NFL OC Scott Turner Tells Us What We Get Right & Wrong in Fantasy Football Analysis
Fantasy Football is LifeShow Notes
Dwain McFarland sits down with former NFL offensive coordinator Scott Turner — Commanders OC from 2020 to 2022, Raiders pass game coordinator and OC in 2023 and 2024, and Jets pass game coordinator in 2025 — for the conversation fantasy players never get to have.
They start with the trend nobody can ignore: NFL passing yards per game have fallen from 254 in 2020 to 231 this season, with 2025 the lowest since 2008. Average target depth is down nearly a full yard since 2017 and dropback rates are at their lowest point since 2010. Scott explains what defenses are actually doing with two-high looks and safety rotations, whether this is a real scheme shift or just a Tampa 2 revival, and why inviting offenses to run and sustain long drives has been so effective.
Then the counterpunch. Dwain brings the numbers on the efficiency hacks that still work — pre-snap motion, play action, heavy personnel — and asks the question that matters most: if you were looking for a fantasy edge in playcalling and scheme, what would you be seeing that the analytics community is missing entirely?
Then the one every fantasy manager has yelled at a television. Why won't coaches just play the more efficient player? Jaylen Warren waited years for a full-time role and erupted the week he got it. Dontayvion Wicks had better underlying data than Romeo Doubs in Green Bay and is now producing in Philadelphia. Christian Watson is dominating now that the room cleared out. Josh Downs is running more routes than ever and looking like a different player. Scott gets into what coaches see in practice and meetings that never shows up in a spreadsheet — and why draft position still shapes those decisions differently for coaches than it does for GMs.
They also get into scheme versus talent, whether Puka Nacua becomes Puka Nacua without Sean McVay's vision, what made players like Cam Newton, Josh Gordon and Brock Bowers special from a coach's seat, and what it was like growing up watching his father Norv Turner call plays for two Super Bowl-winning Cowboys teams.
Topics in this video:
NFL scheme, offensive coordinator interview, Scott Turner, why NFL passing is down, two-high safety coverage, pre-snap motion, play action, heavy personnel, scheme vs talent, why coaches don't play the better player, snap share, route participation, fantasy football breakouts, Jaylen Warren, Dontayvion Wicks, Christian Watson, Josh Downs, Puka Nacua, Deebo Samuel, Cam Newton, Josh Gordon, Brock Bowers, Garrett Wilson, Norv Turner, 2026 fantasy football
More from Fantasy Football is Life
Week 7 is finally here, and Alex Cupps and Zain Dhanani has you covered with the latest NFL injury news and the fantasy football impact across every team. 🏈
Matthew Freedman and Zain Dhanani go game by game through the entire Week 7 slate, all 14 matchups with the Bills, Jaguars, Commanders and Chargers on bye, using spreads, implied totals, injury reports and coverage data to sort out who’s actually startable and who you’re better off benching.
A juicy waiver week, five young pass catchers taking over, and an Ashton Jeanty comp that Cupps is not going to enjoy.Dwain McFarland and Alex Cupps go through the Week 6 Utilization Report — snaps, routes, rush share, target share — and turn it into the specific moves to make this week, on waivers and in the trade market.They start with the upgrades, and it’s a receiver week. Germie Bernard is still available in half of leagues. Carnell Tate, Jalen Coker, Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden are all climbing. At running back, Jaylen Warren and Bhayshul Tuten are both holding steady, though Dwain has some concerns about the Steelers backfield. And there are open questions at tight end on Colston Loveland and Kyle Pitts.Then the downgrades, with Cam Skattebo sliding and a question mark on Michael Wilson.The back half is the biggest waiver section they’ve done. Two priority adds in Omar Cooper Jr. and Antonio Williams, with Terry McLaurin’s season-ending injury opening the Washington target share, plus a reminder that Jordyn Tyson is available in 52% of leagues with a likely Week 9 return. Then the should-be-rostered tier: Tyrone Tracy Jr. at running back, Jaylin Noel, Ja’Kobi Lane, Demario Douglas and Travis Hunter at receiver, and Michael Mayer as a startable tight end now with Terrance Ferguson as an upside stash. Then the short-term and handcuff tier with Roschon Johnson, Samaje Perine, Konata Mumpfield, Christian Kirk and Malachi Fields.They close in the trade market: a buy-low case on A.J. Brown, and sell-high looks at Ashton Jeanty and Breece Hall — including the comp Dwain has been sitting on.The Utilization Report is brought to you by Tenex.ai. Dwain’s Utilization Report and Cupps’ free and premium waiver pieces are both live on the site. Use promo code FFIL for 10% off FantasyLife+ Tier 2.Topics in this video:2026 fantasy football, week 7 waiver wire, utilization report, utilization score, snap share, route participation, trade targets, Germie Bernard, Carnell Tate, Jalen Coker, Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Jaylen Warren, Bhayshul Tuten, Colston Loveland, Kyle Pitts, Cam Skattebo, Michael Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr, Antonio Williams, Terry McLaurin, Jordyn Tyson, Tyrone Tracy Jr, Jaylin Noel, Ja’Kobi Lane, Demario Douglas, Travis Hunter, Michael Mayer, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Roschon Johnson, Samaje Perine, Konata Mumpfield, Christian Kirk, Malachi Fields, A.J. Brown, Ashton Jeanty, Breece HallTimecodes:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:36 - Germie Bernard00:10:50 - Carnell Tate00:17:17 - Jalen Coker00:26:42 - Emeka Egbuka00:35:25 - Matthew Golden
Week 6 delivered huge fantasy performances, breakout players, surprising results, and plenty of situations to sort through. 🔥 Ian Hartitz and Dwain McFarland break down everything that mattered from Sunday’s NFL slate and what it means for your fantasy teams heading into Week 7.They’ll dig into the biggest risers and fallers, changing roles, injury fallout, usage trends, and the players you need to be thinking about before waivers hit.In this episode:🏈 Biggest Week 6 fantasy takeaways📈 Players and roles trending up📉 Players and situations causing concern🚨 Injuries and important developments👀 Week 7 waiver-wire names and emerging players🔮 What it all means heading into Week 7 #FantasyFootball #FantasyFootball2026 #NFL #Week6 #FantasyFootballAdvice #FantasyFootballNews #NFLFantasyFootball #FantasyFootballLive ____________
Week 6 is finally here, and Alex Cupps and Zain Dhanani has you covered with the latest NFL injury news and the fantasy football impact across every team. 🏈