NFL PREVIEW

The NFL is here again! College Football is a HUGE deal, but it's something about the NFL that really puts a stamp on the return of football. It doesn't have that year round feel like the NBA does with all of it's drama and player movement, but it still has enough to keep us entertained such as the drama that never ends in Dallas. The Cowboys have been dealing with the holdout of star running back Ezekiel Elliott all offseason and today he finally signed a 6 year, 90 million dollar extension with the team. Not only does is this exciting news for Cowboys fans, but also Fantasy Owners worldwide, myself included! This should be e a hell of a season and I won't recap each week like the college games, but I will try and touch on all the major storylines and review after every 4 weeks. Just to make sure all of my predictions look good. 

Speaking of predictions....

NFC EAST 

I expect this to be a 2 team race to the end of the year between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. 

If Philly fans could get one thing it would simply be a healthy Carson Wentz. He's played at an MVP level when he's been healthy but he's yet to finish a season. No longer will they have Nick Foles behind him to save the Eagles when he goes down, and maybe he will feel less pressure as well. When another guy steps in and leads the team to it's first Super Bowl in years, it's likely to be a ton of pressure on Wentz. Luckily he still has solid weapons in Alshon Jeffrey, Zach Ertz, and more to help him maintain. Philadelphia has also added Jordan Howard from Chicago to help bolster their lackluster running game. Philly's defense should be solid as well. 

As much as I hate the Cowboys, I can't deny the talent on the team. It starts with the aforementioned Elliott who has led the league in rushing yards in 2 of his last 3 years and the year he didn't was due to suspension. He opens up the Cowboys offense for everything else to happen. Not only can he run the ball, but he is a dangerous threat as  a receiver as well. Dak Prescott to me, is VERYYY average. Getting Amari Cooper was big for him last year but he still not show the consistency of a top tier quarterback. The Cowboys added a few weapons this offseason, and with Dak in line for a huge contract extension, I expect Dak to continue to improve. If he does, the Cowboys are my choice to win the NFC East. 

The Giants traded away Odell Beckham Jr. , but still have all world talent Saquon Barkley but he won;t be enough. The Gioants are at least a year away from really competing. 

I won't even speak on the Redskins offense, but their defense should be solid. They may be a 4-12 team.

NFC NORTH

The North is another tough division with 3 teams in line to win it. The Lions are the only team that I can say without a doubt doesn't stand a chance. 

The Bears have a GREAT opportunity to repeat as long as quarterback Mitch Tribisky continues to improve and get better. Chicago was really good last year but I never thought they were a true threat as long as he was playing quarterback. I expect receiver Anthony Miller to take a jump this year and as long as he and Allen Robinson can stay healthy, Trubisky should be able to make some plays. Not to mention Tarik Cohen is a do it all back that will surely be important to the Bears chances of winning the division. 

The Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins regressed last year from the season, Cousins has weapons like Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, plus he'll have running back Dalvin Cook back healthy. The Vikings offense should have no excuses for not being able to move the ball. We already know what the defense should do. They play extremely physical and extremely fast. 

A new coach and a ton of questions regarding Aaron Rodgers. Known as maybe the most skilled quarterback of all time, Rodgers has alot to prove this year. It's been almost 10 years since he has taken a team to the Super Bowl and a playoff appearance will be needed this year. I believe in him and the Packers offense, but I still have doubts about is that defense. 

My pick to win this division is the Minnesota Vikings. 

NFC SOUTH

The Saints are easily my pick to win this division. I just feel they have the best combo of offense and defense. Drew Brees is getting older but he's still clearly and ELITE quarterback. With skilled players like Mike Thomas and Alvin Kamara, I don't see this offense slowing down, despite the loss of Mark Ingram. The defense is also extremely talented and full of playmakers. The Saints have made it close the last 2 years but lost! Once on a last second play to the Vikings and then again in overtime against the Rams! The feeling of those 2 losses will surely drive them this year. 

Now if i am wrong about that my next choice would probably be the Carolina Panthers. This of course depends on the health of Quarterback Cam Newton. He has several playmakers including Christian McCaffrey who is truly a game changer type of player. The Panthers should have a really good defense this year, which is what is needed to win that division. 

Can the Falcons get back to the Superbowl? This team just needs to get on the same page. One year the defense is great and the offensive is awful, next year the offensive is great and the defense is awful. If this team could come together they could make some major moves. What are the chances of that happening? I don't know, but it starts with Julio Jones being productive game in and game out. Hopefully if his new extension gets done before week 1 that will give him more juice to go out there and make plays. 

As far Tampa Bay goes, I will never ever, ever, ever trust a team that is led Jameis Winston. 


NFC WEST

Let's go ahead rule out Arizona, rookie quarterback, rookie coach, etc. Also, San Francisco, a team with few playmakers and we stll don;t know what Jimmy Garropollo can do on a consistent basis in the league though I do like their defense. 

So to the 2 real contenders. 

Russell Wilson may not have the prototypical quarterback size but he is a baller. When he is on the field, your team will ALWAYS have a chance., He has gone to 2 Super Bowls and is a proven guy in this league. I am very interested in seein what Seattle does this year due to losing top receiver Doug Baldwin. Whatever they do, Wilson has earned my trust Will the Seahawks defense ever get back to what it was a few years ago? Maybe not, those guys were all time great, but they can play fast and physical. Pete Carroll will always field a solid defensive ballclub. 

