AFC North Fantasy Football Coaching Guide 2026: Schemes, Play Calling & Player Outlooks

Baltimore Ravens

• Head Coach: Jesse Minter (Defensive Play Caller)
• Offensive Coordinator: Declan Doyle (Offensive Play Caller)
• Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Weaver
• Offensive System: Erhardt-Perkins/Spread Elements – A run-first system that utilizes play action to create big plays down the field.

Ravens Offensive Breakdown

It’s a brand-new day for the entire Baltimore Ravens organization. For the first time since 2008, John Harbaugh is no longer leading the charge. New head coach Jesse Minter is stepping in and handing the keys to the entire offense over to offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Doyle comes over from Chicago, where he served as Ben Johnson’s right-hand man, and while he didn't call the plays for the Bears last season, don't let that concern you. Doyle was the youngest coordinator in NFL history when Chicago hired him a year ago, and he remains the youngest OC in the league today. You never want to throw the prodigy word around, but…

This new coaching staff wants/needs to get a full "buy-in" from their franchise QB, Lamar Jackson, coming off a 2025 performance that was massively disappointing from both a statistical and effort standpoint. This cutting-edge scheme takes copious amounts of effort in the playbook, the film room, and on the practice field. We know what Lamar can do when he’s motivated, but at 29 years old with a massive contract, the regression monster is looming. Expect this offense to start slowly, just like this system did in both Detroit and Chicago, before the buy-in stockpiles and things truly take off.

The Ground Game: Unleashing the Heavy Artillery

One of the most misunderstood aspects of Ben Johnson’s style of offense (which Doyle is installing here in Baltimore) is that the obsession with "explosive plays" isn't exclusive to the passing game. All of that pre-snap motion and movement is designed to help the offensive line and running backs make subtle adjustments to run angles and directions.

For a back like Derrick Henry, who is slowing down in his career, this scheme becomes more of a cheat code:

• The Scheme Fit: Henry already creates so much on his own—finishing near the top of the league last season in runs of 10+ and 15+ yards. While he excels in outside zone, expect Doyle to mix in plenty of pin & pull and duo runs to keep defenses honest.
• The Age Factor: Look, we have no choice but to be worried about a soon-to-be 33-year-old running back entering his 11th NFL season. There were points last year where he looked old, sluggish, and outright gave games away in short-yardage spots.
• The Fantasy Bottom Line: This scheme is exactly what the doctor ordered to soften his physical regression. Henry remains a starting fantasy option whose floor is protected by a runner-friendly setup, but don't be shocked when we see more multiple-back setups with Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, or even Adam Randall taking on larger roles than expected.

Furthermore, the Ravens are planning to pass to the running back position far more than in the past, which could come at the expense of Henry's target share. On top of that, Doyle recognizes that Lamar Jackson was at his absolute best in 2024 when running effectively, and he will actively encourage his QB to be more fearless on RPO calls.

The Passing Attack: Mismatches, Deep Shots, and Draft Targets

Don't expect Baltimore to drastically increase their total pass attempts compared to the Todd Monken or Greg Roman eras. Instead, the emphasis is entirely on maximizing explosive plays. Doyle uses heavy pre-snap motion, play-action, and RPOs to confuse defenses and generate massive mismatches for his pass-catchers. All of this motion puts immense pressure on Lamar Jackson to process and execute. Jackson is as physically gifted as any quarterback in football, but his willingness to buy in, study, and master this complex playbook will dictate how high this team flies.

When you're sitting in the draft room, don't overthink this pass-catching group:

• The Wide Receivers: The heavy emphasis on deep shots and scheme-designed looks to maximize run-after-the-catch (YAC) opportunities explains why Baltimore prioritized ultra-athletic wideouts like Elijah Sarratt and Ja’Kobi Lane in the draft. It’s also tremendous news for deep-ball winner Devontez Walker and Zay Flowers. On my draft board, Flowers gets a huge bump in value and stands out as the only Ravens WR worth selecting in standard 12-team, 16-round drafts. In deeper formats and dynasty leagues, Walker and Sarratt become valuable late-round flyers.
• The Tight Ends: Tight ends remain a massive piece of this offense, though sorting out the rotation behind the scenes is tricky. With Mark Andrews securing a contract extension this offseason, he will continue to be a prime producer in this offense, leaving the newcomers to fight over the secondary roles. If Andrews can keep up physically, he should challenge for a top-10 fantasy TE spot once again, though I have significantly less confidence in his individual dominance than in years past given the incoming competition.

