There are a number of fundamental differences between fantasy football and fantasy baseball. In baseball, it’s hitter versus pitcher. Mano a mano. You can analyze a player’s track record and peripheral stats to understand what kind of hitter or pitcher he is and decide whether or not you want him on your roster. His overall game is independent of his team’s style of play.
In football, it’s not so simple. You can have an amazing running back, but if the coach designs a pass-heavy scheme, that running back won’t see as many carries, thus stunting his overall fantasy value. Conversely, you can have a running back with mediocre talent, but if he’s in a run-heavy offense with a blocking scheme that caters to his strengths, he can suddenly become a league-winner. In football, the coaching and scheme matter most.
It’s why you can expect the Los Angeles Chargers to enjoy a breakout season in 2021. With a complete coaching overhaul that rid the team of Anthony Lynn and his limited abilities to promote a high-octane offense, the Chargers brought in former Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi to run the offense. Lombardi will take that Saints offense, which turned Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas into the Holy Trinity of Fantasy, and employ it with the Chargers.
The scheme features high-level passing, which will allow quarterback Justin Herbert to freely make decisions based on what he sees from the defense. It will also feature the pass-catching ability of running back Austin Ekeler, in much the same way it did for Kamara, who averaged 81 receptions per year over his first four seasons. And, while we know receiver Keenan Allen has been Herbert’s bread-and-butter, we may also look to Mike Williams for a potential breakout campaign, as he fills the X-receiver job Thomas has held in New Orleans.
Again, understanding each team’s system is going to be vital in both your drafts and for your in-season waiver work. Having that working knowledge will allow you to make better choices as to which handcuffs to draft, which wide receivers and tight ends will be expected to thrive and even which defenses you want to stream each week. Very few fantasy analysts even have this working knowledge of the game, so if you can find a resource that helps educate you properly, you’ll not only have an edge over your league-mates, but you could also be on your way to being an analyst yourself.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.