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 one 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, sack percentage allowed, rushing touchdowns per game and passing touchdowns per game.
You want to see the touchdowns, I know. But those must be built on a solid foundation of good performance in the sampling of these other stats. Also use these rankings to target weak offenses when selecting a fantasy defense for the coming week.
| Rank | Team | Red Zone Pos. | Third Down % | YPR | YPA | Sack % | TD-Run | TD-Pass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans (3-0) | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 29 |
| 2 | Baltimore (3-0) | 3 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 36 |
| 3 | Dallas (2-1) | 7 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 50 |
| 4 | NY Giants (3-0) | 4 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 7 | 60 |
| 5 | Philadelphia (2-1) | 6 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 61 |
| 6 | Indianapolis (3-0) | 15 | 7 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 70 |
| 7 | New England (2-1) | 4 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 16 | 20 | 84 |
| 8 | Minnesota (3-0) | 7 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 88 |
| 9 | San Diego (2-1) | 2 | 6 | 32 | 2 | 21 | 7 | 20 | 90 |
| 10 | Atlanta (2-1) | 7 | 17 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 91 |
| 11 | Denver (3-0) | 24 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 20 | 92 |
| 12 | Seattle (1-2) | 15 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 8 | 23 | 7 | 101 |
| 13 | Cincinnati (2-1) | 15 | 11 | 14 | 20 | 24 | 7 | 13 | 104 |
| 14 | Tennessee (0-3) | 24 | 22 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 105 |
| 15 | Jacksonville (1-2) | 22 | 15 | 4 | 21 | 16 | 2 | 27 | 107 |
| 16 | NY Jets (3-0) | 12 | 19 | 22 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 108 |
| 17 | Green Bay (2-1) | 7 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 32 | 5 | 13 | 109 |
| 18 | Miami (0-3) | 15 | 1 | 8 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 30 | 114 |
| 18 | Washington (1-2) | 7 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 114 |
| 20 | Houston (1-2) | 15 | 23 | 29 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 2 | 115 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh (1-2) | 15 | 10 | 28 | 9 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 120 |
| 22 | Chicago (2-1) | 12 | 20 | 31 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 4 | 121 |
| 23 | Tampa Bay (0-3) | 24 | 30 | 12 | 27 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 125 |
| 24 | Detroit (1-2) | 12 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 7 | 27 | 127 |
| 25 | St Louis (0-3) | 24 | 25 | 6 | 29 | 4 | 27 | 20 | 135 |
| 26 | Buffalo (1-2) | 24 | 27 | 3 | 18 | 30 | 27 | 7 | 136 |
| 27 | Arizona (1-2) | 15 | 29 | 30 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 13 | 144 |
| 27 | San Francisco (2-1) | 22 | 28 | 15 | 23 | 29 | 7 | 20 | 144 |
| 29 | Carolina (0-3) | 24 | 26 | 13 | 28 | 26 | 16 | 27 | 160 |
| 30 | Kansas City (0-3) | 24 | 32 | 23 | 22 | 28 | 27 | 7 | 163 |
| 31 | Oakland (1-2) | 31 | 21 | 21 | 32 | 25 | 16 | 30 | 176 |
| 32 | Cleveland (0-3) | 32 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 208 |
We've expanded these rankings by popular request, including rushing and passing touchdowns per game for those more literally minded. Extrapolate away with the other stats. Notice the correlation between offensive excellence and winning. Let's see if that holds up all year.
The shocker in the top 10 is Baltimore. The Ravens were supposed to be a defensive-oriented team. Yes, Joe Flacco is better. But they've played the Chiefs, Browns and an injury-decimated Chargers defense that isn't good when healthy. Let's wait for more data before buying in.
I'm also quite surprised that the Broncos are 11th best and in the top 10 in yards per rush and yards per pass. Schedule caveats apply for them, too.
Everyone you'd expect is at the bottom except the Cardinals and, possibly, the Bills. But Buffalo fired their offensive coordinator just before the regular-season starting gun went off, so you know there were big problems there. The Cardinals have not been able to slow down pass rushes by running better and getting into more convertible down and distance. Plus the pass blocking is worse than their sack rating suggests because Kurt Warner is getting knocked around a lot. Be worried, but don't panic.
