Fantasy football burning questions: Analyzing the NFC South

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The NFC South is a somewhat forgotten division.

Located in the heart of college football country, the NFC South teams are often relegated to the outskirts of the NFL RedZone quad box, especially as this quartet continues to struggle most seasons.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reigned atop the division, winning it in four straight seasons. The Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have taken turns toeing the line between rebuilding and retooling – with similar results each season.

Despite those poor results, there is no shortage of fantasy-relevant options that you'll certainly consider come draft night – including perhaps fantasy's best asset in 2025.

As those drafts inch closer, the crew at Paste BN Sports is taking a tour around the NFL, tackling each division so you can be prepared when you're on the clock. While we answer the most pressing questions for each team, you can keep all these nuggets handy to outsmart your competition.

Today, it's the NFC South's turn in the spotlight.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

Can the Bucs survive another offensive coordinator change?

First, it was Dave Canales. Then it was Liam Coen. Now it's Josh Grizzard's turn.

Either the Buccaneers really know how to hire coaches or there's a special coaching factory that opened up in Tampa, but this is now three different offensive coordinators in three seasons.

The 35-year-old from Lizard Lick, North Carolina faces plenty of pressure trying to keep Tampa's top-five offense humming in 2025. He takes over a team that ranked third in total offense and fourth in scoring, with no real loss of talent on his side of the ball, plus the addition of first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.

Promoted from passing game coordinator in February, Grizzard intends to run the same scheme with the same terminology. While he promises new wrinkles, there appears to be plenty of continuity in Tampa.

Time will tell whether his play calling can live up to the standard set by Coen in 2024, however. Entering his eighth season in the NFL, Baker Mayfield will be working with his ninth play caller in that time.

While conventional wisdom suggests that the Bucs can't find a third successful OC in as many years, there is no other reason to believe this unit can't be a fantasy gold mine once again.

Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)

Bucky Irving (RB8, overall: 27)
Mike Evans (WR17, overall: 34)
Chris Godwin (WR29, overall: 57)
Baker Mayfield (QB7, overall: 63)
Rachaad White (RB39, overall: 119)
Emeka Egbuka (WR51, overall: 128)

Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

Is Bijan Robinson in danger of being a fantasy bust?

There's an old saying that suggests it's what is on the inside that counts. After all, you might find your dream car for sale at a dealership, but you probably won't buy it after discovering that the transmission will need to be replaced.

Fantasy appeal can be a similar thing. Landing a top draft pick means you may have the honor of selecting this year's RB1, Bijan Robinson. However, just like buying a car, you'll want to take a look under the hood before finalizing that selection.

We arrived at a concerning realization after reviewing the running back's 2024 campaign. Robinson finished as RB3 last season, posting 1,887 total yards and 15 touchdowns – an increase of 424 yards and seven touchdowns from his rookie season.

However, it took 365 touches to post those numbers, which was the 11th-most in the last 10 seasons and second-most of 2024, only behind Saquon Barkley.

Robinson's performance should be celebrated, but the company he keeps on this list is more than enough to sound the alarms.

Le'Veon Bell had 406 touches in 2017, the most of any player in the last 10 seasons and ultimately sat out all of 2018 due to a contract dispute. Christian McCaffrey checked in at second with 403 touches in 2019. He was promptly injured in 2020, playing in just three games.

Derrick Henry was injured in 2021, playing just eight games after 397 touches in 2020, while Josh Jacobs played 13 games in an injury-shortened season after 393 touches in 2022. Other popular fantasy names like David Johnson are etched onto the list, which lessens Robinson's appeal in a way.

You'll still draft him if given the opportunity. However, it's buyer beware as history isn't on your side.

Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)

Bijan Robinson (RB1, overall: 2)
Drake London (WR9, overall: 12)
Darnell Mooney (WR49, overall: 114)
Michael Penix Jr. (QB24)
Kyle Pitts (TE19)
Younghoe Koo (K13)

Carolina Panthers (5-12)

Is Bryce Young primed for a breakout season?

Bryce Young's career was given a new lease on life during the offseason as the Panthers decided they would opt to build around the now third-year quarterback. Carolina hopes to have found their WR1 in Tetairoa McMillan and some much-needed depth with Trevor Etienne, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Hunter Renfrow.

The Panthers will pair those options with the newly-extended Chuba Hubbard and some holdovers in the receiver room – Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette.

In other words, Young has no shortage of options at his disposal this year, even if the names themselves don't jump off the page.

The former Alabama signal caller finished as QB20 in 2024, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Things began to click somewhere along the way for Young as the quarterback closed the season on a high note - finishing as QB6 from Week 12 to Week 18.

He tossed 11 touchdowns to only three interceptions in those seven games. The improvement didn't stop there as he began to utilize his legs more often, rushing for an average of 25.4 yards per game and adding five touchdowns on the ground.

Extrapolated over a full season, Young was on pace for 12.1 rushing touchdowns, which would've tied him for second in the league last year with Josh Allen.

If you're someone who prefers to wait on quarterbacks in the draft, Young is a player that few are talking about. Faced with a make-or-break season ahead of him, there's a real chance that Dave Canales' team could surprise in 2025.

Provided Young wasn't zapped of his powers over the offseason, he should not only be fantasy relevant this year, but that also bodes well for every other player on Carolina's roster.

Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)

Chuba Hubbard (RB17, overall: 49)
Tetairoa McMillan (WR27, overall: 53)
Bryce Young (QB23, overall: 138)
Adam Thielen (WR58)
Rico Dowdle (RB48)

New Orleans Saints (5-12)

Could this offense be sneaky good in 2025?

The Saints are firmly in rebuild mode. Derek Carr retired abruptly, opening the door for a new quarterback to emerge in the bayou. However, New Orleans waited to strike until the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Louisville's Tyler Shough with the 40th pick.

Shough enters as an older rookie, already 25-years-old and will be 26 by the end of September. With a wealth of experience in college, the idea is that this rookie quarterback has developed his skillset more than some of his counterparts. He has leaned into the idea and now, new head coach Kellen Moore is tasked with getting the best from Shough.

No one seems to be high on the Saints in 2025, but New Orleans isn't your typical 5-12 team from a fantasy perspective.

Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are all poised to return from injury – all of whom are legitimate fantasy contributors.

Shough may be the engine tasked with powering this Saints offense, but there are certainly worse situations for a rookie quarterback to be walking into – see: Ward, Cam.

Moore has coached a top-10 scoring offense in four of his six seasons as a coach, including the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.

New Orleans has the chance to put together a sneaky good fantasy season in 2025, especially with favorable game scripts forecasted all season long.

Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)

Alvin Kamara (RB14, overall: 41)
Chris Olave (WR28, overall: 56)
Rashid Shaheed (WR54, overall: 131)
Tyler Shough (QB32)

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