Fantasy: Off-Season Depth Chart Outlook – NFC South

Our Off-season Depth Chart Outlook series continues today with the NFC South division.

What I’m doing here is going team-by-team and taking a look at each team’s roster situation at the four key offensive Fantasy Football positions (QB RB WR TE). I’ll also be speculating on a few potential off-season moves we could see each of these teams make.

List of 2012 Free Agents at the QB/RB/WR/TE positions

Preliminary 2012 Player Rankings

Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan isn’t going anywhere, but the situation behind him will need attention. Chris Redman is a capable No. 2, but his contract has expired. With only John Parker Wilson hanging around, Redman will be brought back unless the team finds an upgrade via Free Agency.

Michael Turner is wearing down and it’s no longer sensible to give him a full workload. The team knew this was coming when they selected Jacquizz Rodgers is last season’s draft. Expect him to pick up a larger share of the workload in 2012, especially on third downs. Jason Snelling and Rodgers split No. 2 duties this past season, but Snelling is an UFA and might not want to return as a third-stringer. Antone Smith could replace Snelling as the third back.

Roddy White and Julio Jones are one of the best one-two punches you’ll find at wideout in this league and both are signed through 2014. Behind them, however, the Falcons will need to make some moves. Slot man Harry Douglas and Eric Weems are both UFAs. Douglas isn’t likely to attract a ton of attention on the open market so he could be back. If not, Atlanta could look to Danny Amendola, Early Doucet, or Eddie Royal. Kerry Meier, Kevin Cone, and Drew Davis will compete for a spot on the bench.

Tony Gonzalez received a one-year extension, so he’ll be back at tight end in 2012. Atlanta has the rights to Michael Palmer, so he likely returns as the No. 2. Reggie Kelly was all but retired a few years back before returning to play some snaps with the Bengals in 2010 and made it through 2011 with the Falcons. He’s an UFA, however, so this could be it for him. Ryan Winterswyk and Tommy Gallarda were given Futures contracts.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is emerging as one of the game’s top, young quarterbacks and will man what should be an even better offense in 2012. Derek Anderson was the No. 2 in 2011, but is an UFA. Jimmy Clausen is still on the roster and signed through 2013. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the team added a veteran back-up like Vince Young, David Garrard, or Jason Campbell.

Jonathan Stewart is entering an important contract year and will, again, share backfield duties with DeAngelo Williams in 2012. The two basically split the workload, with Williams favored on earlier downs and Stewart seeing most of the passing down snaps. Mike Goodson will be back from Injured Reserve and is a capable No. 3. Josh Vaughan is also on the roster.

Newton’s emergence led to a resurgence from the once-distraught Steve Smith, who is entering a contract year in 2012. Brandon LaFell is the favorite to hold down the No. 2 job, but David Gettis will be on his tail fresh off of IR. Neither is much of a force at the position, however, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they go outside the organization for a difference maker to line up alongside Smith. Marques Colston would be a good fit if New Orleans lets him walk. Legedu Naanee was the No. 2 for the first two-thirds of 2011, but injuries cost him that job and he’s now an UFA. Seyi Ajirotutu could be gone with Gettis back and Armanti Edwards, Kealoha Pilares, and Darvin Adams all pushing for a roster spot.

Greg Olsen was signed through 2015 when he was acquired last off-season and has a firm grasp on the starting TE job. The team runs a ton of 2+ TE sets, though, so the status of UFA Jeremy Shockey is important. It’s not apparent if they intend to bring him back yet, but it’s worth noting that they did give elite receiving prospect Gary Barnidge an extension while he was on IR this past season. Ben Hartsock’s contract status is unknown, but he’s only around to provide some occasional blocking. Greg Smith was given a Futures contract.

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is the most notable UFA on our list, but there’s no doubt that he’ll be back in New Orleans with a multi-year deal in 2012. The Saints have the rights to Chase Daniel, but it wouldn’t be a shocker if they looked to upgrade at the No. 2 position. On-and-off the Practice Squad every week since the start of the 2010 season, Sean Canfield likely gets a Futures deal after the playoffs conclude.

Mark Ingram will be back to full health in 2012 and will lead the running back committee. Like Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles are signed through 2014 and will also play a role in the three-headed attack. Ingram gets most of the carries, Sproles is basically a wide receiver, and Thomas does a bit of both. Chris Ivory enters a contract year and will be a handcuff for Thomas and especially Ingram.

Marques Colston and Robert Meachem will both be UFAs this off-season. One would imagine that the Saints will look to bring both back, especially Colston, but it won’t be cheap. Meachem doesn’t have the most impressive career numbers, but he’s a pretty good talent stuck in a rotation in New Orleans. He could look to spread his wings elsewhere…although we thought the same about James Jones in Green Bay a year ago. Lance Moore is signed through 2015 and Devery Henderson enters a contract year. Both receive an upgrade if either Colston or Meachem leaves. The Saints hold the rights to Adrian Arrington, who continues to be buried on the depth chart. Courtney Roby is on the roster to handle Special Teams duties. Andy Tanner and Joe Morgan are candidates for Futures contracts.

Jimmy Graham is a record-breaker in only his second year and has a firm grasp on the starting job here. David Thomas hit IR this year, but is signed through 2013 and is the favorite to open 2012 as the team’s No. 2 TE and blocking specialist. John Gilmore, Michael Higgins, and Tory Humphrey all helped out in relief of Thomas this year, but it’s likely that no more than one returns in 2012. Daniel Hardy is a Futures contract candidate.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josh Freeman regressed quite a bit in 2011, but he’ll be back under center with a new coaching regime in 2012. Josh Johnson is an UFA and likely will get quite a bit of attention on the open market. That leaves only Rudy Carpenter and Brett Ratliff in camp. If Johnson leaves, the team will certainly look to Free Agency to add a veteran back-up. David Garrard seems like a good fit.

The team has the rights to Exclusive Rights Free Agent LeGarrette Blount, so expect him back in 2012 despite his issues this past season. Earnest Graham was heavily involved early in 2011 before hitting IR with an injury and is an UFA. Kregg Lumpkin is restricted, so there’s a good chance he’s tendered. With Mossis Madu as the only other back on the roster, it’s clear that this is a position of need. A relatively inexpensive pass catcher who can handle a few carries will be the target if Graham isn’t re-signed. Tim Hightower, Mike Tolbert, Kevin Smith, and Justin Forsett are among those who fit the bill.

Like Freeman, Mike Williams regressed a ton this past season, but we know he has the skills to produce as a top wideout. He’ll hold down that role in 2012. Actually selected before Williams in the 2010 NFL Draft, Arrelious Benn hasn’t exactly emerged as the team would’ve liked, but he’s the early favorite to start at the Z next season. The team holds the rights to slot man Preston Parker, so he should return. He’ll be pushed for snaps by Sammie Stroughter, who enters a contract year. Dez Briscoe is stuck behind Williams and Benn, but will continue to see plenty of snaps when Tampa Bay is playing from behind. Micheal Spurlock didn’t see much work in 2011 and is an UFA. Ed Gant landed a Futures contract and Raymond Webber will likely compete for a job in camp. The team will need to decide if Benn is the answer as the No. 2 wideout. If not, they’ll be looking to Free Agency to replace him in the starting lineup.

Kellen Winslow and 2011 rookie Luke Stocker are signed through 2014 and both are expected back next season. Zach Pianalto will compete with Collin Franklin (Futures) and probably a rookie and/or Free Agent for the No. 3 job.

Follow Mike Clay on Twitter: @PFF_MikeClay