Sometimes in the NFL, it takes a year or two for young players or new systems to adapt and reach their full potential. By looking at trends over the last few seasons, we can make an attempt at predicting which offenses will be the next to break out. Subsequently, we can predict which players that are part of these offenses could break out for fantasy football purposes. When an NFL offense is good, we want a piece of that pie.

This is an especially beneficial practice to do in dynasty or keeper leagues. If you can get ahead of the breakout and draft a player at a meager cost who can be fantasy relevant for years to come, you put yourself at a great advantage over the competition. For my research, I used the awesome NFL team rankings tool over at Lineups.com. Here are some of the teams I saw on the rise that could potentially be fantasy gold.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Significant Moves:
– Acquired WR Calvin Ridley
– Lost T Jawaan Taylor
– Suspension Pending for T Cam Robinson
– Drafted OT Anton Harrison
– Drafted RB Tank Bigsby

The Jacksonville Jaguars made one of the most obvious leaps between last year and 2021. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had an abysmal rookie season, one where he tallied 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions across all 17 games. Last year, though, T-Law and the Jags upgraded in a major way. A large part of that is thanks to the weapons added around him and new head coach Doug Pederson.

Last season, Jacksonville’s pass-catchers each took turns having their days, with some sharing the spotlight in the same week. Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram were all new to Jacksonville in 2022. Much like coach Doug Pederson, their addition and utilization in the offense was a big part of Lawrence and the team’s success. Kirk finished as the fantasy WR11, Jones wound up the WR26 and Engram ended 2022 as the TE6.

As for the ground game, rookie RB Travis Etienne had over 1400 yards from scrimmage and saw a modest RB17 finish last season. No other Jaguar back finished in the top 60 at the position last season, which means 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby has a pathway to a sizeable role in this electric offense. Jacksonville as a team was a middle-of-the-pack rushing offense. I’m fine taking both of these young backs at ADP in dynasty drafts.

The Jags’ offensive line was a good pass-blocking unit in 2022 but was also among the worst at run-blocking. There’s a chance things get worse before they get better, too. The team lost T Jawaan Taylor this offseason, and fellow T Cam Robinson could be suspended to start 2023.

Related: O-Line Rankings

Jacksonville did draft T Anton Harrison, but he projects more as a project than a guy who will be great from the jump. There’s hope for the future, but they’re probably rough next season. Luckily, Lawrence has found success getting the ball out quickly.

As for the coaching staff, the Jags did lose their passing game coordinator, Jim Bob Cooter, who became the Colts’ new offensive coordinator. However, I don’t think it should factor into this offense’s capabilities next season. I’m mostly just excited to see how another off-season in coach Pederson’s system fares for this offense.

The Year Ahead

Overall, you should feel good about drafting any part of the passing game out of Jacksonville for redraft purposes. Lawrence is primed for another big year, and I think Kirk and Engram remain among his top targets. Calvin Ridley, though, could easily be the top target on this offense. If healthy, he can take this team to the next level.

Zay Jones is the receiver I could see getting the short end of the stick in this air attack. He’s the least talented pass-catcher on this offense, but if injuries happen ahead of him, he’s shown he can produce. Also, I’m fine drafting Etienne at ADP, and Bigsby could be one of the better handcuff options available.

Projecting Beyond

In dynasty, though, there are some discrepancies. I have Calvin Ridley about neck-and-neck with Kirk. Ridley has the higher ceiling, but he’s only on a one-year contract. I am confident in his abilities returning this season, but we won’t really know how successful he’ll be until we see him on the field.

This offense should only get better as Lawrence gets more experience under his belt, and he’s a top-6 dynasty QB for me. Jacksonville’s offensive line has a ton of room to grow, despite the grim outlook for 2023. Etienne is one of the best young RBs in the NFL and should be drafted as such. However, I also like Bigsby as a stash for dynasty as well.

Want to get access to the other four offenses on the rise? You’ll need to have a FANTASYPASS membership. Click here to learn more and sign up!

Premium Access Required