Fantasy Football Draft Guide 2025: NFC South Coaches & Their NFL Systems

.Basic fantasy football tools are just that -- basic. We don't believe in basic. We believe in providing you with the tools and information your competition probably lacks and that means teaching you things most others don't. While the value of learning the various NFL coaching systems is immeasurable, it also happens to be one of the most underrated assets. That is why Fantasy Alarm’s Fantasy Football Draft Guide puts it front-and-center for you each and every season.

Most draft guides are run-of-the-mill. You get your linear fantasy football player rankings, they offer you a few sleepers to target, a few busts to avoid and try to talk you through the latest fantasy football ADP as a way to promote draft strategy. They may throw you a few stats like YAC and aDOT to sound fancy, but without an understanding of which offenses feature what attributes, these are just numbers on a page, not legitimate reasons to invest in a player or team.

For example, just because a player has a low aDOT (average depth of target), it doesn’t mean he’s a bad player in fantasy. Teams that run a west coast offense and utilize short, high-percentage passing will typically feature low aDOT receivers who thrive in full-point PPR formats. Drafting them could be highly beneficial depending on how you’re constructing your roster, but if you don’t understand the “why,” you’re just throwing darts and hoping for the best. 

We teach you NFL systems to give you the full lay of the land, and we offer our Dynamic Tier Fantasy WR rankings and Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet in conjunction to help you learn how to build a true championship roster. As always, open up the AFC East Coaching Systems article so you have the full glossary of schemes and personnel packages at your fingertips. Having that as a reference point will only make your research easier!

2025 Fantasy Football: NFC South NFL Coaching Systems

Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Offensive Breakdown

Let’s talk about one of the biggest under-the-radar upgrades from last season — Zac Robinson bringing his version of the McVay playbook to Atlanta. This wasn’t just a slight makeover — it was a full-on offensive facelift. The Falcons went from bottom-dwelling in scoring (26th) to cracking the top half (13th), and they leapt into the top six in total yardage. And they did it even with Kirk Cousins completely cratering in the second half of the season.

It wasn’t a total disaster, though, as Cousins actually looked sharp over the first nine weeks before falling apart from Weeks 10 through 15. The scheme demands quick reads and rapid decisions, and when it's humming, it feeds volume directly to the top target. Just ask Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua how that worked out for them.

Drake London was that guy last season. A whopping 158 targets — third-most in the NFL — and that’s with a QB carousel. Now heading into 2025, rookie Michael Penix may be under center, but don’t let that scare you off London in fantasy. This system is tailor-made to funnel looks to the WR1. As long as Penix isn’t a total deer in headlights, London’s volume should remain elite — think high-floor WR2 with WR1 upside in PPR formats.

As for the ground attack, the Falcons' run game didn’t look like it changed much from 2023, but don’t take the surface numbers at face value. Dig into the play-calling and you'll see the real shift. Robinson and his offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford leaned hard into wide zone concepts, spreading things out and letting Bijan Robinson do what he does best — cook in space.

On those wide zone runs, Robinson averaged 5.2 yards per carry as opposed to power/gap concepts where he averaged just 4.0 yards per carry. It doesn’t take a genios to figure out where the money is and this new staff knows it too. They dialed up wide zone runs three times more than the Arthur Smith regime and kept Bijan on the field for over 75-percent of the snaps. That’s elite usage, folks.

Now for the one speed bump -- center Drew Dalman, one of the best run-blockers in the league, walked in free agency. He’ll be replaced by Ryan Neuzil, who… well, let’s just say he’s not exactly lighting up PFF grades (#107 of 177 interior linemen in run blocking). That could impact inside running success, but wide zone gives Bijan enough room to still produce RB1 numbers — especially in PPR where his receiving floor gives him added safety.

The bottom line for fantasy is simple -- Drake London is a volume magnet and should be locked in as a target-hog WR2 with a legit ceiling. Bijan Robinson remains a set-it-and-forget-it RB1, especially with the scheme tailored to his strengths. And Michael Penix? More of a wait-and-see in redraft, but if you’re in Superflex or best ball, don’t sleep on the value in this high-efficiency system.

• Best Fits for the System: Bijan Robinson, Drake London
• Worst Fits for the System: Michael Penix

Falcons Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive Front: 3-4 base with multi-front looks
• Secondary: Cover-1 Man and Match Zone
  • Man Coverage:  11.3% (30^th)
  • Zone Coverage: 83.6% (4^th)

The Falcons aren’t just retooling on offense this year, they’re bringing serious juice to the defensive side too. Atlanta tapped former Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich to run the show. He actually coached under Dan Quinn here and even wore the DC hat when Raheem Morris got canned from that exact role. Now? The roles are flipped, and Ulbrich’s got full control. Think of it as Dan Quinn’s intensity with a modern twist.

Let’s start in the trenches. This will be a 3-4 base, but don’t get caught up in the labels — this front is going to morph snap to snap. Ulbrich loves mixing it up, and the Falcons loaded up on pass rushers this offseason like a kid with cheat codes on Madden. It’s clear they’re going for depth, versatility, and fresh legs.

From an IDP standpoint? That means we’re going to need to watch that edge rotation closely. Snap share will matter. But there’s big-play upside for whoever locks in consistent reps — especially in sack-heavy or best ball IDP formats.

This is where Ulbrich earns his paycheck — linebacker roles are his bread and butter. He doesn’t do “plug and play.” He does specialist roles — one guy in coverage, one blowing up blockers, and another hunting quarterbacks. That means clarity for IDP players, which we love.

The back end of this defense is getting a facelift too. No more playing scared with deep Cover-3 shells like Ulbrich did under Saleh. The Falcons are going man-to-man heavy, with a healthy dose of Cover-1 and disguised looks. Translation? This secondary is going hunting.

A.J. Terrell is expected to shadow top wideouts or lock down one side of the field — great for real football, maybe not box-score gold for IDP. But what it does do is let the rest of the secondary get opportunistic.

Cue Jessie Bates. He was already elite, but now he gets more freedom to read and react instead of just playing deep safety net. More ball-hawking, more splash plays — he’s a top-five DB in all IDP formats and should be one of the first safeties off your board.

• Best Fits for the System: Jessie Bates, A.J. Terrell, Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker
• Worst Fits for the System: Morgan Fox, Troy Andersen

Carolina Panthers

Panthers Offensive Breakdown

Let’s not sugarcoat it — the Panthers offense wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire last year. But there’s a plan in place, and it’s rooted in the West Coast system — short, quick passes, rhythm throws, and a heavy focus on timing. Think what we saw with Geno in Seattle and Baker in Tampa. Only... Bryce Young didn’t quite unlock that level just yet.

That said, the scheme is designed to make life easy on the QB. It’s all about getting the ball out fast, neutralizing the pass rush, and letting the receivers do the dirty work. And that means we need to pay close attention to which receivers are trusted to handle a full route tree — not just catch and run.

Carolina has made it crystal clear -- they’re throwing major resources at the receiver room. They spent a top-10 pick on Tetairoa McMillan, a versatile receiver who can line up anywhere and handle every route you throw at him. If this system’s going to work, McMillan is going to be the guy. Think fantasy WR2 upside if the targets follow.

Then there’s Xavier Legette, last year’s first-rounder. He’s more of a yards-after-catch specialist — and while that sounds exciting, this system hasn’t historically catered to that archetype. The West Coast scheme is about route precision and rhythm, not turning bubble screens into 40-yard plays. So, Legette might be more of a best-ball dart than a weekly redraft starter.

Here’s the part the fantasy community often overlooks — but not you, savvy drafter. This Panthers O-line is the real deal. The coaching staff basically split the line coaching duties like a gourmet kitchen. Harold Goodwin (run game coordinator/assistant HC) works the guards. Joe Gilbert handles the tackles and Keyshawn Colmon teaches up the centers

Add in the big-money signings of Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, and what do you get? The No. 4 ranked adjusted line yards last year. Translation? Running lanes were wide open, and Chuba Hubbard cashed in.

Hubbard might not be breaking ankles, but what he is doing is something far more valuable in fantasy: hitting the hole, following blocks, and not screwing things up. In this inside zone-heavy scheme, vision and timing are everything. And Hubbard has both.

He thrived under the same coaching tandem that helped guys like David Johnson, Rachaad White, and Rashard Mendenhall become fantasy relevant — even in split backfields. If the Panthers stay committed to this ground game and give Hubbard a full workload? Don’t be shocked if he’s this year’s unsexy RB2 who wins you weeks.

• Best Fits for the System: Chuba Hubbard, Tetairoa McMillan
• Worst Fits for the System: Bryce Young, Tommy Tremble

Panthers Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive Front: 3-4 base with some 4-0-4
• Secondary: Cover-3 with some Two-High
  • Man Coverage: 26.7% (20^th)
  • Zone Coverage: 72.5% (13^th)

Look, we can all stop pretending like Ejiro Evero’s defensive scheme is some next-level wizardry. Three years ago in Denver? Sure, he looked like a rising star. But here in Carolina? Let’s just call it what it is — a disaster in progress.