Best Fits for This Offense: Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers

Worst Fits for This Offense: Rashod Bateman, Durham Smythe

Ravens Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive System: Mix of 3-4 & 4-2-5
• Base Secondary Coverage: Two-high shell & match zone

Time to pull back the curtain on what's happening on the defensive side of the ball in Charm City.

Officially, Anthony Weaver holds the defensive coordinator title, but make no mistake: this is Jesse Minter’s defense through and through. It's funny, really, as both Minter and Weaver originally left Baltimore because their path to a coordinator or head coaching gig was blocked by John Harbaugh favorites like Don Martindale, Mike MacDonald, and Zach Orr. Now they're back, locked in, completely on the same page, and running a scheme that has crushed at both the college and pros. It's all about pre-snap deception, immediate post-snap action, and luring opposing play-callers and quarterbacks straight into costly mistakes.

Let’s break down how this unit plans to wreak havoc, starting where the big boys clash in the trenches.

The Defensive Front: Chaos, Stunts, and Pass Rush

This unit operates out of a base 3-4 front that features four dedicated pass rushers on most snaps. The catch? The opposing offensive line is going to have a hell of a time figuring out where that fourth rusher is actually coming from.

• Schematic Deception: Weaver and Minter rely heavily on stunts and twists up front to completely confuse blocking assignments and create clean, winnable angles for their edge defenders.
• Simulated Pressure: Even though they'll load the field with defensive backs, they love running simulated pressures, dropping defensive linemen into zone coverage while those smaller, faster DBs blitz the house. This constant shell game creates unblocked paths to the quarterback and leads to monster sack totals.
• The Premier Pass-Rusher: Weaver’s bread and butter is developing D-line talent, which explains why the front office was so desperate for an elite edge rusher. After initial trade talks for Maxx Crosby fell through, they pulled the trigger on Trey Hendrickson. In this system, edge rushers consistently post massive pressure and sack numbers, making Hendrickson a prime target to rack up elite fantasy points.

Secondary & Coverage Report: Deception and IDP Gold

While the front three and edge rushers dial up the heat, the back end of this defense operates with surgical precision. Minter requires high-level communication and a deep understanding of offensive tendencies from his coverage unit.

• The Shell Game: On the vast majority of snaps, Baltimore will show a two-high safety shell pre-snap. To the opposing quarterback, a two-high look screams "run the football!" But the second the ball is snapped, a safety creeps down into the box while the defense morphs into completely different coverages. As long as those box defenders tackle well, this trap thoroughly thwarts the run game.
• Down and Distance Tendencies: Keep an eye on Minter's coverage triggers. On early downs, when offenses look for the splash play, expect heavy Cover-3 and Cover-4 zone looks. As the distance shortens, Minter flips the switch to tight man-coverage and narrow zones. Smart QBs (like Daniel Jones against Minter's Chargers in 2025) might try to challenge those third-and-fourth-down man looks deep, but it's a high-risk gamble against this disguise.
• The IDP Cash Cows: Safety play is the absolute engine of Minter’s system. He needs guys who can play deep, roll up to the line of scrimmage, and line up everywhere in between. Just like Derwin James flourished under him in LA, both Kyle Hamilton and Malachi Starks are primed for monster fantasy years. Hamilton, in particular, will see so much work in the box that his fantasy profile elevates right into high-end linebacker territory for IDP formats—expect high tackle counts and elite turnover production from both safeties all season long.

Best Fits for This Defense: Trey Hendrickson, Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks

Worst Fits for This Defense: Travis Jones, Marlon Humphrey

Cincinnati Bengals

• Head Coach: Zac Taylor (Offensive Play Caller)
• Offensive Coordinator: Dan Pitcher
• Defensive Coordinator: Al Golden (Defensive Play Caller)
• West Coast Offense – Relies upon short, high-percentage pass plays instead of power rushing. The short passes set up outside runs and deep passes in hopes of surprising the defense. There is a high volume of plays in a West Coast system.

