Answering 16 Preseason AFC Dynasty Questions

These 16 questions in the AFC will help to define Dynasty for years to come. See 16 NFC answers here.

What is the offensive weaponry outside of Stefon Diggs in Buffalo?

Preseason Question: Without Cole Beasley, there is a hole in Buffalo’s offensive pecking order. The Bills are promoting Gabriel Davis to the WR2 role. They also have a Dawson Knox at tight end and drafted James Cook at running back in the second round, along with Khalil Shakir at wide receiver in the fifth round. There is room for multiple starters in this offense led by Josh Allen besides Diggs, making the ancillary options in this offense a key watch.

Postseason Answer: Gabriel Davis posted a WR35 overall finish, with 48 receptions, 836 yards, and 7 touchdowns. While at times Davis was frustrating, he was a serviceable WR2 in the offense. Dawson Knox finished as TE14 on the season, with much of his production at the end of the season. Devin Singletary and James Cook worked in a committee backfield throughout much of the season. Devin Singletary is a free agent, but the team will likely be in the skill position market this offseason.

Is Tua Tagovailoa the answer at quarterback for Miami?

Preseason Question: Miami has a new head coach and the fourth offensive coordinator in Tua Tagovailoa’s three-year career. The team added Tyreek Hill via trade and should have the resources to address the position in the offseason if Tagovailoa fails to take a step forward. Tagovailoa has a career average of 6.6 yards per attempt, and a failure to increase to the low-to-mid 7 yards per attempt carries significant questions about his future as a starter.

Postseason Answer: Tua Tagovailoa started very well and was a top-eight quarterback in per-game scoring through Week 10, after a three-game stretch where he threw three touchdowns in each contest. The offense was one of the best in the league, with head coach Mike McDaniel and wide receiver Tyreek Hill providing a much better landscape for Tagovailoa to succeed. However, Tagovailoa’s season ended after his second official concussion, with speculation about his future likely to be a feature of the offseason.

What does the post-Josh McDaniel offense look like in New England?

Preseason Question: Josh McDaniels left the New England offense to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Mac Jones was a rookie season success, but now it appears former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be calling plays in the offense. The offense has numerous potential contributors, including Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, Devante Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith. How the transition impacts them and Mac Jones’ development is critical.

Postseason Answer: Rhamondre Stevenson consolidated the role in the offense, rushing 210 times for 1040 yards and 5 touchdowns while adding 69 receptions, 421 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Unfortunately, Stevenson was one of the lone bright spots as the Matthew Patricia-led offense was disjointed much of the season. Mac Jones took a step back in his second season, leaving the team to bring back Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator in January.

How does Zach Wilson progress in New York?

Preseason Question: The Jets have spent the offseason adding personnel to the offense to support Zach Wilson. Wilson struggled as a rookie, averaging only 6.1 yards per attempt, but the additions of Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, and Jeremy Ruckert should help his development. Wilson may miss the start of the season, but if he does not show progress in 2022, he will be at risk of being replaced.

Postseason Answer: Zach Wilson was benched in favor of Joe Flacco and Mike White at different times this offseason. The Jets have voiced a commitment to Wilson in the future, but the writing is on the wall that Wilson is a bust. Wilson grew from a clean pocket in his rookie season (PFF grade – 71.4 and YPA 6.6) to his second season (PFF – 70.8 and YPA 8.5) but plummeted under pressure from his rookie season (PFF – 30.4 and 5.0 YPA) to his second season (PFF 23.5 and YPA 4.2). Wilson ranked seventh in YPA among quarterbacks from a clean pocket in 2022, but his performance in PFF grade under pressure went from 37/40 in his rookie season to 40/40 in his second season.

Who wins the Pittsburgh quarterback battle?

Preseason Question: After Ben Roethlisberger retired, Pittsburgh addressed the quarterback position by signing Mitchell Trubisky in free agency and selecting Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick in the NFL Draft. Pickett was not drafted high enough to compel the Steelers to start him, and Trubisky has the skill set to win and fend off a challenge. With Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth, there are plenty of fantasy contributors depending on a better quarterback in the offense. How the quarterback battle is decided will be a critical watch through the season.

Postseason Answer: Kenny Pickett took the job over from Mitchell Trubisky and started 12 games. Pickett struggled to start but avoided turnovers down the stretch, including only one interception in the final eight games of the season. Pickett had the third-best grade of any quarterback under pressure (69.2) with 6BTT to 4TWP, but it did not pay off in yards per attempt (5.2). Pittsburgh played well down the stretch, winning four straight to finish with a winning record and pick 17 in the NFL Draft. The win streak was not entirely because of Pickett’s play, but the mid-first-round selection should secure Pickett against direct competition in the NFL Draft.

How does Deshaun Watson return?

Preseason Question: Deshaun Watson should return in Week 13. When he plays, he is an elite dynasty player. How he integrates into the Cleveland offense at the end of the season will be an important watch heading into 2023.

Postseason Answer: Watson was a disappointment during his return. Watson averaged 14.3 points per game in his return, good for QB21 in points per game during the stretch. Watson threw more touchdowns than interceptions (7TD to 5 INT) but averaged 6.5 yards per attempt. He showed a lot of ring rust and will have a wide range of expectations in 2023.

Does Joe Burrow regress?

Preseason Question: Joe Burrow lived on his variance in 2021. He led the league with 10 passing touchdowns over 40 yards after zero such touchdowns in 2020. If Burrow regresses in 2022, he will need a big increase in passing volume to sustain his performance in 2021.

Postseason Answer: Burrow regressed from his efficiency in 2021 but took a big step forward in volume. After only attempting 520 passes in 2021, he jumped to 606 in 2022, an increase of 5.4 attempts per game. Burrow ranked second in 40-yard touchdowns (7) and 50-yard touchdowns (4) but did so on a higher volume. He also had the highest PFF grade at the position in 2022. With multiple hits, he is a long-term elite Superflex Dynasty option.

How does the passing game evolve in Baltimore?

Preseason Question: The trade of Marquise Brown to Arizona creates a hole in the WR1 role. Rashod Bateman has a chance to step into the role, but he will need to take a step forward after a slow rookie season. If Bateman does not take a big step, Lamar Jackson will be left with only Mark Andrews as an established pass catcher. Jackson could dominate as a dual-threat player in 2022 but needs a supporting cast.

Postseason Answer: Everything went wrong in the Baltimore passing game. Lamar Jackson missed five games and fell to 6.9 yards per attempt. Rashod Bateman played only six games and averaged 4.7 targets per game, while Demarcus Robinson was the leading wide receiver with 458 yards. Mark Andrews was the anchor of the passing game but only caught 4.9 receptions and 56.5 yards per game. Jackson is in contract limbo this offseason, and no matter the outcome, the team must improve the passing game around him.

Is Davis Mills the quarterback of the future in Houston?

Preseason Question: Houston struck potential gold in 2021 after drafting Davis Mills in the third round. Mills had as good of a rookie season as any rookie quarterback not named Mac Jones. If Mills plays well enough in Houston, he has the chance to significantly outproduce his dynasty cost.

Postseason Answer: Davis Mills played better than he got credit for in 2022. However, the team finished with the second-worst record, and Mills was benched along the way before gaining his job back. The team will almost certainly select a quarterback in this draft, but Mills played well enough in the game to earn extended work as a backup quarterback, whether in Houston or elsewhere.

How is the quarterback situation solved in Indianapolis?

Preseason Question: The post-Andrew Luck era in Indianapolis has been a revolving door at quarterback, with Jacoby Brissett, Phillip Rivers, and Carson Wentz each starting for a year. Matt Ryan is arguably the best of the group, but questions about his longevity are a concern entering his age-37 season. Will Ryan be a multiple-year solution? Or is he another yearly rental? After Ryan, no clear heir is apparent on the roster, and the team will need to figure out a long-term answer to compete with the elites of the AFC.

Postseason Answer: Everything went poorly for Indianapolis. Their offensive line could not protect Matt Ryan, who looked like a shell of his former MVP self. The team then fired head coach Frank Reich before hiring Jeff Saturday off a television set. The team has signaled they will attempt to draft a quarterback who will be developed by a new coaching staff.

What is the future of the Tennessee offense?

Preseason Question: Without A.J. Brown, Ryan Tannehill will have to be without a key offensive skill player in 2022. Tannehill has one final year left on his contract after 2022 with no guaranteed money. Likewise, the team could move on from Derrick Henry to save money a significant amount on his contract in 2023. If Tannehill or Henry declines in 2022, there is a chance their offense looks very different in 2023.

Postseason Answer: The clearest answer from the 2022 season is the team does not believe in Malik Willis as the answer at quarterback. When Ryan Tannehill was injured, Malik Willis got a three-start audition, completing 25 of 49 attempts for 234 yards, which was good for 4.8 yards per attempt. The team turned to Josh Dobbs to start the final two games of the season after he was with the team for less than two weeks. With a new front office, there will need to be a decision about Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry’s contract status, making the team interesting to watch this offseason.

Can Trevor Lawrence progress?

Preseason Question: Trevor Lawrence had a disappointing rookie season in 2021. With new head coach Doug Pederson, Lawrence can take a true step forward after a bad season. Lawrence was a first-round startup pick in Superflex formats as a rookie before he struggled. Christian Kirk and Evan Engram were among the additions to the team and could help him take a step forward. Historically, top-10 quarterbacks that miss through two seasons have a 50% hit rate going forward, which drops to 10% after missing three seasons, so the 2022 season is a major factor in his career trajectory.

Postseason Answer: Trevor Lawrence took a big step forward in his second year, throwing for 7.0 yards per attempt and finishing as QB6 in season-long points. Lawrence had a per-game average of 18.1 points per game, good for a QB9 finish among quarterbacks with multiple starts. Lawrence ranked 15th in PFF grade (73.1) with more BTT (4.6%) than TWP (4.0%). Jacksonville will get Calvin Ridley back from suspension in 2023 and will have to address the contract of free-agent-to-be Evan Engram.

Who is Patrick Mahomes II's WR1?

Preseason Question: The trade of Tyreek Hill opens the job of Patrick Mahomes II II’s WR1. The team signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency before drafting Skyy Moore in the second round. The role of Mahomes’s WR1 could be the source of major fantasy viability, and the player who fills the void will be a major watch in 2022.

Postseason Answer: Travis Kelce was the dominant TE1 and lead the team in receiving, while there was no clear receiver to step forward to inherit the Tyreek Hill role. Marquez Valdes-Scantling failed to take a step forward, while JuJu Smith-Schuster finished as WR27 in overall points but WR33 in PPG. The team traded for Kadarius Toney during the season, and he played a highly efficient but ultimately low-volume role in the offense. Smith-Schuster will be a free agent. Skyy Moore got off to a rough start, playing behind journeyman Justin Watson and catching only 22 passes for 250 yards in 16 games.

Who are the next generation of Chargers skill players?

Preseason Question: Of any team in the AFC, the Chargers have the fewest questions. Their skill position player pecking order is clear, with Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams as the relevant fantasy producers. The big question is what the next two or three offseasons bring with Ekeler and Williams exiting their prime. Look for the next year to feature additions at the wide receiver position in the draft.

Postseason Answer: Keenan Allen missed seven games with injuries but still managed a WR12 finish in PPG. Mike Williams also missed four games and finished as WR23 in PPG. This left Joshua Palmer a major opportunity, catching 72 passes for 769 yards and three touchdowns. Allen will be 31 years old in 2023, and the team is a prime candidate to draft a wide receiver early in the NFL Draft.

How does Russell Wilson influence the Denver offense?

Preseason Question: Denver’s trade for Russell Wilson was a seismic event in the NFL’s offseason. Wilson creates an opportunity for Denver to take a massive step forward after being in the quarterback wilderness since Peyton Manning retired. Wilson is elite in fantasy points per dropback in his career. The volume of the Denver offense can be higher than during his time in Seattle, while his efficiency can give a major boost to the offensive skill players. Wilson’s WR1 is up for grabs, too, with Courtland Sutton a good fit for Wilson’s skill set.

Postseason Answer: Poorly. Russell Wilson’s first season with Denver was nothing short of a disaster. Courtland Sutton finished as WR44 in PPG, while Jerry Jeudy finished as WR21 in PPG. The tight end position was a first-year success for Greg Dulcich, who caught 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired in his first season, so the Denver offense will look to reset in year two of the Wilson era.

How do the pieces fit in Las Vegas?

Preseason Question: Change defined the offseason for the Raiders. They hired Josh McDaniels as their new head coach and traded for Davante Adams. Las Vegas also signed Hunter Renfrow to an extension and are rumored to be negotiating an extension with Darren Waller. If Waller is healthy and plays for the Raiders in 2022, the offense could be an elite unit if it gets improved offensive line performance. How the targets are dispersed will be a significant watch.

Postseason Answer: Derek Carr lost his job to backup Jarrett Stidham and will find a new team this offseason. Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow both had extended absences, which left plenty of opportunity for Davante Adams, who caught 100 passes for 1516 yards and a league-leading 14 receiving touchdowns. Adams will be an interesting player.