Yes, he’s running his signature 3-4 base defense, complete with all the smoke, mirrors, and misdirection he can cram into one play sheet — but if you can’t stop the run or generate pressure, all that scheming is just noise.

The first major issue? This front seven gets gashed in the run game. Evero’s system spreads the ends out wide — too wide, honestly — which leaves massive lanes inside. That wouldn’t be a problem if their interior D-line had the multi-gap talent to compensate. Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

Yes, they brought in some new beef up front, and that should help stabilize things a bit. But don’t get your hopes up — we’re still talking about a defense that’s going to give up chunk plays and make mediocre RBs look like Pro Bowlers. If you're looking for a DST to stream based on matchup, targeting Carolina’s front remains a viable strategy.

The bigger concern? Zero pass rush. Trading away Brian Burns without a real replacement? That’s not just a bad move — it’s franchise malpractice. Evero’s system wants to bring pressure from all over — safeties, corners, delayed blitzes from linebackers — but that only works when someone up front can beat a double-team and collapse the pocket. Right now? They’ve got no one who can do that. So, you’re blitzing more often but can’t cover well enough to get home? Congratulations — that’s the blueprint for getting torched deep, early, and often.

Carolina will run a lot of two-high shells pre-snap, then rotate into mixed looks — sometimes press-man outside, sometimes zone underneath. That movement is meant to confuse QBs and force mistakes. The issue? It only works when your DBs can hold their water in coverage long enough for the pressure to get there… and again, the pass rush just isn’t that guy.

But, Tre’von Moehrig is a legit upgrade. He’s got the range, instincts, and ball skills to thrive in this setup. You want IDP safety value? Moehrig could be a sneaky DB2 this year, especially if takeaways tick up. There will be more chances for interceptions in this scheme, and Moehrig is primed to capitalize.

• Best Fits for the System: Derrick Brown, Josey Jewell, Tre’von Moehrig
• Worst Fits for the System: A’Shawn Robinson, DJ Wonnum

New Orleans Saints

Saints Offensive Breakdown

Kellen Moore has worn a lot of hats in his football life — backup QB, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator for the Cowboys, Chargers, and most recently the Super Bowl-winning Eagles. He’s had success along the way, but let’s be clear: this Saints roster is not the 2024 Eagles, and he didn’t bring Jalen Hurts or that dominant Philly O-line with him.

Still, Moore’s system isn’t too far off from what New Orleans ran under Klint Kubiak last season. The biggest visual change will be how receivers are deployed. Moore spreads his eligible players out horizontally across the field using motion and spacing to stress the defense pre-snap. Once the defense reveals its coverage, the Saints will look to hit vertically — aiming for chunk plays by catching secondaries off balance.

This approach could pay off for Rashid Shaheed, who’s one of the most explosive vertical threats in the NFL. He thrives in systems that use spacing and deception to set up deep routes — and Moore’s offense is tailor-made for that. But for those shots to land, the Saints will need reliable quarterback play and consistent execution from the short and intermediate options.

That’s where Chris Olave becomes absolutely critical. If he’s healthy, he gives Moore the polished route runner needed to command attention underneath, draw safeties up, and open up the top. But if Olave misses time — or if the QB play (likely rookie Tyler Shough or second-year Spencer Rattler) is shaky — this offense could unravel in a hurry.

When it comes to the ground game, expect a hybrid approach. Moore’s background includes a mix of power and zone concepts, but the Saints showed real life last year in wide zone schemes. That trend should continue under offensive line coach Brendan Nugent, who’s back in NOLA after time with Sean Payton and, more recently, Moore himself in L.A.

Nugent’s background — shaped by Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and the fundamentals of zone blocking — fits perfectly with the personnel and philosophy carried over from last season. If the Saints lean into zone runs again in 2025, they’ll be giving their young quarterback the best possible safety net.

And let’s talk Kelvin Banks, the rookie left tackle and first-round pick. He’s as polished as they come out of college and gives the line an immediate lift — especially on outside run plays that require footwork, discipline, and athleticism.

Alvin Kamara showed he still had juice last season, setting a career-high in rushing yards. But he also shouldered his biggest workload ever — and his body gave out by season’s end. Now at 30, it’s hard to trust him to repeat that feat, especially with a longer season and the pounding this scheme demands.

That’s why the Saints invested in depth — adding Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Cam Akers, and rookie Devin Neal to the mix. This looks like a classic committee in the making. Kamara still leads the pack (for now), but don’t be surprised if Moore rides the hot hand or rotates backs based on game script.

• Best Fits for the System: Tyler Shough, Alvin Kamara, Rashid Shaheed
• Worst Fits for the System: Taysom Hill, Kendre Miller

Saints Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive Front: 3-4 with some 3-3-5
• Secondary: Cover-2 with Two-High Safeties & some Man
  • Man Coverage: 33.7% (13^th)
  • Zone Coverage: 65.6% (19^th)

Two years ago, Brandon Staley was leading the Chargers as head coach with Kellen Moore calling plays on offense. Now, in New Orleans, the roles have shifted — Moore takes over as head coach while Staley steps in as defensive coordinator. The foundation of Staley’s defensive philosophy comes directly from his time learning under Vic Fangio, one of the league’s premier defensive minds, during their stints in Chicago and Denver. Staley’s most notable success came in 2020, when he coordinated the league’s top defense with the Rams.

While Staley’s defense is technically built from a 3-4 base, don’t expect to see traditional alignments. His fronts are highly fluid, and the Saints will spend most of their time in 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 packages — structures designed to give the illusion of run-friendly gaps while actually focusing on matchups and leverage.

The core idea? Create one-on-one situations against the run, while deploying two-on-one advantages in coverage to eliminate top targets or confuse quarterbacks. Staley’s approach is all about exploiting offensive tendencies through disguise and numerical control.

Executing this scheme requires defenders who can shift between roles and responsibilities — especially at linebacker and safety. That’s why New Orleans made moves this offseason to bring in players who fit the mold. Justin Reid arrives at safety with the range and versatility needed to play deep or in the box, while rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman comes in with the sideline-to-sideline athleticism and coverage chops Staley needs from his LBs.

In the trenches, the Saints added Davon Godchaux, a key piece for Staley's vision. Godchaux offers the flexibility to line up anywhere along the interior line and control multiple gaps depending on the front. He’s the kind of chess piece that allows the defense to stay unpredictable.

But not everyone fits as cleanly. Cam Jordan and Chase Young, both traditionally dominant edge players, don’t naturally align with the responsibilities Staley typically asks of his edge defenders. Whether they’re asked to drop into coverage, move inside, or play contain more often, there’s a risk they’ll be operating outside their comfort zones — and that could limit both the pass rush and run-stopping capabilities early on.

Staley’s background leans heavily into disguised coverages. His defenses typically line up in two-high shells, forcing quarterbacks to make post-snap reads rather than giving away the picture pre-snap. But once the ball is snapped, that look rotates into a variety of coverages — including man outside with zone coverage underneath or match-zone concepts where defenders adapt their coverage based on route combinations.

A favorite tool in Staley’s coverage arsenal is Cover-6, which splits the field: one half plays Cover-2, the other Cover-4. This structure allows for a deep defender to play downhill in support against the run or drop back to handle intermediate crossers — a major asset against modern passing offenses.

The Saints may also lean more into press-man coverage this season. The hiring of Terry Joseph as defensive pass game coordinator suggests as much. Joseph, with a strong reputation as a press-coverage coach from his time at Notre Dame and Texas, could influence the secondary to be more aggressive at the line. That might also explain the signing of Isaac Yiadom, a corner who fits that press-heavy mold. And with Joseph’s family ties to Broncos DC Vance Joseph, the Saints are clearly tapping into a deep web of defensive knowledge.

• Best Fits for the System: Davon Godchaux, Justin Reid, Alontae Taylor
• Worst Fits for the System: Chase Young

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Offensive Breakdown

The Buccaneers enter 2025 with their fourth different offensive coordinator in four seasons, this time promoting Josh Grizzard to the role after Liam Coen took the head coaching job in Jacksonville. Grizzard is relatively green as far as NFL experience goes—his coaching resume includes time as a quality control assistant and wide receivers coach with Miami before serving as Tampa Bay’s pass game coordinator in 2024.

Given his lack of coordinator experience, don’t expect drastic changes from last year’s offense. Grizzard is expected to keep much of Coen’s playbook intact, especially the core concepts that helped Tampa’s offense take a step forward in 2024. However, how he handles weekly game plans and in-game adjustments remains a big question mark.