Bengals Offensive Breakdown

Time to break down a Cincinnati Bengals offensive attack that might not be running the exact scheme you think it is.

Zac Taylor was the first of the famous "Sean McVay coaching tree" to land a head coaching gig after making it to Super Bowl 53. Eight years later, both McVay’s original blueprint and Taylor’s setup in Cincinnati have changed considerably. Contrary to popular belief, this Bengals offense is surprisingly conservative. They are a slow-paced, West Coast-based system that uses high-percentage short gains to establish the run and set up chunk plays downfield. They take their time, trust their offensive line, and let their superstar talent dictate terms.

Let’s get right into how this unit operates on the field, starting with a backfield that continues to print fantasy gold.

The Ground Game: The Ultimate Workhorse Cheat Code

The Bengals are a pass-first team that uses the short passing game to set up their rushing attack. On paper, that sounds like terrible news for fantasy running backs—until you look at how Zac Taylor actually distributes his touches.

• The Efficiency Illusion: Over the past two seasons, Cincinnati ranked near the absolute bottom of the league in team rushing, placing 29th and 30th in both rush attempts and total rushing yards. Yet, Chase Brown finished as the RB7 last season and the RB10 in 2024, ranking 17th and 16th individually in attempts and 17th in rushing yards over those two years.
• The Bell-Cow Blueprint: Why does this happen? Because Zac Taylor refuses to bother with messy running back committees. He prefers one true primary back while only sprinkling in his backups. Brown commanded a massive 66.7% snap share last season (10th highest in the NFL), and that heavy workload isn't shrinking in 2026. This offense consistently produces high-end RB1s—just like Joe Mixon did for years under Taylor (finishing RB6, RB10, RB4, RB11, and RB13).
• Target Share Royalty: What really puts Brown over the top for fantasy managers is his elite receiving volume. Brown finished fourth in targets and fifth in receptions among all NFL running backs last year, following up a 2024 campaign where he was sixth in targets and fifth in receptions. Entering his fourth season, Brown is locked in as a high-volume fantasy powerhouse.

The Passing Attack: Elite Autonomy and Hyper-Concentration

Defenses across the league have tried to counter Cincinnati's aerial attack by sitting in Cover-3 and Quarters coverage to stop the big play. The Bengals adapted by leaning into short, high-percentage throws that give their explosive receivers room to run after the catch, striking deep only when the defense gets lulled to sleep.

• The General at Quarterback: This entire system relies heavily on Joe Burrow having total autonomy at the line of scrimmage. When healthy, Burrow calls the plays, makes the pre-snap reads, changes plays at the line, and delivers the ball. The entire offense rests on his shoulders. While veteran backup Joe Flacco remains in town (despite a troubling 4-12 record over his last 16 career starts), Burrow’s health is the sole variable that dictates this offense's ceiling.
• The Consolidated Target Tree: When Burrow drops back, you don't need to guess where the ball is going. The passing game is hyper-concentrated around two guys:
  • Ja'Marr Chase: The absolute alpha and total ball hog of this offense. Chase is Burrow's ultimate security blanket when the team needs a play most. There isn't a better QB/WR connection in the entire league today, making both players two of the most trustworthy high-end assets on draft day.
  • Tee Higgins: While Higgins doesn't command target-monster volume, he dominates in single-coverage matchups and reigns supreme as Burrow's go-to option in and around the red zone. That lethal red-zone usage is precisely why Higgins has delivered back-to-back 10+ touchdown seasons.

Unless an injury strikes the starting lineup, there is simply no volume left over for a third fantasy producer among Cincinnati's wide receivers. Keep it simple on draft day: target the stars, ride the workhorse, and enjoy the production.

Best Fits for This Offense: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Chase Brown

Worst Fits for This Offense: Drew Sample

Bengals Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive System: 4-2-5/Multi Front
• Base Secondary Coverage: Man/Zone Mix with outside press

Last season, this unit was shaping up to be an absolute nightmare, and boy did it deliver. Cincinnati surrendered the third-most points and second-most total yards in the entire NFL. It was a disaster from top to bottom. But don't write them off just yet. Defensive coordinator Al Golden has spent the past two offseasons completely rebuilding this personnel to fit his vision, bringing in serious versatility and juice. 

