PlayerProfiler is home to the very best dynasty rankings and tools in the industry. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. This article details coaches hired ahead of the 2024 NFL season and the fantasy risers and fallers based on those NFL coaching changes.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
I think we all expect Harbaugh to “fully unlock” this Chargers offense which has had its ups and downs. I also recognize some don’t love the Greg Roman hire, but I don’t think it’s as bad as people think.
Roman was the OC for the 49ers under Harbaugh and those were some pretty successful teams. Plus, Roman doesn’t get nearly enough credit for changing the entire offense in Baltimore to fit around Lamar Jackson’s skillset. Jackson won an MVP under Roman, with absurd counting stats. Some OC’s would have just said “my scheme is my scheme” and tried to make Jackson something he’s not. That type of thinking is coaching malpractice.
In the 12 full games with Justin Herbert at quarterback in 2023, the Chargers averaged about 22 points per game. If you project that out across the entire season, 22 points per game would have been good for 15th-best in the NFL. Certainly not terrible, but when you have Herbert, Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and that O-line, you expect better.
Verdict
The offense flourishes under Harbaugh and he unlocks a complete season of dominance from Herbert.
Fantasy Risers
Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, whoever the starting RB is (Frank Gore had 1,200 scrimmage yards and eight-plus TDS in all four years under Harbaugh), Brock Bowers if he’s drafted there (think Vernon Davis, but better).
Fantasy Fallers
Austin Ekeler (not the RB he he was two years ago, and just not a stylistic fit in terms of the RBs who’ve had success with Harbaugh), Quentin Johnston (Harbaugh will have a short leash with him considering what he did to Michigan in the 2023 CFP. Kidding, unless…)
Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris
Has there ever been a coach who’s received the magnitude of support from players and other coaches than when Raheem Morris was hired?
Verdict
While all the fantasy managers wanted Ben Johnson in Atlanta, Morris feels like a really good hire. Especially when considering he poached OC Zac Robinson away from the Rams. Sign me up for any McVay disciple as OC.
One thing is for certain: play callers like Kevin O’Connell, Matt LeFleur and Zac Taylor have all done a great job featuring their best players. The utilization of top talents is something the Falcons desperately lacked with Arthur Smith last year, in case you lived under a rock.
Fantasy Risers
Drake London (think Puka Nacua), Kyle Pitts (Think Tyler Higbee, but good at football), Bijan Robinson (think Kyren Williams, but three times the talent).
Fantasy Fallers
Desmond Ridder, MyCole Pruitt, Jonnu Smith, Tyler Allgeier, Scotty Miller, Van Jefferson, Mack Hollins, Parker Hesse and anyone else Arthur Smith tried to get the ball to.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce
The players asked and they received. Now it’s time to see how it all plays out.
Verdict
I think it’s an okay hire. Pierce is a leader of men and can get guys to play for him – something Josh McDaniels couldn’t do. But on the other hand, I question how much Pierce is really bringing to the table in terms of scheme and game planning. That said, Luke Getsy being hired as the OC feels like a good move.
Fantasy Risers
Josh Jacobs/whoever the starting RB is (Josh Jacobs averaged 21.8 touches as the starting RB under Pierce and Zamir White averaged 23.3 touches as the starter), Davante Adams (averaged more targets and more receptions under Pierce).
Fantasy Fallers
Jakobi Meyers (averages fell under Pierce), a potential rookie QB (Raiders don’t have an OC or anyone to develop a rookie QB and their identity is, without a doubt, running the ball).
Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan
I wouldn’t say a surprise hire, but definitely a name that isn’t as big as Ben Johnson or Bobby Slowik.
Verdict
I didn’t really agree with the firing of Mike Vrabel, but I won’t let that impact my feelings about Callahan. This does feel like a nice “reset” for the Titans, as they are obviously in rebuild mode. I expect this team to have a way different identity than the previous Vrabel teams, with Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill likely on their way out.
