Coaching changes and what they mean for IDP

Changes to coaching staffs are a way of life in the NFL and entering the 2017 season there are six new head coaches and more importantly for IDP purposes, 11 new defensive coordinators. Evaluating the new schemes that will come with these changes and how they’ll effect the IDP value for players is vital.

Some of the coordinator changes are promotions from within and will have minimal effect on the IDP potential of players, as the scheme will likely remain the same as last season. We are going to take a look at some of the coaching changes by teams that will lead to major scheme changes and how they will impact fantasy production in the IDP landscape.

Los Angeles Chargers

New head coach Anthony Lynn has brought in Gus Bradley to be defensive coordinator and this should bring some very nice IDP potential for the Chargers defenders. Bradley likes to use a 4-3 front and has a pair of great pass-rushing defensive ends in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. After missing the first four games due to an injury, Bosa still managed to put up 10.5 sacks last season along with 41 total tackles. The athletic Bosa projects as a top-five defensive linemen with a full offseason to prepare and the chance to play an entire season. The recent news that Ingram will line up at defensive end in Bradley’s scheme is a huge boost to his fantasy value. With Bosa and Ingram, the Chargers have the real chance to finish with a pair of top-10 defensive linemen in 2017.

Los Angeles is also set at the linebacker position with a pair of talented youngsters in Denzel Perryman and Jatavis Brown. Despite playing in just 12 games, Brown led the team in total tackles (77) while adding 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. A quick look back to the 2012 season, which was Bradley’s last as defensive coordinator in Seattle, shows that Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright combined for 240 tackles, 4.5 sacks with four interceptions and a forced fumble. Perryman and Brown will have ample opportunity to match those numbers as the defensive line creates havoc in Bradley’s aggressive scheme.