We know that coaches try to create an environment for their players to succeed. We also know that coaches have tendencies and preferences for how they utilize their players. Yet, in the fantasy world, these tendencies tend to be unaccounted for, overlooked, or spoken about in terms of personal anecdotes that may or may not be true.
This article contains charts and information to give you a stronger understanding of the impact coaching can have on your fantasy players from the AFC East for the 2022-2023 season.
Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel (Head Coach)
Mike McDaniel (Dolphins HC)
Frank Smith (Offensive Coordinator)
Notes
- The Miami Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel to be the team’s new head coach. McDaniel had spent most of his career working with San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, including working as the 49ers’ offensive coordinator during the 2021 season.
- The offensive coordinator of the Dolphins in 2022 will be Frank Smith, who hasn’t served as an offensive coordinator or head coach at the NFL level but has at the college levels.
- During his one year as the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel’s team was pretty balanced, averaging 30.24 passing attempts and 29.35 rushing attempts per game.
- The 49ers didn’t really throw to their running backs during the 2021 season with Mike McDaniel as the team’s offensive coordinator…while it’s only one season and Kyle Shanahan was the primary play-caller this is not what you want to see if you plan on rostering Chase Edmonds.
- The 2021 49ers wide receivers got a below-average number of targets in the passing game but were above-average in terms of production…if Mike McDaniel decides to go with similar usage in Miami, while Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should still both be starting caliber fantasy options, it’s likely that at least one feels like a disappointment at their current ADP.
- In the passing game, the 2021 49ers utilized their tight end room at a more average rate in the passing game – which is a little surprising considering they have one of the best tight ends in the league in George Kittle…Mike Gesicki is probably not going to break out any further in this offense and should be viewed as a low-end TE1.
New York Jets
Mike LaFleur (Offensive Coordinator)
Mike LaFleur (Jets OC)
Notes
- Mike LaFleur has spent one season as an offensive coordinator at the NFL level thus far and has also spent time as an offensive coordinator at the college level for Saint Joseph’s College (2011-2012) and Davidson (2013).
- While the New York Jets had a more mediocre running back room in 2021 which probably played a factor in the slightly below-average running back usage on the ground, it is a little worrisome if you plan on investing in Breece Hall or Michael Carter.
- On the flip side, the team did a good job of utilizing the running backs in the passing game – this is where Breece Hall should thrive as he’s a pretty good pass-catcher.
- The Jets did a pretty good job of utilizing their wide receiver room last year with Mike LaFleur calling the plays…there could be some big upside for Elijah Moore and/or Garrett Wilson this year (the big contingency is whether or not Zach Wilson will take a step forward).
- The Jets didn’t really utilize their tight end room last year…don’t waste your time drafting one of their tight ends this year.
Buffalo Bills
Ken Dorsey (Offensive Coordinator)
Ken Dorsey Previous Coaching Jobs (Bills OC)
Notes
- The Buffalo Bills will have a new offensive coordinator in 2022 (Ken Dorsey) after Brian Daboll left to become the New York Giants’ head coach: Ken Dorsey.
- This will be Ken Dorsey’s first time serving as an offensive coordinator at any level…it’s largely expected that he keeps the same system in place that Brian Daboll had (since it was so successful) with a new wrinkle or two.
- If he does keep largely the same usage as Brian Daboll, you’ll definitely want to invest in the wide receiver room…Stefon Diggs should be valued as a top 5 fantasy wideout and Gabriel Davis has breakout potential in 2022.
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick (Head Coach)
Bill Belichick (Patriots HC)
*Targets were not tracked during the 1991 season when Belichick was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns
Notes
- The Patriots will have a strange play-caller situation this year with no official offensive coordinator. While it’s expected Matt Patricia (or maybe Joe Judge) will serve as the de facto offensive coordinator, we will just include some information on the offenses of head coach Bill Belichick’s teams since there’s really not a lot of data we can pull on from here.
- A lot of these numbers are around the league averages we’ve seen the last few years…which makes sense because there’s not as much of a correlation since Belichick is a more defensive-minded coach and he’s been coaching so long that his teams have gone back and forth through different styles.
- The one number that does pop out a bit is the RB receiving touchdowns – you’ll probably want to roster the Patriots’ primary pass-catching back (currently rumored to be Rhamondre Stevenson).
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter)