Fantasy Football 2016: Best NFL Offenses to Target in Drafts

If you've ever played daily fantasy football, you'll know that it is sometimes wise to stack players from the same team. 

For instance, say the Arizona Cardinals are playing a weak pass defense—you'll want to stack quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver John Brown, or something similar. As a result, you can get the most bang for your buck if Palmer throws a touchdown to Brown.

The same ideology can apply in season-long fantasy leagues. 

I tend to look for a connection from a quarterback and a pass-catcher, especially the main target. This is because I consider it "double points," if you will.

In this slideshow, we'll rank the top eight fantasy offenses. Make no mistake, there is such a thing as overexposure to a single offense.

For example, take Palmer, Brown and fellow wide receiver Michael Floyd. At that point it's too much, and if the offense stalls out in a game, a good portion of your starting lineup would be toast.

Let's start with No. 8.

8. Seattle Seahawks

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The Seattle Seahawks come in at No. 8.

What ultimately held the Seahawks back was the glaring question mark at tight end: Jimmy Graham.

However, everyone else is solid.

At quarterback, the Seahawks have Russell Wilson. Although he was 18th among quarterbacks in attempts, he was tied for third in completion percentage. We all know Wilson is efficient, and this will help his receiving weapons. Also, Wilson was third in the league in rushing attempts at just over 100, but had only one rushing touchdown—you have to think that number should go up.

In regard to his passing, Wilson's attempts have gradually climbed each season he's been in the league, and that's always great to see.

At wide receiver, the two standouts are Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin. On one hand, while I'm not high on Baldwin because of his expected touchdown regression, he's still a worthy WR3 at the very least. On the other hand, I'm high on Lockett. What helped confirm my belief in him was Matt Harmon of NFL.com's Reception Perception piece on him.

In the backfield, the Seahawks have an embarrassment of riches with Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael and C.J. Prosise.

Though there is confusion in regard to Rawls and Michael due to the latter's explosion this preseason, rostering both is not a bad idea.

Prosise is appealing in the later rounds, as Wilson has never had an option like him—a legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield.

The Seahawks could well outproduce this ranking.

7. New York Giants

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The New York Giants come in at No. 7 with an elite talent at wide receiver in Odell Beckham Jr.

Not only that, but the Giants have a promising rookie and a steady running back who should land RB2 or slightly less value.

We all know Beckham, so I'll refrain from wasting your time with him.

The rookie, Sterling Shepard, is worth watching. 

Coming out of Oklahoma, Shepard can run all the routes and projects well, especially in points-per-reception leagues. Because of OBJ's presence, Shepard could see his fair share of one-on-one matchups. Even as a rookie, Shepard should handle most corners in the league.

At running back, the Giants have Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen. While Vereen may only have PPR value and Jennings may not be all that appealing, he is a consistent RB2 in most formats.

The man leading the offense is Eli Manning. While he has struggled with interceptions in the past, he's coming off a nearly 4,500-yard season with 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions—no need to worry about him.

Last season, the Giants finished fourth in the NFL in points per game. They should remain within the top five. When that happens, fantasy points follow.

6. Indianapolis Colts

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The Indianapolis Colts have a terrible defense.

Why does that matter? More opportunities on offense.

Let's face it—the Colts are going to have to throw early and often to compensate for their shoddy defense. The unit is suffering from an injury to one of its only formidable players, Vontae Davis.

At quarterback, the Colts have Andrew Luck. After being plagued with injury, the former No. 1 overall draft pick should return to top-five fantasy quarterback form. We've seen what he can do in the past, and with wide receivers Donte Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton, Luck is blessed with two WR2s.

Last season, Moncrief and Hilton both had 100-plus targets. Those numbers will go up, especially with Luck commanding the offense. Both of these receivers are worthy of top-24 picks at the position, with true WR1 upside. 

The other receiving option comes in the form of tight end Dwayne Allen. With the departure of tight end Coby Fleener, that gives Luck one fewer target but helps Allen. Although he's coming off a ghost-like season, Allen has substantial touchdown upside, like we saw in 2014 when he hauled in eight TDs.

The backfield is solid with Frank Gore as the main man. The key to getting production out of the running back position this day and age is to stay healthy and play all 16 games. 

Gore does just that.

He won't be flashy, but he's an RB2.

When it's all said and done, the Colts have a top-five quarterback, an RB2, a tight end with top-12 upside and two wide receivers who could be top-20 options.

Have fun with this offense in 2016, opposing defenses.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

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While the Pittsburgh Steelers may not have a ton of depth as a result of injuries and suspensions, they have some of the most elite talent in fantasy football with the triumvirate of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell.

Although the suspension to Martavis Bryant and injury to tight end Ladarius Green will hurt Roethlisberger, he's still likely a top-eight option at the position. Early this preseason, I wrote about how Big Ben was a bust. At his current ADP of QB6, I'd rather wait and take someone later, but Roethlisberger is a fine option regardless.

Roethlisberger's main weapon is a good one in Brown. Like Odell Beckham Jr., this guy definitely needs no introduction.

Next up is an elite running back in Bell, who will have to sit out the first three games. During his absence, we'll see fellow running back DeAngelo Williams. He was a top running back when he played last season, recording 900-plus yards and 11 touchdowns. If you draft Bell, draft Williams as a handcuff. 

Hey, every game helps, right?

These two guys alone make the Steelers a top-five fantasy offense. A three-stack of Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown would be fine with me. In fact, good on you if you're able to draft/trade your way into this stack—it's going to be hard.

