This weekly fantasy football offseason article is designed to keep you plugged into my thought process throughout spring and summer. Let's face it, there is no NFL offseason anymore — it's a year-round league. There needn't be a fantasy football offseason either.
Each week, I'll focus on developments that matter most for fantasy football, with an emphasis on projecting future offensive environments before the market fully adjusts. This week, we'll look at the most impactful coaching changes of the offseason and how those moves could shape offensive production for fantasy managers. Be sure to check out the 2026 Rotowire fantasy football projections to see how we think players on these teams will perform.
Coaching changes often signal major shifts in scheme, personnel usage and play-calling tendencies. Identifying which coaches can elevate an offense, and which situations come with hidden limitations, is one of the most valuable edges you can gain during offseason fantasy football research.
Mike McDaniel – Offensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers
Fantasy managers had mixed feelings about McDaniel during his time as head coach of the Dolphins, but the creativity was undeniable. In his first season in Miami, McDaniel unleashed one of the most explosive offenses in the league, fueling elite fantasy production from Tua Tagovailoa, De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. His offensive concepts were so effective that defenses around the league quickly began building counters to slow Miami.
In Year 2, McDaniel responded with heavy use of half-field motion, once again creating unfair advantages for Tyreek Hill — until those ideas were also widely adopted. Ultimately, McDaniel ran into unavoidable constraints: a quarterback with clear limitations and an offensive line that couldn't consistently hold up. There's only so much even an elite schemer can do under those circumstances.
With the Chargers, those restrictions disappear. Justin Herbert gives McDaniel a quarterback who can make every throw at a high level, both on schedule and off script. Expect McDaniel to fully weaponize Herbert while creatively deploying Ladd McConkey, Oronde Gadsden, Quentin Johnston and Omarion Hampton. If the offensive line can stay healthy, don't be surprised if Los Angeles finishes with one of the most productive offenses in the NFL, and one of the most valuable fantasy ecosystems in 2026.
Klint Kubiak – Head Coach, Las Vegas Raiders
Klint Kubiak's track record suggests he can elevate an offense quickly when the pieces cooperate. Two years ago, he helped lead the Saints and Derek Carr to a scorching start before injuries derailed the season. In 2025 with Seattle, Kubiak once again showed flexibility by crafting an efficient offense around Sam Darnold.
Now in Las Vegas, Kubiak faces a familiar challenge: offensive line depth. The return of LT Kolton Miller will help, but additional upgrades are still needed. Kubiak's ability to lean on heavy personnel should mitigate some of those issues. Two tight-end sets featuring Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer will allow him to establish the run and set up play-action concepts.
This approach also benefits likely first-round draft pick Fernando Mendoza, who should see plenty of rollouts and bootlegs designed to simplify reads and create easy throws. The wide receiver group is a concern, especially if Tre Tucker and Jack Bech are forced into featured roles. Still, this coaching change should maximize Ashton Jeanty's workload and efficiency, making him one of the clearest fantasy winners in this offense.
Drew Petzing – Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
Drew Petzing's tenure in Arizona produced mixed results, but context matters. He dealt with persistent offensive line issues, inconsistent quarterback play and negative game scripts that limited the ceiling of his offense. While he won't recreate the Ben Johnson era in Detroit, Petzing should represent a meaningful upgrade over John Morton.
Petzing has been vocal about his desire to build a physical, run-centric offense, frequently utilizing heavier personnel packages with multiple tight ends. In Arizona, this philosophy translated into one of the league's stronger rushing attacks when healthy, driven by James Conner and a cohesive ground scheme. The Cardinals consistently ranked well in rushing efficiency, even if points were harder to come by.
In Detroit, Petzing inherits a vastly improved talent pool, particularly at the skill positions, along with two excellent offensive tackles. Interior line improvement is still needed, but the overall infrastructure is far better than what he had in Arizona. Don't expect a carbon copy of Ben Johnson's offense, but this unit should be more stable and fantasy-friendly than it was under Morton last season.
Mike LaFleur – Head Coach, Arizona Cardinals
Three seasons under Rams head coach Sean McVay have prepared Mike LaFleur for his first head coaching opportunity, particularly when it comes to personnel versatility and wide receiver blocking — two underrated aspects of offensive success. LaFleur learned how to manipulate defensive alignments with formation changes and varied personnel groupings.
However, expectations should be tempered. Arizona lacks the Rams' quarterback play, elite wide receiver depth and offensive line strength. The Cardinals' biggest obstacle remains the offensive line and without meaningful upgrades, LaFleur's impact could be capped.
LaFleur is expected to open the season with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, which naturally limits offensive upside. Still, Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison provide a solid foundation in the passing game. Expect modest improvements in efficiency, but not a dramatic leap forward unless the trenches improve.
Declan Doyle – Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
It's difficult to assign significant credit to Declan Doyle for Chicago's offense, as Ben Johnson handled play-calling duties. While Doyle technically served as the Bears' offensive coordinator, it's unclear how hands-on he truly was. One season alongside Johnson isn't enough to assume he'll transplant that success to Baltimore.
That said, inheriting Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry is about as good a starting point as any offensive coordinator could ask for. The concerns lie elsewhere. Baltimore's offensive line struggled in 2025, and the wide receiver room lacks depth beyond Zay Flowers.
Expecting Doyle to outperform Todd Monken's 2025 results is unrealistic. It's also worth remembering that the Ravens' offense unraveled after Jackson suffered a Week 3 injury and was never fully himself. If Jackson stays healthy, the offense will be productive by default, but don't expect a schematic leap forward.
Conclusion
Coaching changes are one of the most important, and often misunderstood, variables in offseason fantasy football research. Scheme, personnel usage and play-calling tendencies can dramatically reshape player value long before training camp buzz and ADP shifts catch up. By identifying which coaches are stepping into stable environments and which face structural limitations, fantasy managers can gain a meaningful edge during the offseason fantasy football grind.
As you continue preparing for 2026, make sure to reference the RotoWire fantasy football depth charts to track evolving roles and roster changes as teams finalize their lineups. And don't miss any of my offseason articles — be sure to visit my article page on the RotoWire site for weekly updates, strategy insights and early fantasy takes throughout the NFL offseason.