As far as the Rams, I expect their offense to take another step this year. Their quarterback Jared Goff just got PAIDDD so he has to go out there and justify that deal! This team is trying to get back to the Super Bowl and if they can find consistency defensively which they struggled with last season, then maybe they can go there again. 

But I'm rolling with Seattle. 


And now for the AFC...

AFC EAST

I mean, this is easy. The team that will this division is the team that has won this division every year of my life (slight exaggeration). As long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick make it to the stadium, the Patriots will be the AFC East champs. It's not even a debate. As a Le'veon Bell fan I'm sure he'll play well for his new team in New York but it won't be enough to come close to what the Patriots produce. 

AFC NORTH

[BIAS ALERT!!!]

I am a Pittsburgh Steeler fan through and through! I have been rocking with them forever so YES, they are my pick to win the North. They didn't have the flashy big name offseason that the Cleveland Browns had but come on, are we seriously picking the Browns to win the North? lol. 

That's comical but I'll admit they did add alot of talent, led by OBJ, as well as Kareem Hunt who will join them after he serves an 8 game suspension. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has done ALOT of talking this offseason so he better be able to back it up. Management has given him a stacked defense from front to back, along with playmakers in Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Calloway, and tight end David Njoku. He has no excuses....but like i said...

Pittsburgh is not about to hand this division over. Ben Roethlisberger is ready to have his best season ever! NO MORE DISTRACTION'S now that drama queen Antonio Brown is gone to Oakland, and Bell is with the Jets. Coach Tomlin can just focus on guys that wan to be here. The much maligned Steeler defense took a step last year as the core group of Bud Dupree, TJ Watt and former Brown Joe Haden established a toughness not seen since the Ryan Clark,Joey Porter days. The Steelers took Michigan linebacker Devin Bush in the 1st round of this year's draft showing they are valuing that side of the ball more than in the past. Easy to do when you have an offense that can be explosive. Running Back James Conner filled in well for Bell and while he is not Le'veon, he was able to show he can be an effective runner with the ball as well as catch it out of the backfield. JuJu Smith-Shuster has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league and without Brown he has a big chance to take another step! If Pittsburgh can get help from newcomer Donte Moncrief, as well as James Washington I expect them to take this division. 

Baltimore should be solid, and they'll have a great defense but their entire season depends on the growth of quarterback Lamar Jackson. He is an outstanding playmaker and almost unstoppable in the open field but being accurate throwing the ball to receivers has been a struggle for him. If he takes a big step, so do the Ravens. 

AFC SOUTH

The Houston Texans are my choice to win this division. They have the most talent, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson. He is a winner and can run as well as he can pass and I expect a HUGE year from him this year. The Texans were dealt a tough blow when starting running back Lamar Miller tore his ACL, but they were able to trade for Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson Jr, before he got hurt. His skills as a pass catcher are surely to help this Texans offense. They also need Will Fuller to be healthy. He has gotten hurt each of the past 2 seasons but when he plays, he is effective, shown by his 11 games played with Watson, and his 11 touchdowns in those games. The Texans also added another receiver in Kenny Stills. He is talented and could be a good number 3 or 4 receiver depending on how Keke Coutee plays this year. The Texans defense will look a little different as they traded away Jadaveon Clowney but when you have JJ Watt anchoring your defensive line, you'll be fine. 

This may be the final year I have hope for Marcus Mariota. The former Heisman winner came in with alot of hype and he hasn't been a bad player by any means for Tennessee, but he hasn't been the next level top 3 draft pick many people thought he would be! He has talent returning and another former Heisman winner in Derrick Henry. Hopefully those 2 can help lead that offense. The Titans defense however is unit that I do trust in. 

The Indianapolis Colts were dealt a huge blow 3 weeks before the season started when franchise quarterback Andrew Luck suddenly retired. They will replace him with backup Jacoby Brisett who is a solid player, but not Luck, However I think he is every bit as good as Dak Prescott. The Colts have a solid defense but you have to think they take a step back this year. 

Jacksonville could be a sleeper after a terrible year last year, They no longer have the mess that is Blake Bortles and now have a Super Bowl champion in Nick Foles. Running back Leonard Fournette looks to bounce back and have a big year after missing some time last year and if he does, and the defense gets back to how they were 2 years ago, the Jags could make some noise. 

AFC WEST

Just like last year, this is a 2 horse race between the Chargers and the Chiefs. Oakland will be a decent team but they now have the drama queen of the league in Antonio Brown, but I will say if any coach can navigate that, it's Jon Gruden. Denver to me, just doesn't have enough talent to truly compete. 

So..

Kansas City should be sick! The offense will be crazy. They not only have league MVP Patrick Mahomes at quarterback but also Lesean McCoy, Damian William,m Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, DeAnthony Thomas, Sammy Watkins, and oh the best tight end in the league Travis Kelce. They will put up points, but can they stop anyone? They picked up safety Tyrann Mathieu in the offseason so help them stop getting lit up but they may need more than that. 

The Chargers will need to find a rushing attack as it appears starting running back Melvin Gordon will miss some time. Phillip Rivers should be able to keep the offense moving in his 15th season. I expect receiver Mike Williams to make a HUGE jump this year and throw his name in their with the top guys, not to mention they still have the sure handed Keenan Allen. The Chargers also have a good defense, but that will be tested as starting safety Derwin James will miss at least half the year due to injury. 

If I have to make a choice of who wins the West, I have to go Kansas City! It's Patrick Mahomes world!