👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Five NFL Offenses to Target in Fantasy Drafts: Cardinals, Saints and Steelers

The idea of stacking, or pairing multiple players from the same NFL team on your fantasy team, is nothing new.

It's generally more common on daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, where a successful pairing of a quarterback and pass-catcher is often crucial to winning a big-money guaranteed prize pool tournament, but it's become more commonplace in redraft leagues.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NFL Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, ADP Sleepers Tool, Matchup Ratings for every player, Daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. Sign Up Now!

 

Load Up on These Offenses for 2016 Fantasy Football

Stacking can be a sneaky way to effectively double your points. If your quarterback throws a pair of touchdown passes to one of your receivers, points are going to add up quickly.

The trick, of course, is selecting the most consistent players from the most profitable fantasy situations. The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals both averaged more than 30 points per game last season, so their players offered more fantasy upside than those on the San Francisco 49ers who finished with an NFL-worst 14.9 points per game.

So what are the top fantasy situations entering the 2016 seasons? Which NFL teams should you target when constructing your fantasy team? I've identified five teams that I will be targeting heavily in my drafts this summer, along with individual players currently being selected in the top 100 of standard fantasy drafts (average draft positions are from Fantasy Football Calculator).

 
Pittsburgh Steelers

WR Antonio Brown (1.01), RB Le'Veon Bell (1.02), QB Ben Roethlisberger (5.10), TE Ladarius Green (8.02), RB DeAngelo Williams (8.07), WR Markus Wheaton (8.08)

No surprise here, a year after the Steelers were fantasy gold in 2015, I am expecting more of the same this season. The Steelers boast fantasy's undisputed No. 1 wide receiver in Brown, a top-three running back in Bell, and a top six quarterback in Roethlisberger. Brown continues to gain traction as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in redraft leagues, so pairing him with Roethlisberger, who can be had in the fifth round, is a solid strategy.

Outside of the Steelers' "big three," free-agent signee Green has legitimate top-10 tight end upside this season, while Williams proved last season he's arguably the most important running back handcuff available. Wheaton could be a steal in round eight with fellow wideout Martavis Bryant being suspended for the season.

 
Arizona Cardinals

RB David Johnson (1.07), WR Michael Floyd (5.07), WR Larry Fitzgerald (6.05), WR John Brown (7.02), QB Carson Palmer (7.09)

The Steelers might have the best individual receiver, but the Cardinals have the most dynamic group of receivers in the league. Second-year running back Johnson should emerge as one of fantasy's top backs with a full workload in 2016. Palmer will turn 37 this season, but he's still a top-10 quarterback and is being drafted as such in the seventh round.

Floyd, Fitzgerald and Brown are being drafted, on average, within two rounds of each other. The only concern here is that the three will cut into each other's targets, but all three were valuable last season when the Cardinals averaged 30.6 points per game. As a bonus, Arizona also boasts one of the top defense/special teams units in fantasy football.

 
Jacksonville Jaguars

WR Allen Robinson (2.04), WR Allen Hurns (5.06), RB Chris Ivory (6.02), QB Blake Bortles (7.05), RB T.J. Yeldon (7.12), TE Julius Thomas (9.02)

The Jaguars should be one of the most exciting offenses in the NFL in 2016. Robinson is a legitimate WR1, coming off a breakout 1,400-yard sophomore campaign in 2015. Hurns is being drafted as a WR3 and his WR2 upside makes him an attractive option in the 5th round of drafts. Bortles is being drafted eighth among QBs, four spots behind where he finished in 2015, which can definitely make him a value. Julius Thomas is a borderline TE1 and has 10+ touchdown upside in this young and explosive offense.

If there is one blemish from a fantasy perspective for the Jaguars offense, it's that the running back situation is muddled at best. Ivory and Yeldon should split carries, so barring an injury, neither appears to have RB1 upside.

 
New Orleans Saints

RB Mark Ingram (3.01), WR Brandin Cooks (3.05), QB Drew Brees (6.04), TE Coby Fleener (7.06)

New Orleans has been one of the top teams to target for fantasy production every season since Brees and head coach Sean Payton arrived back in 2006. The faces around those two have changed over the last decade, but the production hasn't.

Ingram is being drafted as a high-end RB2 in standard leagues, but has a legitimate case as an RB1 in PPR leagues. Cooks is a solid WR2, while free-agent arrival Fleener is expected to put up TE1 numbers in New Orleans' potent passing attack. The 37-year-old Brees is no longer a top-three lock at QB, but he's still a safe QB1. A Brees-Cooks pairing should be highly productive. This list also doesn't even include wide receiver Willie Snead, who is being drafted in the 11th round despite an impressive 2015 season where he caught 69 receptions for 984 yards and three touchdowns.

