Fantasy News & Analysis

Premium Content Sign Up

Four Fantasy Notes: NFC South

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) watches the scoreboard during the closing moments in the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The 49ers won 31-21. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

With training camps opening around the NFL, it’s time to take one more offseason spin around the league. Below are some interesting stats from 2014 that will be relevant as we head into the new season. It will help get us through the “I’m finally fully healthy” soundbites, until the real news starts flying in. Let’s head over to the NFC South.

AFCS | NFCS | AFCE | NFCE | AFCN | NFCN | AFCW | NFCW

 

Atlanta Falcons

It’s no secret that Roddy White, who turns 34 years old in November, is in decline. His PFF passing-game grade over the last two years is a cumulative -15.4, after he tallied a +23.7 in the two prior seasons. Even during his eight healthiest weeks (Weeks 1-2 and Weeks 11-17), when he was the PPR WR11, he still graded a -3.3.

As he showed during those eight weeks, he was still useful – and White’s current mid-seventh round MFL10 ADP, as the WR32, is not prohibitive. Yet his status as a “safe” pick is based on reputation. He derived just 80 percent of his PPR points from non-touchdown stats, whereas in the previous three seasons, that number hovered between 83 percent and 89 percent.

That, and his advanced age, shouldn’t land White on the “Do Not Draft” list. But with positive touchdown regression on tap for Julio Jones, other receivers (and maybe even an actual tight end) to be accounted for, and another 632 pass attempts and 64.1 percent pass rate (both third-highest) unlikely, White is not as “safe” as he once was.

DOMINATE FANTASY FOOTBALL & BETTING WITH AI-POWERED DATA & TOOLS TRUSTED BY ALL 32

Unlimited Fantasy League Sync
Fantasy Start/Sit Line-Up Optimizer & Waiver Wire
WR-CB & OL-DL Matchups, PFF Player Grades, & Premium Stats 2.0 Tools
Nathan Jahnkes Rankings - #1 Most Accurate Last 70 Weeks
PFF Best Bets, Player Props, & Power Ranking Tools
NFL Mock Draft Sim with Trades & Draft Grades

Already have a subscription? Log In

 

Pat Thorman is a Lead Writer for PFF Fantasy and was named 2013 Newcomer of the Year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. You can follow him on Twitter at @Pat_Thorman

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit