• Chicago Bears set up Caleb Williams for a successful rookie season: The Bears made a number of moves in free agency and the draft to support their No. 1 pick, including D’Andre Swift, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze – a massive upgrade from their 2023 roster.
• Tennessee Titans sign a star RB and WR while bolstering the OL: Whether or not you’re a believer in QB Will Levis, there’s no doubt that the Titans front office has done an excellent job at setting him up for his best chance of success in 2024.
• It’s never too early for a 2025 NFL Mock Draft! Try PFF's Mock Draft Simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
With the initial free agency wave and 2024 NFL Draft officially in the books, team depth charts are finally coming together. That means that it’s the perfect time to evaluate which of these teams have undergone the most significant overhauls that could benefit fantasy managers.
Here’s a look at the five NFL offenses that will see the biggest increase in total fantasy scoring production in the 2024 season.
Chicago Bears
Fantasy points scored in 2023: 1,277.84 (24th among teams)
Key additions on offense:
- QB Caleb Williams
- RB D’Andre Swift
- WR Keenan Allen
- WR Rome Odunze
- TE Gerald Everett
Offseason departures:
- QB Justin Fields (Steelers)
- WR Darnell Mooney (Falcons)
- RB D’Onta Foreman (Browns)
You have to imagine that former Bears quarterback Justin Fields is shaking his head every time he thinks about the depth chart Ryan Poles has put together for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Almost every position group has seen an upgrade, including the quarterback position – yes, before Williams has played a single NFL snap – based on arm talent alone. Now, veteran D.J. Moore has additional complements in the receiving game between Keenan Allen in the slot and No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze on the outside.
Then, there’s the run game, which was the one position you could have argued didn’t need a ton of attention this offseason, where the Bears added veteran D’Andre Swift to the room alongside Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. It seems more than reasonable to project a sizeable jump in fantasy production for this Bears offense, both in the passing game and the run game with their massive upgrades across the board.
Tennessee Titans
Fantasy points scored in 2023: 1,180.28 (28th)
Key additions on offense:
- HC Brian Callahan (former Bengals OC)
- WRs Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd
- RB Tony Pollard
- C Lloyd Cushenberry
- OT J.C. Latham
Offseason departures:
- RB Derrick Henry (Ravens)
- C Aaron Brewer (Dolphins)
Then-rookie quarterback Will Levis had an up-and-down 2023 campaign, going 3-6 as a starter with a 61.7 passing grade that ranked sixth among the 12 rookie QBs to attempt a pass. On the plus side, however, his 6.3% big-time throw rate led the pack despite targeting a receiving corps of DeAndre Hopkins, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chris Moore, Kyle Phillips and Treylon Burks – yikes. To further the blow of a disappointing 2023 season, they also lost star running back Derrick Henry in free agency.
This offseason, the Titans made a change at head coach, bringing in former Bengals OC Brian Callahan, whose offense has ranked 15th in the league with a 38% scoring drive percentage dating back to Joe Burrow’s rookie season. They not only bolstered their offensive line with the additions of center Lloyd Cushenberry and OT J.C. Latham but also have transformed their skill position group. They signed receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in free agency, who will now support the efforts of Levis and his WR1 DeAndre Hopkins with the addition of explosive running back Tony Pollard in the run game to complement second-year back Tyjae Spears.
There’s no question that the Titans have put Levis in a better position to succeed in Year 2 with the surrounding cast of weapons. Don’t be surprised if the Titans make a massive climb in the ranks for total scoring based on the personnel additions this offseason.
Atlanta Falcons
Fantasy points scored in 2023: 1,277.40 (25th)
Key additions on offense:
- HC Raheem Morris (former Rams DC)
- OC Zac Robinson (former Rams passing game coordinator)
- QB Kirk Cousins
- QB Michael Penix Jr.
- WR Darnell Mooney
- WR Rondale Moore
Offseason departures:
- HC Arthur Smith (Steelers, OC)
- QB Desmond Ridder (Cardinals)
- WRs Van Jefferson (Steelers), Mack Hollins (Bills)
- TEs Jonnu Smith (Dolphins), MyCole Pruitt (Steelers)
For just a moment, let’s forget about the Atlanta Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix Jr., which may force the most unnecessary quarterback controversy in the history of the NFL. Before that played out, the Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, which appeared to be the answer to a question that’s plagued this offense over the past few seasons — “Can a quarterback capable of delivering an accurate pass to our very talented group of receivers please stand up?”
Between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, the Falcons quarterback room combined for a 22.5% uncatchable and inaccurate pass rate in 2023, which ranked sixth-highest among NFL teams. Now, presuming Cousins is fully healthy at the start of the season coming off an Achilles injury, whose 16.3% uncatchable/inaccurate pass rate over the past three seasons ranks fourth-lowest among all quarterbacks (min. 500 pass attempts). Increasing the viability of the passing game even further are the low-key additions of WRs Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore as viable WR2 and WR3 options within the offense, especially given TE Kyle Pitts‘ upside as a receiver.