Let's dive into how this new-look defense will operate, starting with the front seven where the major overhaul took place.

The Defensive Front: Overhauled Up Front with a Specialized "Viper"

Golden runs a flexible, multiple front that typically features four down linemen, but he loves to mix up his looks. The defining feature of this front seven is a dedicated "Viper,” a hybrid, do-it-all playmaker deployed all over the formation to disrupt offenses. This player lines up on the edge as a pass rusher on one snap, then drops back into zone coverage on the next. 

• The Front Seven Upgrades: The front office brought in absolute game-changers to completely flip the script upfront. Acquiring DT Dexter Lawrence single-handedly transforms the interior defense. Add in proven edge rusher Boye Mafe and veteran hybrid lineman Jonathan Allen, and this front line suddenly looks legit. 
• The "Viper" Transition: Linebacker Barrett Carter manned the Viper role last year, racking up over 100 tackles in the process. However, expectations are that rookie second-round pick Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M takes over that mantle in 2026. While Howell isn't as refined in coverage as Carter, he's a superior pass rusher—exactly what this defense desperately needed after losing Trey Hendrickson this offseason. 
• The Tackle Monsters: Between linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, along with hybrid safety Bryan Cook, the Bengals possess a terrifying trio of sideline-to-sideline tackle machines that IDP managers need to keep on their radars.

Secondary & Coverage Report: High-Risk Man and Under-Pressure Corners

While the front seven received a massive shot of adrenaline, the back half of this defense remains a work in progress. Make no mistake: Al Golden isn't the schematic coverage wizard that Lou Anarumo was. As a result, this system relies heavily on raw athleticism and individual skill over defensive scheme.

• The Coverage Scheme: Cincinnati is shifting heavily toward man-to-man coverage out of a single-high safety shell. Post-snap, they'll rotate into match zone concepts—usually spinning into a modified Cover-3 look on early downs before shifting to Cover-6 on third-down passing situations.
• The Enforcer at Safety: Poaching safety Bryan Cook from the Chiefs is a massive win. Cook can play deep or drop right down to the line of scrimmage as a feared tackler and backfield nomad, stuffing the run game effectively from all angles.
• The Red Flag for Corners: Here is the major issue: Golden keeps forcing inadequate cornerbacks to play isolated man coverage on an island. Because Joe Burrow and the prolific Bengals offense score so quickly, opponents will be forced to throw early and often to keep pace. Unless this newly assembled front seven delivers a dominant pass rush right out of the gate, these cornerbacks are going to get tested constantly—and they will surrender a metric ton of fantasy production to opposing wide receivers.

Best Fits for This Defense: Dexter Lawrence, Cashius Howell, Bryan Cook

Worst Fits for This Defense: Dax Hill, Myles Murphy

Cleveland Browns

• Head Coach: Todd Monken (Offensive Play Caller)
• Offensive Coordinator: Travis Switzer
• Defensive Coordinator: Mike Rutenberg (Defensive Play Caller)
• Air Coryell – Stretches the field for power running game, utilizes motion to read defense and timing pass patterns to maximize run after the catch.

Browns Offensive Breakdown

Brace yourselves, everyone. You knew it was going to be a bumpy ride once you chose to look up the Browns in this article series. I hope you’re ready to unpack what is shaping up to be an absolute circus for the Cleveland Browns offense.

The front office hiring Todd Monken as head coach feels a lot less like a "who is best for this job?" decision and much more like a "who will actually take this job?" situation. It’s an uninspiring hire, and the rest of the coaching staff is a messy blend of former Ravens castoffs and first-time applicants. Make no mistake: 2026, and likely 2027 as well, are pure "get me over" bridge seasons at the very bottom of a complete rebuild.

Let's break down how this unit plans to operate on the field, starting with the only backfield asset worth your time on draft day.

The Ground Game: Lead Blocks, RPOs, and a Lone Star

What we've seen so far from Monken's offense is a heavy reliance on physical gap-scheme runs. The offensive line will pull frequently to get out in front of the ball carrier, with fullbacks and tight ends pitching in as lead blockers. Paired with pre-snap motion, shifts, and a steady diet of run-pass options (RPOs) to freeze second-level linebackers, the goal is to create lanes that spring the running back straight into the secondary.