 
New England Patriots

TE Rob Gronkowski (1.11), WR Julian Edelman (4.03), RB Dion Lewis (4.08), QB Tom Brady (6.06),

Gronkowski is being selected, on average, 32 picks ahead of the second tight end (Jordan Reed) taken in standard drafts, by far the biggest gap of any of the fantasy positions. The injury-prone Edelman is going in the early fourth round, right on the dividing line between WR2s and WR3s. Lewis has considerably more value in PPR leagues than in standard leagues.

Brady is the wild card here. He's expected to serve his four-game Deflategate suspension, limiting his overall upside for 2016. However, 12 games of Brady is still better than most signal callers, and he's currently being drafted as the sixth overall quarterback. New England also boasts fantasy's top kicker in Stephen Gostkowski.

 

Honorable mentions (with ADPs for top players)

Green Bay Packers: WR Jordy Nelson (2.03), RB Eddie Lacy (2.06), QB Aaron Rodgers (3.08), WR Randall Cobb (4.03)

Seattle Seahawks: RB Thomas Rawls (2.11), WR Doug Baldwin (4.10), QB Russell Wilson (5.07), WR Tyler Lockett (7.10)

Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green (1.10), RB Jeremy Hill (5.05), TE Tyler Eifert (6.02), RB Giovani Bernard (6.10)

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Alex Ovechkin

Records Power-Play Assist
Lane Hutson

Extends Road Point Streak to 10 Games
Ivan Demidov

Bags Two Points in Wednesday's Win
Nick Schmaltz

Inks Eight-Year Extension With Mammoth
Pascal Siakam

Expected to Remain Out Thursday
Dyson Daniels

Dealing With Toe Sprain, Questionable Thursday
Michael Porter Jr.

Won't Play Against Hawks
Kevin Porter Jr.

Could Return to Action Thursday
Tyler Herro

Iffy for Thursday
Derrick White

Questionable Thursday Due to Knee Issue
Jayson Tatum

Questionable Thursday
Emeka Egbuka

the New WR1 in Tampa Bay?
Trey Benson

Upside Limited in Crowded Backfield
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Currently the Lead Back in Washington
Harrison Smith

Vikings Release Harrison Smith With Post-June 1 Designation
Jedrick Wills Jr.

Bears Sign Jedrick Wills Jr. to a One-Year Deal
Derrick Nnadi

Signs with the Colts
Charles Omenihu

Commanders Sign Charles Omenihu to a One-Year Deal
A'Shawn Robinson

Buccaneers Sign Defensive Lineman A'Shawn Robinson
Javon Hargrave

Packers Sign Javon Hargrave to a Two-Year Deal
Owen Tippett

Multi-Point Effort Leads Philadelphia to a Victory
Drake Batherson

Scores Twice Versus Montreal
Bradley Chubb

Reaches Agreement on Three-Year Deal With Bills
Osa Odighizuwa

49ers Acquire Osa Odighizuwa From Cowboys on Wednesday
Kyler Murray

to Visit With Vikings on Thursday
Julian Hill

Patriots Agree to Terms With Julian Hill
Lucas Krull

Broncos Re-Sign Tight End Lucas Krull
Carson Wentz

Looking Unlikely for the Jets
LeBron James

Questionable Thursday Against Bulls
Foster Moreau

Texans Sign Foster Moreau to Add to Tight End Room
Dallas Goedert

Eagles Buy Some Extra Time to Negotiate With Dallas Goedert
Matas Buzelis

Probable Thursday After Career Night
Lamar Jackson

Ravens Still Hopeful They Can Reach Extension With Lamar Jackson
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Added to Injury Report as Probable
Josh Giddey

Likely Active Thursday
Isaiah Hartenstein

Remains Out Against Boston
Chet Holmgren

Ready to Play Thursday
Josh Hart

Won't Play Wednesday vs. Jazz
Victor Wembanyama

Questionable vs. Nuggets
Keyonte George

Set to Suit Up Wednesday
Jakob Poeltl

Cleared to Play Wednesday vs. Pelicans
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Out at Least Two Weeks
Grant Williams

Sidelined Against Kings
John Metchie III

Signing One-Year Deal to Join Panthers
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Jaguars Signing Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Wednesday
Coby White

Active On Wednesday
Stephen Curry

Expected to Miss 10 More Days
Jake Browning

Plans to Sign One-Year Deal With Buccaneers
Bryce Miller

Shuts Down Bullpen Due to More Oblique Discomfort
Zac Gallen

Named Arizona's Opening Day Starter
Kyle Teel

Could Miss 4-6 Weeks With Hamstring Strain
Hideki Matsuyama

Brings Strong Course History to TPC Sawgrass
Josh Hader

to Start the Year on the Injured List
Adam Scott

in Strong Form Ahead of The Players
Shayne Gostisbehere

to Remain Out for "Couple of Games"
Robert Thomas

Blues Hopeful Robert Thomas Can Play Through Upper-Body Injury
Ross Colton

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Tuesday Night
Connor Ingram

"Feeling Well" After Tuesday's Early Exit
Dylan Larkin

Doubtful for Rest of Road Trip
Andrew Copp

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Tuesday
Justin Brazeau

Out Week-to-Week
Kyle Teel

Exits Tuesday's Game With Hamstring Injury
Rickie Fowler

on Quite the Run Heading to TPC Sawgrass
Sepp Straka

Needs to Forget What Happened Sunday at Bay Hill
Jordan Spieth

an Enigma Heading to The Players Championship
Justin Rose

Trying to Pick Up the Pieces in Florida
Maverick McNealy

Bounces Back at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Brooks Koepka

