Fantasy Football 2019: Impact of Washington Redskins coaching changes

Kevin O’Connell is the new offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins, so how will this change affect the team’s fantasy football outlook?

Coaching changes are a part of the NFL. However, these changes can have varying impacts on fantasy football. With 17 offensive coordinator changes throughout the league from 2018 to 2019, there’s a lot to consider. And while the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans changes are largely lateral, the other 15 will institute some change in the offenses.

As such, we’re taking a look at these 15 teams in a series ranking the most impactful coaching changes as it pertains to fantasy football.

Following the Cleveland Browns in our series, the Washington Redskins likewise changed offensive coordinators during the offseason. Fantasy football owners who analyze these types of coaching changes wield an advantage over others in their leagues.

Thus, we now continue this series by looking at the Redskins and how their coaching change will affect their fantasy outlook.

14. Washington Redskins

New Offensive Coordinator: Kevin O’Connell

The Redskins organization views O’Connell as a rising star in the coaching ranks, and they’re not alone. Exhibits A, B and C can be found in Les Carpenter’s Washington Post article detailing O’Connell’s meteoric rise: A. three promotions in three years; B. an astute, superhuman ability to break down film; C. Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith and former NFL coach Rex Ryan both calling him “the next Sean McVay”.

It’s not entirely clear how long head coach Jay Gruden will continue to call plays, but the smart money says O’Connell will get his chance at some point this season — especially given Gruden’s lackluster performance in this area last year.

The organization clearly views O’Connell as a valuable mentor to the team’s newest first-round draft pick, quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The Redskins are counting on O’Connell to maximize Haskins’ strengths and disguise his weaknesses.

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O’Connell’s ascension is a positive for Haskins, but the fruits of their work together probably won’t be realized until next year at the earliest, given a shallow offensive line ranked 14th overall for the coming season by Pro Football Focus — a ranking that looks increasingly generous the longer Trent Williams holds out.

Let’s also bear in mind the sheer number of question marks surrounding the Redskins’ unproven skill position players, as noted by Ian Cummings on Riggo’s Rag last month.

While some Redskins fans may be playing “Hail to the Haskins” in the backs of their minds, most fantasy football owners will want to avoid the rookie signal caller outside of dynasty leagues. Yet, someone has to catch passes from him and/or Case Keenum.

A bleak offensive outlook has many people avoiding the Redskins entirely, allowing savvy owners the opportunity to take advantage of some late round draft values, or at the very least, tag a handful of Redskins on their waiver wire watch lists.

A grand total of zero Redskins wide receivers are currently being drafted in the first 14 rounds of 12-team leagues, according to ADP data on Fantasy Football Calculator. One snubbed wideout to keep tabs on is highly-touted first round disappointment Josh Doctson, who may gain extra motivation from a make-or-break contract year. Paul Richardson, who has logged one 30+ reception campaign in his five years in the league, joins Doctson in the starting lineup.

Trey Quinn should step into the role vacated by the departure of Jamison Crowder, making for a nice late-round dart throw with upside in PPR leagues. Rookies Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon may not be draftable outside of dynasty or deep keeper leagues but monitor both as the training camp grind continues.

As long as Jordan Reed stays healthy, he’s absolutely worth a Round 14 pick in redraft leagues and makes for a sneaky, lower-tier tight end starter in 12-team or deeper leagues.

Sorry, Derrius Guice truthers, but the Redskins running back position is a bit of a mess. Maybe it’s the multiple surgical complications, but I’m leery of the former LSU standout in his injury rebound year, especially with pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson and tough-running Adrian Peterson still hanging around.

I envision somewhat of a committee backfield, and while I see Guice picking up more work as the season goes on and amassing the most carries of the three, the words “committee backfield” are simply not attractive to fantasy owners, especially on teams that won’t see many positive game scripts calling for heavy ground usage.

Guice undeniably offers tremendous upside, especially in dynasty leagues, but expectations for his 2019 redraft prospects should be understandably tempered. He’s is a terrific trade target in keeper and redraft leagues while his value is low, but his current late sixth/early seventh round ADP seems about right in 12-team redraft leagues.

It may take mild sorcery but if O’Connell and Gruden can work magic with Haskins this year and if Trent Williams returns to anchor a healthy offensive line and if Guice, Doctson, Richardson, and Reed can produce and stay healthy, and if the Redskins defense can hold its ground enough to help generate reasonable ground game scripts, fantasy football owners of these overlooked Redskins may find themselves holding a few winning lottery tickets.

Positive fantasy outcomes for most of these Redskins players are possible; the trick is being fortunate enough to hold onto them through bye weeks and injuries throughout the fantasy season.