• The Featured Back: Quinshon Judkins is a super-talented back tailor-made to thrive in this style of run game. Remember, Judkins had no training camp last year, came off a broken leg at the end of the season, and still finished as the RB26 in fantasy football.
• The Backfield Rotation: Judkins is positioned as the true featured bell-cow here, with Dylan Sampson operating in a smaller, passing-down role. That translates to heavy touch volume for Judkins, making him quite literally the only reliable, constant fantasy producer in an offense that will be in flux all season long.
• The Coaching Red Flag: The glaring concern here is line play. Two years ago, Cleveland boasted an elite offensive line that mauled defenders on zone runs. While the current roster talent is solid, hiring George Warhop as offensive line coach is a massive disappointment. Warhop brings over a decade of track-record disappointments, including the total cratering of Baltimore's offensive line last year. If Warhop can avoid ruining this group, Judkins could wind up as one of the best RB value picks in your drafts.

The Passing Attack: QB Chaos and a Redraft No-Fly Zone

Here is where the wheels completely fall off. Monken’s offense places immense responsibility on the quarterback, granting full independence at the line of scrimmage to change plays and protection schemes. The problem? Cleveland simply doesn't have a quarterback they trust or who has proven capable of handling that load.

Unless Deshaun Watson has the summer of his life, don't expect total autonomy under center. Instead, expect a complete QB carousel:

• The Quarterback Circus: It’s a safe bet that we see three different quarterbacks start games for Cleveland this year. Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel will all likely get playing time, with Sanders expected to command the most starts. Because all three possess wildly different skill sets, it is virtually impossible to advocate for any of them in fantasy.
• Personnel & Pre-Snap Motion: To help these QBs process the field, the Browns will operate heavily out of shotgun in "12" and "21" personnel sets. Expect plenty of pre-snap motion using versatile chess pieces like TE Harold Fannin and WR KC Concepcion to force defenses to reveal their coverages.
• Scheme & Target Distribution: The passing game will lean on designed screens and vertical routes to push coverage. Deep shots will feature a rotation of Denzel Boston, Cedric Tillman, Tylan Wallace, and Isaiah Bond, while Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy, and Fannin handle the underneath work.

Because the quarterback situation is a revolving door that alters the receiver hierarchy on a weekly basis, every single Cleveland Browns wide receiver is officially off my redraft board altogether. Put your blinders on, skip the pass-catchers, and focus solely on Judkins if the price is right.

Best Fits for This Offense: Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin, Denzel Boston

Worst Fits for This Offense: Deshaun Watson, Jerry Jeudy

Browns Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive System: 4-3 with partial use of multi-fronts
• Base Secondary Coverage: Man-coverage outside, cover-3 & cover-1 inside

On paper, this defense doesn’t look much worse for wear than the group that finished fourth in total yards and 14th in points allowed last year. But let’s not kid ourselves: when you trade away a generational game-wrecker like Myles Garrett, it’s like draining all the blood from the human body and expecting it to run a marathon. Replacing Garrett with Jared Verse is about as good a pivot as humanly possible, but Verse isn't going to draw the endless double and triple teams that Garrett faced every single snap, nor will he duplicate Garrett's absurd 23-sack output. Nobody here is hitting those numbers individually. Cleveland is going to have to make up for that loss in the aggregate with better team defense. 

Let's dive into how new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg plans to structure this unit, starting with the big boys upfront. 

The Defensive Front: Heavy Rotations and Aggressive Linebackers

Upfront, the Browns plan to run heavy rotations to keep fresh legs on the field and keep opposing offensive lines guessing.

• The D-Line Shuffle: Rutenberg will move guys like Jared Verse and Mason Graham all over the formation. The duo of Graham and Maliek Collins on the interior needs to step up against the run to keep this unit from falling off the rails completely.
• The IDP Fantasy Nightmare: While moving pieces around is great for real-life football, it sucks dirty asshole for IDP fantasy football. Because of these constant rotations, it’s going to be near impossible to rely on premium pass-rush stats from any single player; don't count on anyone in this group hitting double-digit sacks.
• Attacking Linebackers: Coming over from his time as the Jets' linebackers coach, Rutenberg brings a relentless, aggressive philosophy. He wants his linebackers thinking "attack" on every snap, reading the line of scrimmage first to blow up run plays. The catch? He also leaves his linebackers in single-man coverage at times, which smart QBs will actively look to exploit. 