Continues His Florida Swing With Some Momentum
Nicolai Hojgaard

in Strong Form Ahead of The Players
Robert MacIntyre

a Volatile Option at The Players
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looks to Return to Top Form at The Players
Sam Burns

a High-Risk, High-Reward Option at The Players
Keegan Bradley

Hard to Trust at The Players
Xander Schauffele

Rounding into Form Heading to Players Championship
Rory McIlroy

Set to Return at Players Championship to Defend Title
Jake Knapp

Set to Return at Players Championship
Viktor Hovland

Continues Strong Start to 2026 Season
Jakub Dobes

Makes 17 Saves in Victory
Rasmus Hojgaard

Looking for Bounce-Back at Players Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Will Need to Find Putter to Compete at Players Championship
Akshay Bhatia

Continues Improving Heading to Players Championship
Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafreniere's Hat Trick Leads New York to Victory
Carter Verhaeghe

Wins it for Florida on Tuesday
Merrill Kelly

Set to Make Spring Training Debut on Friday
Francisco Lindor

"100 Percent Optimistic" he Can be Ready for Opening Day
Justin Thomas

Continues Competitive Return at The Players Championship
Colton Parayko

Rejoins Blues Lineup
Shayne Gostisbehere

Unavailable Against Penguins
Marcus Johansson

Returns From Two-Game Absence
Darren Raddysh

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Sam Reinhart

Out Tuesday
Corbin Carroll

Set to Play in Cactus League Game on Wednesday
Kyle Stowers

to Make Grapefruit League Debut on Saturday
Hunter Greene

to be Sidelined Through July
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo, Phillies Agree on Five-Year Extension
Corbin Carroll

Could Make Spring Debut This Week
Max Holloway

Drops Decision At UFC 326
Charles Oliveira

Becomes The New BMF Champion
Caio Borralho

Bounces Back
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Rob Font

Gets Dominated
Raul Rosas Jr.

Extends His Win Streak
Michael Johnson

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Drew Dober

Knocks Out Michael Johnson
Rafael Devers

Back in Cactus League Lineup on Monday
Ryan Blaney

Earns his Second Consecutive Phoenix Cup Series Win
Christopher Bell

Falls Short of Victory Despite Dominating at Phoenix
Kyle Larson

Earns Hard-Fought Finish of Third at Phoenix
Denny Hamlin

Quietly Gains Another Top-Five Finish at Phoenix
Joey Logano

Crashes out at Phoenix Despite Strong Run
Tarik Skubal

Could Make Another Start in World Baseball Classic
Jackson Chourio

Should Return to WBC Lineup on Monday
Byron Buxton

"Fine" After Being Hit by Pitch
Ryan Blaney

is Always A Top Favorite to Compete for the Win At Phoenix
Denny Hamlin

Is Denny Hamlin Worth Rostering for Phoenix?
Christopher Bell

is Likely to have Another Solid Phoenix Run
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Phoenix
Joey Logano

Could Dominate at Phoenix This Weekend
Chase Elliott

has Plenty of Upside for Sunday's Race at Phoenix
Chris Buescher

Is Chris Buescher Worth Rostering For Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Ross Chastain

Has Found Speed Again at Phoenix
Josh Berry

a Solid Sleeper at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Skips Qualifying After Practice Crash at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Spins in Practice at Phoenix
William Byron

Should Be a Contender at Phoenix
Kyle Larson

Is Always a Threat at Phoenix
NASCAR

Could Bubba Wallace Be Playable for Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Anthony Alfredo

Is A Favorable DFS Option In A Substitution Role At Phoenix
Brandon Woodruff

Making Cactus League Debut on Saturday
Byron Buxton

Leaves WBC Game After Being Hit by a Pitch on his Elbow
Jackson Chourio

"Fine" After Suffering Hand Contusion
Max Holloway

A Favorite At UFC 326
Charles Oliveira

Set For BMF Title Fight
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Looks To Bounce Back
Caio Borralho

Set For UFC 326 Co-Main Event
Rob Font

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Raul Rosas Jr.

Looks For His Fifth Consecutive Win
Drew Dober

Returns At UFC 326
Michael Johnson

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Rafael Devers

Could Return to Game Action Next Week
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Hopes to be Ready for Opening Day
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF