Fantasy football power rankings: Offense

You can find more from Michael Salfino at NESN.

Environment is the major key to fantasy football production. These rankings, updated weekly throughout the season, assess the foundation upon which fantasy football statistics rise (or fall). NFL offenses are ranked 1-32 in the following categories: red zone trips per game, third down conversion percentage, yards per rush attempt, yards per pass attempt, sack percentage allowed, rushing TDs per game and passing TDs per game. Also use these rankings to target weak offenses when selecting a fantasy defense for the coming week.

Executive Summary: Let’s focus this week on red zone possessions, the most important stat when assessing a player’s offensive environment. It factors in or directly influences all of our other key offensive stats.

The range is 5.3 trips per game for the Saints down to 1.3 trips per game for the Raiders. Looking at it another way, a back who gets 25 percent of red zone carries on the Saints is as valuable as one getting all the red zone carries for the Raiders. Of course the Raiders are a committee, too. Average right now is about 3.3 trips per game. I’m actually surprised to see that the Rams even get two trips per game. The Titans are shocking at 1.7 (tied with the Niners for 30th). You’d think that this is the major reason why LenDale White(notes) has lost so much value until you see that the Titans were below average in trips last year, too – 2.8 per game. Sell Chris Johnson and Frank Gore(notes) if you get close to preseason value.

The Eagles are another trailer that surprises. They’ve declined from 3.7 trips per game last year – 10th best – to 2.2 this year, which is 25th. Those big DeSean Jackson(notes) scoring plays (four straight games with a 60-plus yard TD) are a factor here. But proof that the Eagles can’t sustain drives is found in their 25th ranking in sack percentage allowed and 22nd slot in third down conversion percentage. If someone is buying Eagles offensive players now, I’m selling. This is not the consistent unit we’ve come to expect under Andy Reid.