The red zone in the NFL is where fantasy football matchups are won and lost and dynasty value is mined. Championships are built, or torn down, as a team marches towards the end zone. Here is a breakdown of the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers red zone turnover from 2014 and the changes in store for 2015:
Atlanta
Biggest 2014 Departure
Steven Jackson, 35 opportunities
2015 Impact
Devonta Freeman did little in his secondary role to Jackson in 2014. Plus Freeman is a dog of a metric prospect and a Day 3 lotto ticket by NFL standards. Atlanta picked up Tevin Coleman on Day 2 in 2015, but Coleman’s college tape says more space or slash guy in the NFL than rugged interior runner. With Jackson gone expect more love for the passing game than a straight transition of those 35 opportunities to running backs. A platoon is likely between Freeman and Coleman in the red zone (I actually like Freeman more as a goal line runner of the two) plus Julio Jones and Roddy White are likely to approach 20 red zone targets each in 2015. The pair combined for 39 red zone looks in 2011 and 40 red zone looks in 2012 as a point of reference.