Fantasy Risers
Tyjae Spears, DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks (maybe), Will Levis (for now)
Fantasy Fallers
I truly don’t know if there is one. I fully expect this offense to be better in all aspects in 2024.
Seattle Seahawks: Mike McDonald
Not an offensive minded head coach, but an absolute havoc-causer on defense.
Verdict
I think this is a really good hire for the Seahawks. McDonald was the architect of a Ravens defense that absolutely shut down some of the best teams in the NFL in 2023. The following list I’m about to share should be the only thing listed on his resume other than his name and title:
- Houston: 9 and 10 points allowed
- Detroit: 6 points allowed
- Seattle: 3 points allowed
- Jacksonville: 7 points allowed
- San Francisco: 19 points allowed
- Miami: 19 points allowed
- Kansas City: 17 points allowed
That speaks for itself.
Also, the OC hire of Ryan Grubb, the OC for the Washington Huskies this past season, is one I love for fantasy especially. We all saw Jaxon Smith-Njigba speak out against Shane Waldron.
this Jaxon Smith-Njigba quote on new Bears OC Shane Waldron cannot be real 💀💀😂😂 pic.twitter.com/KjbQHIl3Vd
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 8, 2024
He was obviously not thrilled with the play calling last season. Well one thing Smith-Njigba is sure to love is that the Huskies threw the ball A TON last year!
Fantasy Risers
DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tyler Lockett
Fantasy Fallers
Geno Smith (long-term)
New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo
Much like Antonio Pierce, this hire feels great for the culture of the team.
Verdict
I agree with Robert Kraft in that it just felt like it was time to move on from Bill Belichick. It was a great 20-plus year run that will probably never be replicated again, but it was time to come back to reality and officially start the rebuild.
Fantasy Risers
Literally the entire passing attack, as reinforcements are likely on the way with that No. 3 pick the Pats currently hold. Rhamondre Stevenson (the new OC basically came out and said how much he wants to run the ball in 2024).
Fantasy Fallers
Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe (I’d be shocked if either of them played a down in 2024).
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales
I mean, it can’t get any worse than it was last year for the Panthers.
Verdict
This is a great hire for the Panthers, considering they are going from Frank Reich to one of the brightest young offensive minds in the game. Canales is responsible for the resurrection of both Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith, two players who the league had given up on.
I’m excited to see what he can do with a “blank canvas” in Bryce Young, a player who is still in the infancy of his NFL career and can still achieve anything he wants in this league.
Fantasy Risers
Literally the entire offense, every single person.
Fantasy Fallers
Frank Reich
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn
The last team to hire a head coach, so I’ll put them last on the list. It’s reported the Commanders were unwilling to give Ben Johnson the contract that he was asking for. Hence Johnson going back to the Lions for another year and leaving Washington with a defensive-minded head coach who’s giving it another go as the head guy for an NFL team.
Verdict
I don’t mind so much that it’s Dan Quinn, but considering the current state of the Commanders, I don’t like it. Here’s why:
- He’s a defensive minded head coach on a new team that just traded two of their biggest pieces on defense.
- We have to assume an offensive-minded head coach like Johnson orSlowik would have been a much better situation for the presumed No. 2 pick in Drake Maye.
- The only time Dan Quinn had any success as a head coach was when he had Kyle Shanahan as his OC. After Shanahan left, his record was 18-22 (so maybe I do mind that it’s Quinn).
Despite my negativity, I think the Kliff Kingsbury hire was a really good one for the Commies. Kingsbury will breathe new life into this offense and do something that most have failed to do, and that is get his best players the ball (aka Terry McLaurin). He did it in Arizona with DeAndre Hopkins, Zach Ertz and Hollywood Brown, I fully expect Kingsbury to do it in Washington as well.
Fantasy Risers
Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson (not because of Quinn, but because they will most likely have Drake Maye), Brian Robinson. Drake Maye (if he’s drafted here)
Fantasy Fallers
See Tyler Knaeble’s Offseason Moves to Make for teams eliminated from the playoffs here.
