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 through 32 in the following categories: red zone possessions per game (trips inside the opposing 20-yard line), third-down conversion percentage, yards per rush attempt, yards per pass attempt and sack percentage allowed.
The objective is to look for outliers — the handful of teams where fantasy performance isn't tracking these foundational ranks — so we can better predict players who are set up to improve or decline.
Also, use these rankings to target weak offenses when selecting a fantasy defense for the coming week (in formats that score points allowed and quarterback sacks).
| Rank | Team | Red Zone | YPA | YPC | Third Down % | Sacks % | Total |
| 1 | NO | 1 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 25 |
| 2 | DAL | 10 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 30 |
| 3 | BAL | 4 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 39 |
| 4 | NYG | 4 | 10 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 44 |
| 5 | NE | 4 | 5 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 53 |
| 6 | NYJ | 16 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 56 |
| 7 | SEA | 10 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 60 |
| 8 | ATL | 4 | 8 | 26 | 13 | 11 | 62 |
| 9 | PHI | 4 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 18 | 64 |
| 10 | WAS | 4 | 8 | 18 | 14 | 21 | 65 |
| 11 | SD | 2 | 10 | 30 | 5 | 20 | 67 |
| 12 | TEN | 21 | 19 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 68 |
| 13 | BUF | 10 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 71 |
| 13 | CIN | 10 | 6 | 19 | 10 | 26 | 71 |
| 15 | IND | 29 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 12 | 72 |
| 16 | TB | 16 | 27 | 9 | 20 | 6 | 78 |
| 17 | DEN | 32 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 81 |
| 18 | MIA | 21 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 84 |
| 19 | STL | 21 | 26 | 5 | 31 | 4 | 87 |
| 20 | MIN | 2 | 24 | 4 | 32 | 31 | 93 |
| 21 | CHI | 16 | 18 | 31 | 15 | 15 | 95 |
| 22 | JAX | 21 | 16 | 13 | 25 | 22 | 97 |
| 23 | PIT | 16 | 17 | 28 | 16 | 23 | 100 |
| 24 | ARI | 21 | 31 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 101 |
| 25 | CAR | 10 | 25 | 15 | 28 | 25 | 103 |
| 25 | OAK | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 103 |
| 27 | HOU | 29 | 28 | 32 | 9 | 7 | 105 |
| 28 | SF | 21 | 22 | 6 | 26 | 30 | 105 |
| 29 | GB | 16 | 20 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 108 |
| 30 | DET | 10 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 16 | 113 |
| 31 | KC | 21 | 30 | 21 | 19 | 24 | 115 |
| 32 | CLE | 31 | 32 | 25 | 30 | 29 | 147 |
Summary: Small sample size caveats apply. But the best systems for predicting performance with a lot of data are also the best with limited data.
The Seahawks are crippled with injuries, including to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, so forget about them.
As Joe Flacco goes, so goes the Ravens' offense, and Flacco is going great.
I'm not surprised but disappointed that the Redskins crack the top 10. Washington's quarterback, Jason Campbell , protects the ball but cannot make the big plays necessary to score. I don't buy this ranking.
Lots of surprises at the bottom. Pittsburgh isn't a surprise to me, as the Steelers continue to be unable to adequately protect their quarterback.
The Cardinals have thus far lost the explosiveness that was their 2008 trademark.
Houston has had to face Rex Ryan's Jets and the Titans, who shut down the running game. I'd play all of their big players without fear.
Green Bay is scaring me because its offensive line play has been very poor at clearing lanes for the running game and, most importantly, protecting Aaron Rodgers (last in sack percentage allowed).