Secondary & Coverage Report: High-Stakes Island Coverage

Rutenberg’s primary directive is keeping this defense from sliding too far away from the standard Jim Schwartz set. Last season, Cleveland was the only team in the NFL to run a single-high safety look on over 60% of snaps, while leading the league in man coverage (over 40%). They plan to keep that exact same blueprint intact, but doing it without an elite, instantaneous pass rush upfront makes life terrifying for the secondary.

• Press-Man Pressure on the Outside: Denzel Ward will continue lining up in press coverage to shadow the opponent's top boundary receiver. The issue? Ward has played his entire career with Myles Garrett getting to the QB in two seconds flat. Asking Ward to hold press coverage for an extra second or two without that devastating pass rush could be pure death. Expect Cleveland to eventually tone down the single-high man coverage if corners start getting burned as the season wears on.
• Underneath Zones: The middle of the field will roll into Cover-3 zone looks, aiming to funnel pass attempts away from the center and out toward the sidelines.
• The 3-Safety Look: A fun new wrinkle Rutenberg is introducing is a three-safety package, featuring second-round pick Emmanuel McNeil-Warren alongside Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman. McNeil-Warren is a natural turnover creator, and deploying three safeties gives Cleveland the size of a linebacker group with DB speed, making them absolute poison for traditional move tight ends.

Best Fits for This Defense: Carson Schwesinger, Mason Graham, Denzel Ward

Worst Fits for This Defense: Tyson Campbell, Myles Bryant

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (Offensive Play Caller)
• Offensive Coordinator: Brian Angelichio
• Defensive Coordinator: Patrick Graham (Defensive Play Caller)
• Air Coryell – Stretches the field for power running game, utilizes motion to read defense and timing pass patterns to maximize run after the catch.

Steelers Offensive Breakdown

After writing these coaching pieces for the last decade, it feels a little weird talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers without Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, but here we are. Mike McCarthy steps in as just the fourth Steelers head coach in the last 57 years, and his primary mission is to unravel the elementary knot left behind by Arthur Smith’s scheme. McCarthy is branding his West Coast/Air Coryell hybrid scheme as the "Pittsburgh Coast" offense, similarly ridiculous to when he called it the “Texas Coast” when he was in Dallas, but again, here we are. The goal here is simple: thin out the defense, hunt for downfield matchup advantages, and let high-percentage underneath "move" routes do the dirty work after the catch.

The Ground Game: A Classic McCarthy Committee

While McCarthy's system prefers to throw on early downs out of "11" personnel to keep defenses light and off-balance, the ground game remains crucial for setting up his passing concepts.

• The Blocking & Line Concerns: The offense relies on a mix of inside and outside zone blocking. However, the depletion along the offensive line—losing Dan Morgan a year ago and Isaac Seumalo this offseason—raises serious efficiency red flags.
• The Backfield Split: McCarthy has long been a committee-backfield coach, so don't expect a single bell-cow to hoard all the touches. Instead, roles are clearly defined:
  • Rico Dowdle: Slides in as the early-down and goal-line hammer. Remember, Dowdle rushed 235 times for 1,079 yards under McCarthy in Dallas, and he’ll be tasked with handling that same heavy-lifting role in Pittsburgh.
  • Jaylen Warren: fresh off a $12 million extension, Warren will command the hurry-up and passing-down snaps.
• Fantasy Takeaway: Even if line play limits pure rushing efficiency, this offense throws to its running backs at a massive rate. That built-in pass-catching volume preserves high fantasy floors for both backs, making Warren a prime mid-to-late-round target.

The Passing Attack: Timing, Layered Routes, and Old-Man Rodgers

The "Pittsburgh Coast" passing attack is built entirely on timing, requiring the quarterback, offensive line, and wide receivers to operate in complete sync. McCarthy likes to layer his routes to force defenders to commit, frequently utilizing "rub" or pick routes to free receivers in space, even if those picks carry a high penalty risk.