Trust new OC Zac Robinson to be a plus for this offense’s overall production as well, a product of the Sean McVay coaching tree who’s spent the past two seasons as the Rams’ passing game coordinator.
Carolina Panthers
Fantasy points scored in 2023: 1,127.20 (31st)
Key additions:
- HC Dave Canales (former Buccaneers OC)
- RB Jonathon Brooks
- WRs Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette
- TE Ja’Tavion Sanders
- OGs Robert Hunt, Damien Lewis
Offseason departures:
- WRs D.J. Chark (Chargers), Laviska Shenault (Seahawks)
- TE Hayden Hurst (Chargers)
The Carolina Panthers entered the 2024 offseason with QB Bryce Young and… not much else. Their offensive line ranked bottom five in both PFF run blocking and pass blocking grades (53.5 and 53.6, respectively) in 2023, which they addressed with the additions of guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis in free agency, shuffling veteran right guard Austin Corbett to play center. Meanwhile, they traded to acquire Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who walks into the offense as the clear-cut WR1 from Day 1 to play alongside roleplayers Adam Thielen, rookie Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo.
Topping off their overhaul of the offense was the selection of Jonathon Brooks, who came in as the No. 1 ranked running back on PFF’s 2024 NFL Draft big board. At 6 feet and 207 pounds, Brooks posted a 91.5 rushing grade in his first season as Texas’ lead back with an equally impressive body of work in the passing game. In just 10 games, Brooks caught 25-of-29 targets for 286 receiving yards and a score. Brooks’ 88.2 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets ranked third among FBS running backs in 2023 (min. 15 targets), which should earn him a true three-down role once he’s healthy. Brooks is coming off a torn ACL suffered last November, but all indications are that he could be cleared for training camp.
It’s fair to say that the Panthers offense isn’t the most exciting, but there’s no doubt that they’ve installed a number of weapons that should boost the floor of this group significantly.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Fantasy points scored in 2023: 1,200.94 (27th)
Key additions:
- OC Arthur Smith
- QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
- WRs Roman Wilson, Van Jefferson
- RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson
- OT Troy Fautanu
- C Zach Frazier
Offseason departures:
- QBs Kenny Pickett (Eagles), Mitch Trubisky (Bills), Mason Rudolph (Titans)
- WR Diontae Johnson (Panthers), Allen Robinson (FA)
- C Mason Cole (FA)
- OT Chukwuma Okorafor (Patriots)
Though the Pittsburgh Steelers are still in need of a boundary receiver to play opposite George Pickens, they addressed several needs this offseason that should have a monumental impact on overall fantasy production. The biggest upgrade of all, of course, comes at the quarterback position, where GM Omar Khan has swapped out a room of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. For as many questions that exist for their new starting duo in terms of their long-term viability in the NFL, there’s no doubt that they offer a higher upside for fantasy managers.
2023 stats | Kenny Pickett | Russell Wilson | Justin Fields |
Yards per attempt | 6.4 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
TD% | 1.9% | 5.8% | 4.3% |
TWP% | 1.8% | 3.0% | 3.3% |
Fantasy points per dropback | 0.31 (38th) | 0.51 (9th) | 0.54 (5th) |
Over the past two seasons, the Steelers have ranked dead-last in the league with 25 passing touchdowns (while the Broncos and Bears ranked 19th and 23rd, respectively). While Pickett did offer plenty in terms of ball security, reflected in his 1.8% turnover-worthy play rate, his game-manager play style hasn’t been conducive to scoring potential.
To further the support of a more efficient passing game, the Steelers have continued to invest heavily in their offensive line and hired OC Arthur Smith. Despite Smith having frustrated fantasy managers with the maddening usage of Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson over the past three seasons, he proved in his time as the Titans OC that he is more than capable of orchestrating a run-first offense that lends itself to efficiency in the passing game – all positive things for the trajectory of this team’s fantasy production in 2024.
Honorable mention: New York Jets
Fantasy points scored in 2023: 1092.92 (32nd)
No NFL team scored fewer fantasy points than the New York Jets in the 2023 season. However, given the loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers after just four snaps in Week 1 and the disaster to follow, that’s not a total surprise. The Jets will get back a (presumably) healthy Rodgers to boost the floor of the passing game, while also adding ancillary receivers Mike Williams and rookie Malachi Corley to support WR1 Garrett Wilson. They’ve also bolstered their depth at running back with the selections of Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen and FCS superstar Isaiah Davis, undoubtedly a massive upgrade for rotational downs over an aged Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter.