 11	BYE
Week 12	v	New Orleans Saints
Week 13	@	New York Jets
Week 14	v	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 15	@	Carolina Panthers
Week 16	v	Indianapolis Colts
Week 17	@	Chicago Bears
Week 18	@	New Orleans Saints

Summary

The Falcons continue to be all-in on the run game despite using top-10 picks on pass catchers in both 2021 and 2022. Again selecting in the top-10 in 2023, they chose Texas stud running back Bijan Robinson. That’s three top-10 picks spent on offensive playmakers in the last three years and yet they’re still expected to be one of the lowest scoring offenses in football. That’s because they have yet to figure out the quarterback position. Unless Desmond Ridder shocks us all, this is going to be another hard to watch season for this offense. Yet, because of how bad the NFC South division is, the Falcons actually have a shot at winning it.

Overall Team Rank: 26th

Projected NFC South Finish: 1st

 

Carolina Panthers Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                   NFC South
2022 Finish (Record):           2nd (7-10-0)

Head Coach:                          Frank Reich *NEW*
Offensive Coordinator:         Thomas Brown *NEW*
Play Caller:                            Frank Reich

Frank Reich Last 3 Roles

• Indianapolis Colts (2018-2022) Head Coach
• Philadelphia Eagles (2016-2017) Offensive Coordinator
• San Diego Chargers (2014-2015) Offensive Coordinator

Thomas Brown Last 3 Roles

• Los Angeles Rams (2022) Assistant Head Coach & Tight Ends Coach
• Los Angeles Rams (2021) Assistant Head Coach & Running Backs Coach
• Los Angeles Rams (2020) Running Backs Coach

 

2022 Top PPR Scorers And Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• New Head Coach – Frank Reich, former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach and Superbowl winning OC from the Eagles
• New Offensive Coordinator – Thomas Brown, former assistant Head Coach of the LA Rams and with heavy experience coaching Running Backs
• New Regime – New head coach, OC and number 1 overall pick at Quarterback

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.01 – Bryce Young QB
• 2.08 – Jonathan Mingo WR
• 3.17 – DJ Johnson EDGE
• 4.12 – Chandler Zavala G
• 5.10 – Jammie Robinson SAF

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• Damiere Byrd – Wide Receiver
• DJ Chark – Wide Receiver
• Hayden Hurst – Tight End
• Miles Sanders – Running Back
• Adam Thielen – Wide Receiver

Notable Players who have left

• D.J. Moore – Wide Receiver
• D’Onta Foreman – Running Back
• Sam Darnold – Quarterback

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Miles Sanders RB25
• Chuba Hubbard RB47
• DJ Chark Jr. WR62
• Hayden Hurst TE21
• Adam Thielen WR72
• Jonathan Mingo WR80

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Bryce Young
• Andy Dalton
• Matt Corral

Position Rank: 27th

Running Back

• Miles Sanders
• Chuba Hubbard
• Raheem Blackshear

Position Rank: 20th

Wide Receiver

• DJ Chark Jr.
• Adam Thielen – Slot
• Jonathan Mingo
• Terrace Marshall Jr.
• Laviska Shenault Jr.
• Shi Smith
• Damiere Byrd
• Javon Wims

Position Rank: 28th

Tight End

• Hayden Hurst
• Tommy Tremble
• Ian Thomas
• Giovanni Ricci
• Stephen Sullivan

Position Rank: 21st

Offensive Line

• LT – Ikem Ekwonu
• LG – Brady Christensen
• C – Bradley Bozeman
• RG – Austin Corbett
• RT – Taylor Moton

Position Rank (PFF): 16th

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• None

Fantasy Football Values

• Chuba Hubbard
• Hayden Hurst

Fantasy Football Avoids

• Miles Sanders

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	@	Atlanta Falcons
Week 2	v	New Orleans Saints
Week 3	@	Seattle Seahawks
Week 4	v	Minnesota Vikings
Week 5	@	Detroit Lions
Week 6	@	Miami Dolphins
Week 7	BYE
Week 8	v	Houston Texans
Week 9	v	Indianapolis Colts
Week 10	@	Chicago Bears
Week 11	v	Dallas Cowboys
Week 12	@	Tennessee Titans
Week 13	@	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 14	@	New Orleans Saints
Week 15	v	Atlanta Falcons
Week 16	v	Green Bay Packers
Week 17	@	Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 18	v	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Summary

The Panthers hit the reset button this offseason and brought in a new head coach and a new quarterback. Unfortunately for Bryce Young, they did this by trading away their two best (and only) playmakers on offense. Veterans Hayden Hurst, Adam Thielen, and DJ Chark will begin the season as Young’s top options, while Terrace Marshall and rookie Jonathan Mingo will continue to vie for looks. In the backfield will be free agent signee Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. That’s the offense. The defense, however, is one of the more talented units in the league and give this team a shot at winning a really bad NFC South division.

Overall Team Rank: 29th

Projected NFC South Finish: 2nd

 

New Orleans Saints Team Preview

Team Info

Division:                                   NFC South
2022 Finish (Record):           3rd (7-10-0)

Head Coach:                          Dennis Allen
Offensive Coordinator:         Pete Carmichael
Play Caller:                            Pete Carmichael

 

2022 Total PPR and Team Tendencies

(Team Tendencies Source Data from NFELO)

Key Changes & Need to Know

• Derek Carr – Carr is now the starting Quarterback for the Saints after being released by the Raiders
• Kamara Suspension – Kamara has been suspended for the first 3 games of the season following his arrest in Las Vegas during the 2022 Pro Bowl. Similar indiscretions in the past have resulted in 6 games missed so this is a good outcome for him

2023 Draft Picks

• 1.29 – Bryan Bresee DT
• 2.09 – Isaiah Foskey EDGE
• 3.08 – Kendre Miller RB
• 4.01 – Nick Saldiveri G
• 4.25 – Jake Haener QB
• 5.11 – Jordan Howden SAF
• 6.18 – A.T. Perry WR

Free Agency

Notable New Players

• Foster Moreau – Tight End
• Derek Carr – Quarterback
• Jamaal Williams – Running Back

Notable Players who have left

• Adam Trautman – Tight End
• Deonte Harty – Wide Receiver
• Andy Dalton – Quarterback

Top Ranked Players – 2023

• Chris Olave WR12
• Alvin Kamara RB37
• Michael Thomas WR64
• Jamaal Williams RB44
• Juwan Johnson TE18
• Derek Carr QB19

See The Complete Rankings Here

Positional Depth Charts

Quarterback

• Derek Carr
• Jameis Winston
• Jake Haener

Position Rank: 19th

Running Back

• Alvin Kamara
• Jamaal Williams
• Kendre Miller
• Darrel Williams
• Adam Prentice

Position Rank: 6th

Wide Receiver

• Chris Olave
• Michael Thomas
• Rashid Shaheed
• A.T. Perry
• Tre’Quan Smith
• Bryan Edwards
• Keith Kirkwood

Position Rank: 12th

Tight End

• Juwan Johnson
• Taysom Hill
• Foster Moreau
• Jimmy Graham

Position Rank: 14th

Offensive Line

• LT – Trevor Penning
• LG – Andrus Peat
• C – Erik McCoy
• RG – Cesar Ruiz
• RT – Ryan Ramczyk

Position Rank (PFF): 24th

2023 Projections

Projections Created Using The 2023 Projections Template

Fantasy Football Studs

• Chris Olave

Fantasy Football Values

• None

Fantasy Football Avoids

• Michael Thomas
• Jamaal Williams

Our Targets

• Chris Olave

 

2023 Schedule

 

Week 1	v	Tennessee Titans
Week 2	@	Carolina Panthers
Week 3	@	Green Bay Packers
Week 4	v	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5	@	New England Patriots
Week 6	@	Houston Texans
Week 7	v	Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 8	@	Indianapolis Colts
Week 9	v	Chicago Bears
Week 10	@	Minnesota Vikings
Week 11	BYE
Week 12	@	Atlanta Falcons
Week 13	v	Detroit Lions
Week 14	v	Carolina Panthers
Week 15	v	New York Giants
Week 16	@	Los Angeles Rams
Week 17	@	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 18	v	Atlanta Falcons

Summary

Like every other team in the NFC South, the Saints have a new quarterback in 2023. Derek Carr comes over from Las Vegas as the most experienced quarterback in the division. He’s a great fit with downfield playmaker and second-year star Chris Olave. If Michael Thomas can stay healthy and be anything close to what he’s been in the past, the Saints offense could be a lot of fun. Running back Alvin Kamara is suspended three games to start the season but the backfield is in good hands with last year’s touchdown leader Jamaal Williams and rookie Kendre Miller taking the reins in Kamara’s absence.

Overall Team Rank: 12th

Projected NFC South Finish: 3rd

 

Who do you think will win the NFC South in 2023? Jump in our Discord and join the discussion!

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