• The Receiver Hierarchy: The addition of Michael Pittman is a game-changer for DK Metcalf, allowing Metcalf to do what he does best as the big, physical deep threat. Pittman provides a reliable possession complement, while the tight end room takes a back seat—McCarthy won't run the heavy TE personnel sets that Arthur Smith relied on.
• The QB Factor: This is Aaron Rodgers' final NFL season, and he's here to help transition the roster into McCarthy’s playbook. But let's be real: Rodgers hasn't consistently delivered accurate deep balls in over four years. To compensate for lost downfield arm strength, Rodgers peppered Pittsburgh running backs with 132 targets last season, a trend that will continue under McCarthy.
• The Safety Valve: If Rodgers' lack of deep accuracy or the depleted offensive line causes things to go off the rails, don't be surprised if young arms like Drew Allar or Will Howard get thrown into the fire to see what Pittsburgh has heading into 2027.

Bottom line? Rodgers’ reliance on short timing throws and RB dump-offs elevates Jaylen Warren’s PPR floor, while DK Metcalf remains a volatile, big-play-dependent option who needs Rodgers to connect on those layered downfield shots.

Best Fits for This Offense: Aaron Rodgers, Jaylen Warren, Michael Pittman

Worst Fits for This Offense: DK Metcalf, Germie Bernard

Steelers Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive Front Setup: 3-4
• Base Secondary Coverage: Two-High Match Zone

Let’s be real: losing Mike Tomlin’s mind for in-game adjustments is a major loss that pure talent alone might not overcome. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is a well-regarded mind, but outside of one good year with the Giants, his overall defenses have yielded mixed results. The good news? Graham has never coached a unit with this much sheer talent. With elite pass rushers up front, he can flood the field with versatile defensive backs and unleash his scheme. 

Let's dive into how this defense plans to operate, starting with a stacked front line that is going to give opposing offensive lines nightmares.

The Defensive Front: Multiple Looks, NASCAR Packages, and Chaos

Forget traditional 4-3 or 3-4 fronts. Pittsburgh is leaning heavily into multiple-look fronts featuring 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 6-man alignments. They will show a lot of 3-3-5 and 2-4-5 setups at the line of scrimmage, purposely presenting light boxes to tempt opposing offenses into calling run plays.

• Pre-Snap Motion & Stunts: Graham instructs his defensive linemen to be ultra-aggressive pre- and post-snap. They shift gap responsibilities regularly using stunts and slants, creating total confusion among offensive linemen to generate penetration against both the pass and the run.
• The "NASCAR" Package: Pittsburgh will rotate its edge rushers heavily. They love using designated "NASCAR" pass-rush packages that feature up to five dedicated pass rushers on the field at once. For anyone wondering why the Steelers handed Nick Herbig a four-year, $100 million deal alongside T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, these personnel groupings are your answer. 

Secondary & Coverage Report: Hybrid Shells and "Fire Zone" Traps

With a ferocious pass rush getting home, Pittsburgh uses that leverage to maximize coverage shell numbers on the back end. They will align in a two-high safety look pre-snap before spinning into Cover-3, Cover-2, or Cover-4 Quarters once the play begins.

• The Scheme Clash: Over the last five seasons in Las Vegas, Graham ran the lowest percentage of man coverage in the NFL. The Steelers, however, have excelled in man coverage, largely thanks to star shutdown CB Joey Porter Expect a hybrid scheme here: Porter Jr. will lock down his man on an island, while the rest of the secondary flows into zone structures.
• Jalen Ramsey's Hybrid Role: Jalen Ramsey continues to star as the ultimate move-piece safety, creeping into the box or flying to the flat post-snap. 
• Fire Zones: With Porter Jr. in man and Ramsey crashing the line, the remaining DBs split the rest of the field to create tight zones. To cover the underneath vulnerability on Porter Jr.’s side, Graham will call "fire zones," which drops an edge rusher or defensive lineman back into that shallow zone to throw off the QB's timing.

With five new free-agent secondary signees and two drafted rookies joining the fold, the competition for snaps in this backfield is ferocious. Combining elite pass rushers with versatile DBs makes Pittsburgh an absolute nightmare to throw against. Opponents are going to be forced into doing something they aren't used to doing against the Steelers: pounding the ball on the ground to stay alive.

Best Fits for This Defense: T.J. Watt, Joey Porter, Jalen Ramsey

Worst Fits for This Defense: Payton Wilson, Jaquan Brisker