After these three, the Steelers have some nice dart throws in wide receivers Markus Wheaton, Sammie Coates and even Eli Rogers. While none of them is of the caliber of Bryant, they all will still assist in elevating Roethlisberger to perhaps an even top-five finish, but I'm not holding my breath on that.

The Steelers are a fun offense to watch that will score a ton of points.

4. New Orleans Saints

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The New Orleans Saints have been an electric offense for what seems like a decade (well, maybe not that long, but you get it).

They have six legitimate fantasy options: quarterback Drew Brees, wide receivers Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead, tight end Coby Fleener and running back Mark Ingram.

Brees has been a top fantasy performer for a while. The guy just throws and throws and throws. Brees is a perennial 5,000-yard passer with 35-plus touchdown upside. While he may not have many seasons left, he still could finish in the top five in 2016.

Remember: The Saints were tied for second in pass attempts per game with 41.7. Couple that with all of his weapons and Brees is going to make fantasy owners smile.

Cooks, Snead and Thomas form a trio that will make the opposing defense cringe leading up to the game. Cooks is going to be the main recipient of Brees' offensive attack and lead the team in both targets and catches—probably yards, too.

After that, Thomas offers upside as a big weapon, replacing what Marques Colston brought to the offense. Lastly, Snead burst onto the scene last year, and although he scored just three touchdowns, he finished as the WR33 in PPR leagues.

The backfield is all Ingram. He does it all.

Although he missed a few games last season due to injury, Ingram still finished as the RB12 in PPR and caught 50 passes. There are only so many running backs who will get 225 or more carries and catch 50 or more passes.

Fleener is a question mark right now. According to Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune, Fleener hasn't been on the same page as Brees and is not reliable enough in the passing game. This is not good news. However, as we've seen over the last few years, tight ends like Jimmy Graham and even Benjamin Watson have had career years with the Saints, who involve the tight end often.

Like the Steelers, I'm a fan of owning Brees, Ingram and one of the three receivers or Fleener. After finishing second in the league in yards per drive, the Saints will compete with the next team in this slideshow for first in that category.

3. Green Bay Packers

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With wide receiver Jordy Nelson returning from his torn ACL, the Green Bay Packers should be back to fantasy prominence.

Not only that, but running back Eddie Lacy is in better shape and looks ready to go after coming off a rough 2015 season overall.

Like Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr., Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is an elite talent in fantasy football.

Nelson's return from injury also helps fellow wide receiver Randall Cobb, who is much better suited for a No. 2 role. Both of these guys are rightfully being drafted inside the top 20, according to Fantasy Football Calculator ADP.

In 2014 with both players healthy, they each had 125 or more targets, nearly 100 receptions and over a dozen touchdowns. 

If Lacy's preseason translates to the regular season, he'll look like a steal going as the RB11.

This preseason, Lacy has 20 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown, averaging nearly six yards per carry. While it's a small sample size, it shows that his conditioning is much better than last season. As a result, erase those terrible memories from your mind.

Other than the two top-20 receivers, an RB1 and QB2 in fantasy, the Packers have a worthy late-round tight end in Jared Cook. Trapped with the now Los Angeles Rams the last few seasons, Cook had been, well, useless.

With Rodgers, Cook could score a healthy amount of touchdowns like fellow tight end Richard Rodgers did last season.

After an off-year in 2015, buckle up, defenses: The Packers of old are back.

2. New England Patriots

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While New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick likes to give the media and fantasy football owners headaches when it comes to the backfield, the Patriots offense produces year after year.

Highlighted by probably the greatest tight end of all time in Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots will face a slight hiccup this season with quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension.

As a result, the offense as a collective unit will suffer a little.

Who knows? If Brady wasn't suspended, the Patriots could make a legitimate case for the best offense in fantasy.

Gronkowski is really good—draft him. That's my analysis. All done. However, fellow tight end Martellus Bennett adds an element to this offense that the Patriots have not had since Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots are an offense that can support two top-12 tight ends and Bennett will probably be third on the team in targets behind Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman.

The running backs are tricky to begin with; throw in Dion Lewis' injury, and we have a true conundrum.

Until Lewis comes back at least, James White will be the primary receiving back and is a worthy RB2 in PPR leagues. Besides him, LeGarrette Blount could have double-digit touchdowns, which will skyrocket his value, as he is the goal-line back.

I'm down on Edelman this year due to his foot injury concerns, but in all fairness, he is a tough, gritty receiver. If he is even 80 percent, he is still a WR2 in PPR leagues—he's an extension of the run game and catches a ton of quick, short passes. Injuries have plagued Edelman over the past couple of seasons—it would be nice to see him healthy for all 16 games.

When Brady returns, look out. He will return to throwing touchdowns and little-to-no interceptions right away.

The tandem of Brady and Gronk is deadly in both real and fantasy football.

1. Arizona Cardinals

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This is a no-brainer.

The Arizona Cardinals have multiple fantasy-relevant players. While that is the case for a number of teams, no other team has three reliable wide receiver options being drafted in the top 35 at the position, according to Fantasy Football Calculator ADP.

In addition to the receivers, the Cardinals have David Johnson, the potential No. 1 overall running back in all of fantasy.

Lastly, there's the quarterback—Carson Palmer. He's being drafted eighth overall at the position and in the seventh round.

The Cardinals offense is high-octane and has multiple facets that will haunt defenses, and it shows in their ranking of yards per drive—first, of course. Not only that, but the Cardinals scored more than 2.5 points per drive, ranking second in the league.

If you walk away from a draft with one of the three wide receivers (John Brown, Larry Fitzgerald or Michael Floyd). Johnson and Palmer, I'm OK with that.

Have fun reaping the benefits.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Team Rankings and Football Outsiders. All ADP references courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.