One staple Grizzard is clearly leaning into is pre-snap motion and formation variation. You’ll see Tampa use a wide variety of looks designed to stretch the field horizontally, keeping defenses on their heels before the ball is even snapped. Motion is used to reveal coverage and force mismatches, while play-action is a key tool to freeze defenders and give Baker Mayfield more time to operate.

A potential shift in 2025? More deep passing. Last season, Coen talked about attacking downfield more frequently, but in practice, Mayfield ranked just 35th out of 39 qualifying QBs in deep ball attempt rate. That could change under Grizzard. Reports from minicamp suggest a greater emphasis on deep route concepts, and the Bucs’ first-round pick Emeka Egbuka provides another dynamic weapon capable of winning vertically. If Grizzard follows through, expect Tampa to be more aggressive in attacking the third level.

One of the most noticeable improvements for the Bucs in 2024 was their run game. Coen’s departure raised concerns about regression in that area, but Tampa made a key move by retaining offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, who now also holds the title of Run Game Coordinator.

Carberry was a vital part of the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl staff and worked closely with Coen in both L.A. and Tampa. His experience and system familiarity make him a crucial piece in keeping the ground game strong in 2025.

The Bucs deploy a diverse rushing attack. While inside zone remains the primary concept, they also mix in gap schemes, counters, and pin-and-pull runs—a Carberry specialty. These designs create lateral movement along the offensive line and focus on creating angles and leverage at the second level, which consistently opens up lanes for explosive runs. In fact, Tampa ranked fifth in breakaway run rate and sixth in explosive run rate last season.

That success directly boosted Bucky Irving, who surged into the lead back role and looked like a perfect fit for the scheme. His vision and burst made him ideal for those wide-angled runs, while Rachaad White has shifted into more of a passing-down and change-of-pace role. White still offers value, especially in PPR formats, but Irving appears locked in as the primary early-down option—making him the back to watch for fantasy in 2025.

• Best Fits for the System: Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin
• Worst Fits for the System: Rachaad White, Cade Otton

Buccaneers Defensive Breakdown

• Defensive Front: 3-4 base with Multi-Front looks
• Secondary: Single-High Cover-3 Zone
  • Man Coverage: 17.6% (31^st)
  • Zone Coverage: 81.8% (1^st)

Todd Bowles continues to run the Buccaneers' defense with the same aggressive, pressure-first philosophy he's relied on for nearly two decades. As both head coach and defensive play-caller, Bowles maintains full control of a scheme built to confuse quarterbacks, generate pressure from multiple angles, and force turnovers.

Despite losing run game coordinator Kacy Rodgers to Detroit, Tampa Bay promoted from within. Larry Foote shifts from pass game coordinator to run game duties, while George Edwards moves up to oversee the pass game. The system remains Bowles’ through and through.

The Bucs operate out of both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, mixing alignments to disguise intentions. Expect a continuation of the 3-4 base look, with defensive linemen responsible for multiple gaps while pressure is dialed up from various spots on the field.

Vita Vea is the cornerstone of this front. When healthy, he can dominate inside by occupying two or even three gaps, enabling blitzers and freeing up the second level. But his availability is critical — when Vea misses time, the run defense softens significantly.

Blitzing remains a staple. Tampa Bay has finished top five in blitz rate in four of the past six years. Bowles sends pressure from everywhere — safeties, corners, off-ball linebackers — not relying on one elite pass rusher, but rather scheming pressure through confusion. No Bucs player has tallied more than 7.5 sacks in a season since 2021, yet they consistently rank among the league’s top defenses in sacks.

On the back end, Bowles demands versatility. He mixes man and zone coverage often within the same series, if not the same snap, requiring defensive backs to adjust assignments post-snap. Though they leaned more on zone last season due to personnel, the scheme prefers man-to-man, particularly outside.

Antoine Winfield is the linchpin of the secondary. A true do-it-all safety, he thrives in Tampa’s frequent single-high looks, playing deep, crashing down in run support, and even blitzing off the edge. His absence in parts of 2024 significantly impacted the defense's flexibility and effectiveness.

Despite a clear need at cornerback, the Bucs were quiet in free agency. Instead, they added two rookies: Benjamin Morrison (Round 2) and Jacob Parrish (Round 3). Morrison has the size and instincts to play outside but is more comfortable in zone right now. Parrish has better man traits but still needs development before he's ready to handle top-tier receivers. Until those rookies are ready, expect the Bucs to stick with more zone coverage than Bowles typically prefers.

• Best Fits for the System: Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield, Lavonte David
• Worst Fits for the System: Zyon McCollum, Tykee Smith

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