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Dallas Cowboys
- Dak Prescott set a career-high in touchdown passes (37) and completion percentage (68.8), but he wasn’t as productive as a runner and didn’t make as many plays in the downfield passing game in what should have been a more explosive offense.
- Ezekiel Elliott was banged up with a knee injury for most of the season but still had a strong first half of the season as the designated touchdown scorer. His fantasy value faded in the second half of the year, fueling speculation that Tony Pollard could overtake Elliott in fantasy value in 2022.
- Amari Cooper underachieved, CeeDee Lamb had a great first half of the season and quiet second half, and Michael Gallup missed most of the first half of the season and saw a torn ACL end his walk-year campaign. Cedrick Wilson was the only bright spot in the wide receiver group, making a good case that he should be a bargain signing in free agency with a shot to start elsewhere.
- Dalton Schultz was the star of the passing game as Blake Jarwin wasn’t his old self coming off ACL surgery, and Schultz’s reliable hands and routes racked up catches and touchdowns against defenses that were much more concerned with the running game and wide receivers. Schultz made himself some money as he enters free agency this year.
Heroes: Dalton Schultz, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott (until Week 10)
Zeroes: CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott (Week 11 on), Blake Jarwin, Michael Gallup, Amari Cooper
You Might Have Missed: Pollard averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 130 carries
Biggest Offseason Questions: Will any of Wilson, Gallup, or Schultz be re-signed in free agency? Will the team go forward with a full-blown RBBC as Pollard ascends and Elliotts slowly declines? Is Cooper’s contract in need of adjustment with a 20 million dollar 2022 price tag and only $6 million in dead cap?
Bottom Line: This offense was good, but it could have been better.
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New York Giants
- The Daniel Jones/Jason Garrett offense was as bad as feared, and Garrett did not survive the season. Jones will get another chance to prove himself under new head coach Brian Daboll, who was a big part of Josh Allen’s development in Buffalo.
- Saquon Barkley had a few moments that reminded us of old Barkley, but injuries, a poor offense, and a large role for Devontae Booker kept him from mattering for most of the season. Barkley will play under his $7.27 million fifth-year option as the new regime will likely let him hit free agency in 2023.
- Kadarius Toney’s rookie campaign was a microcosm of his profile. He wasn’t always available in camp for various reasons, only ended up on the field in the regular season because of injuries above him on the depth chart, looked like the most explosive playmaker on the field for a week or two, and then battled injuries and was barely heard from for the rest of the season.
- Kenny Golladay’s first season as a Giant after signing a 4 year/$72 million contract was a disaster, posting no touchdowns and 37-521 in 14 games.
- Evan Engram posted a robust 8.9 yards per catch, by far his career-low, but did lead the team in touchdown catches with three, as he enters free agency in 2022.
Heroes: No One
Zeroes: Everyone
You Might Have Missed: Booker had more yards per carry and yards per reception than Barkley on the same number of carries and only one fewer reception.
Biggest Offseason Questions: Can Daboll salvage anything from Jones? Will Barkley look better with a healthy offseason? Will Toney endear himself to the new staff?
Bottom Line: Burn it to the ground
Philadelphia Eagles
- First-time head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen oversaw a midseason shift to a run-first identity that helped play to Jalen Hurts strengths and created a respectable offense, even though it didn’t manufacture a consistent fantasy running back in the process.
- Jalen Hurts was a huge fantasy hit even though he didn’t exactly secure the quarterback of the future designation due to uneven performances as a passer. He’s still likely to be the 2022 starter unless the Eagles take a quarterback with one of their three mid-first-round picks.
- Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert flashed big talent, but the Eagles' poor pass offense could usually only feed one mouth a week, and the two took turns as the focal point of the passing game. It’s probably overly optimistic to expect that change greatly next year.
- Jalen Reagor did little to nothing to build on a disappointing rookie year and his career is following a bust trajectory going into year three.
Heroes: Jalen Hurts, Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert (at times)
Zeroes: Miles Sanders
You Might Have Missed: Scott led the backfield in rushing touchdowns with seven.
Biggest Offseason Questions: Will the team find a quarterback they like enough to take in the first round, or will they focus on Hurts? What will the team do to bolster the backfield and will it indicate that Sanders isn’t expected to get a second contract in 2023?
Bottom Line: Sirianni was an offensive success in his debut, and Hurts was a fantasy success.
Washington Commanders
- Antonio Gibson was hampered by a stress fracture for much of the season. But he was a fantasy factor despite a mid-season slump and showed off his pass-catching skills once impending free agent J.D. McKissic went down. Gibson should remain foundational to the offense in 2022.
- Terry McLaurin rode the rough seas of the Washington pass offense and saw a dropoff in production and efficiency from his numbers in an equally if not more limited pass offense in 2020. The Commanders will try to upgrade at quarterback this offseason, which would bolster McLaurin’s outlook.
- Curtis Samuel suffered a groin injury in the offseason and never got off of the launching pad in his reunion with offensive coordinator Scott Turner.
- Logan Thomas didn’t quite live up to the scalding fantasy pace he established late in 2020, but he was productive enough to be startable, but only for five games in an injury-marred season that ended with a torn ACL.
- Taylor Heinicke confirmed that he is only an NFL backup during his opportunity to be Washington's starting quarterback.
Heroes: Antonio Gibson (sometimes), Terry McLaurin (sometimes)
Zeroes: Antonio Gibson (sometimes), Terry McLaurin (sometimes), Curtis Samuel
You Might Have Missed: J.D. McKissic had at least 4 catches in 7 of his 11 games played
Biggest Offseason Questions: Will Washington take a quarterback at #11 or make a move for a veteran? Who will join Gibson and Jaret Patterson in the backfield with McKissic heading to free agency?
Bottom Line: Different quarterback, same underachieving offense.
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