Chip Kelly is back! After a successful stint as the offensive coordinator for Ohio State’s national championship team, Kelly has been hired for the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders. This marks his return to the NFL, where he last served as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. With his arrival, fantasy fans are buzzing with excitement and curiosity about how his offensive strategies will impact the Raiders’ fantasy landscape.
Kelly’s reputation as an offensive innovator precedes him, and he will be tasked with turning around a Raiders offense that struggled mightily last season. The team finished with the fourth-worst points per game and the sixth-worst net yards per game. So, how will Kelly’s presence influence the few fantasy assets the Raiders currently possess?
To understand what might happen in Las Vegas, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit Kelly’s earlier NFL days. During his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelly’s offenses were explosive, particularly in his first two seasons. The Eagles ranked fourth and third in points per game and second and fifth in yards per game, respectively. In those years, they threw the ball 55.3 percent of the time and ran it 44.7 percent of the time.
In 2013, Nick Foles had a career year under Kelly, throwing for 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions, finishing as the QB11. On a points-per-game basis, only legends like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees outperformed him. LeSean McCoy also shined, finishing as the RB3, while DeSean Jackson landed as the WR12. Kelly’s tight ends, Brent Celek and Zach Ertz, shared targets, with Celek finishing as the TE20.
However, the following years saw a decline in offensive production. In 2014, despite the Eagles ranking third in points and fifth in yards, Foles’ injury led to backup Mark Sanchez taking over, resulting in a QB27 finish. McCoy dropped to RB12, while Jeremy Maclin led the wideouts as WR7. By 2015, major roster changes saw Foles, McCoy, and Maclin depart. Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray were brought in, but the results were underwhelming. Bradford finished as QB24, and Murray was RB15, while Jordan Matthews was the best fantasy receiver at WR17.
Fast forward to Kelly’s time with the 49ers, where the numbers were even less impressive. His offenses threw the ball 54 percent of the time and ran 46 percent of the time, but the team ranked 31st in points and 27th in offensive yards. Colin Kaepernick managed to finish as the QB25, while Carlos Hyde landed as the RB18. The wide receiver corps was lackluster, with Jeremy Kerley being the best fantasy asset at WR52. At tight end, Vance McDonald was the top performer, but he only managed to finish as TE32.
Now, as Kelly steps into the role with the Raiders, he faces a daunting task. The current roster has significant holes, particularly at quarterback. Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew are under contract, but with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders may look to secure a new signal-caller. If they don’t upgrade the position, it could hinder Kelly’s ability to make a fantasy impact in Year 1.
The running back situation is equally concerning. With only Sincere McCormick and Zamir White on the roster, and Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah set to hit free agency, the Raiders must make moves to bolster this position. Fortunately, they have the second-most cap space available, which opens the door for potential upgrades. A trade for Rashaad White from Tampa Bay could be a game-changer.
Wide receiver talent is another glaring issue for the Raiders. While Jakobi Meyers had a solid fantasy season last year, the team lacks depth and impact players at the position. This offseason will be crucial for addressing this gap. Could they make a play for top free agents like Tee Higgins, Stefon Diggs, or Chris Godwin? The latter has a connection with minority owner Tom Brady, which could work in their favor. Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper are also potential targets.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for the Raiders. Kelly’s system has previously elevated the fantasy value of players when he had the right talent. With a hefty amount of cash to spend and ten picks in the draft, including Nos. 6, 37, 68, and 73, the Raiders’ roster could look very different in the near future.
Yet, it’s essential to temper expectations. While Kelly’s return is exciting, the current state of the Raiders’ roster raises questions about their immediate fantasy viability. Will they be able to attract the necessary talent to thrive in Kelly’s system? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the NFL fantasy landscape is about to get interesting in Las Vegas!
