Scheming: How coaching changes will affect fantasy value

A new head coach or offensive coordinator can drastically change the outlook of an entire offense. It's important to know what to expect out of a team's brand new offense before selecting players from its roster in fantasy leagues.

HC Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers

When Kelly's offense is clicking, it is easily the most fantasy-friendly in the entire NFL. Its fast-paced nature leads to more chances for players at all positions to score fantasy points. Kelly's offenses have finished with the fewest seconds between plays in three consecutive seasons.

Expect Kelly to run plenty of zone reads with Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick this season, just like he did with Marcus Mariota at the University of Oregon. Kaepernick is still a questionable decision-maker and has terrible footwork in the pocket, but setting a career high in rushing yards while enjoying an abundance of huge weeks is a likely scenario.

The focal point of the offense will likely be 230-pound running back Carlos Hyde. Kelly's offenses have ranked 11th, seventh and fourth in rushing attempts since 2013. The 49ers will be trailing in many games and will be forced to go to the air, which limits Hyde's ceiling, but in games that San Francisco can keep close, expect big numbers - specifically at home.

As expected with a run-first offense, the receiving corps provides little fantasy value. Torrey Smith has been a legitimate deep threat throughout his career, and led the NFL last season with an average of 20.1 yards per catch. His questionable hands have held him back, though, as he has caught fewer than 50 percent of his targets throughout his career.

San Francisco's garbage time opportunities will be the best friend to Kaepernick and Smith's fantasy value, but the Achilles heel to Hyde's.

HC Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins

Gase came onto the scene as the offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos in 2013 under John Fox. While Peyton Manning's offensive coordinators usually get portrayed as his puppets, Gase certainly had some role in forming that record-setting 2013 offense in which Manning threw 55 touchdowns.

When Fox was fired by the Broncos after the 2014 season, Gase followed him to the Windy City to be the OC of the Bears. He helped QB Jay Cutler post the best QB rating of his career despite RB Matt Forte missing time, Alshon Jeffery playing half a season, and seventh overall pick Kevin White not lining up for a single snap.

In his one season as an OC without Manning as his QB, Gase was clearly aiming to establish a running game. The Bears had the sixth-most rushing attempts last year and the 25th-most passing attempts. In comparison, Miami finished dead-last in rushing attempts and 17th in passing attempts.

This is good news for Arian Foster, who is expected to be the starting running back. Though the injury risk is massive, he could have a huge year if he can stay healthy. Jay Ajayi is a great mid-round handcuff, considering Foster's age and injury history. The running game as a whole should be improved with the first-round draft pick of offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil.

It's expected to be a run-first offense, but don't be shocked if there is some legitimate fantasy production from the WR position. Jarvis Landry is a PPR monster, but Devante Parker might be the most intriguing player on the entire offense.

Oddly enough, the two top receivers Gase coached - Demaryius Thomas and Jeffery - match up very similar to Parker from a physical standpoint:

It is worth noting that Parker has added nearly 10 pounds of muscle since his combine weigh-in. Both Jeffery and Thomas were huge target-hogs while playing in Gase's offenses. He clearly loves feeding the ball to a big-bodied WR on the outside:

*Jeffery's target percentage only includes the nine games he played in last season.

Parker's rookie season in general was seen as a disappointment. He dealt with injuries and was a non-factor in the early going. However, from Weeks 12-17, he averaged four catches on seven targets for 74 yards per game. He also caught three touchdowns in those final six weeks.

It's unlikely Parker will receive more targets than slot receiver Landry, but the duo makes for a nice 1-2 punch. Landry's prowess underneath will give Parker plenty of one-on-one matchups over the top. Parker is a legitimate breakout candidate, and he has the perfect head coach to do it under.

HC Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles

In Andy Reid's rookie season coaching the Eagles in 1999, Pederson was his QB. His professional coaching career began in 2009 and all seven seasons have been spent as an assistant to Reid. It's safe to say the Eagles' offensive playbook will look eerily similar to Kansas City's. This means a much more conservative plan of attack.

With Kelly in charge, the Philadelphia offense would not huddle and race up to the line to try and get a play off as quickly as possible. With Pederson, the club will a take a more conventional approach; huddling, milking the clock when necessary and allowing the QB (probably Sam Bradford) to change the play at the line of scrimmage if he doesn't like the look of the defense.

From a viewer's perspective, the Kansas City offense is frustrating to watch. With Alex Smith under center, the Chiefs rarely push the ball downfield, often reverting to throws behind the line of scrimmage, relying on receivers and backs to pick up yards after the catch.

Since Reid became a head coach in 1999, only once did he have a WR with at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns (Terrell Owens in 2004). Don't expect Jordan Matthews to return value relative to his ADP.

One trend that has been consistent in Reid's offenses has been the use of the running back in the passing game. There's a chance Ryan Mathews could rack up yards from scrimmage, but Darren Sproles will certainly steal some targets.

Overall, the offense should be counted on for much less in fantasy. Zach Ertz could fill the Travis Kelce role and eat up targets, but the production at QB and WR will be very underwhelming.