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AFC East

New England Patriots

2006 12-4

Key Additions: Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth

Key Losses:

Fantasy Players: Obviously Tom Brady is a top four quarterback who throws for 25 touchdowns and 3500 yards, with 14 picks. I don’t see his numbers varying. I have already labeled Randy Moss as an anchor so if you’re a guy who is saying “I need to come out of my draft with this guy, let me be the first to say good luck in 2009, I am skipping 2008 because if your dumb enough to pick him before other top ten WR like Laveranues Coles you will screw your self next year.  Lawrence Maroney is a running back last year who could not carry a split load and hurt his shoulder, so I think he is a risk that you should not take in the first few picks.

The 411: I really doubt that this team is going to be as good as people are suggesting. The defense is not what it was during the super bowl run. Thomas has been in the league for eight years, how many have you known about, the last three years were good, but last year he only had one forced turnover for how great he was. He played on a defense with at least four players (Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Chris McAllister and Ed Reed) that were ahead of him on the opposing offensive game plan. The offense might be a little better, Moss and Stallsworth, the starting WRs, caught 80 balls last year, 18 Wr had more than that by themselves. I think they will struggle at times this year.

Prediction: 9-7

 

New York Jets

2006 10-6

Key Additions: Thomas Jones, Darelle Revis

Key loses: Pete Kendall

Fantasy Players:  Chad Pennington is an injury risk facing a possible QB controversy, so he should not be your number one quarterback because of that. I have a bad feeling about Thomas Jones, right now he is injured, he played for two teams before the Bears where he was terrible and his first season he rushed for over 1000 yards was 2005. I like Coles, if he is your number two wide receiver, you have a great start.

The 411: The Jets I think are going to have a tough challenge this year. They traded their most consistent lineman last year, Kendall, and putting a lot of faith in a RB who might be a product of a good Chicago offensive line. I think Kellen Clemens will be the starter for a stretch, either due to injury or Chad will be blamed for the team’s ineffectiveness. I really think it is possible for them to finish in the basement.

Prediction: 5-11

 

Buffalo Bills

2006 7-9

Key Additions: Marshawn Lynch, Derrick Dockery, Langston Walker

Key Losses: Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher-Baker

Fantasy Players: All these players are in that high value situations, especially with an improved offensive line. Lee Evans is as fast as any WR in the league and may have matured into a consistent receiver with 82 catches. Losman could benefit from Evans development, a better offensive line and experience. Lynch will mostly likely be the most productive RB in the league just because he is starting, and could have numbers better than Joe Adai last year.

The 411: I think this offense could be very solid, but I have some serious concerns about the defense. They lost their three best players on defense and have not added any stars so we will found out how they have drafted. They will show flashes of brilliance, but hey play in division that has four teams competing.

Prediction: 7-9

 

Miami Dolphins

2006 6-10

Key Additions: Trent Green, Joey Porter, Ted Ginn

Key losses: Dante Culpepper, Randy Mcmichael

The 411: This defense is always top ranked and they added a player that is the definition of a playmaker in Joey Porter. This defense will have games that they score more than they give up. The offense is being ignored, especially one of the most prolific passer of the new millennium Trent Green. In the five seasons prior to last year Green averaged over 4000 yards a season with Eddie Kennison and the rest of nobodies. No with guys like Chris Chamber Marty Booker and Ted Ginn, Green has two receiver better than the best he every had in KC and a freak. As far as his injury, it was his first season he failed to play 16 games and it was a concussion so it’s not going to affect him. I really think this is going to be a good team.

Fantasy Players: If you can’t figure out how I feel about Green you should put your helmet back on and get on the short bus because you need some help. As for the rest of the squad I think Ronnie Brown will have a chance to be a break out back because Cam Cameron learned at the feet of Norv Turner, who makes RB probowlers. Chris Chambers sculpture of an ideal receiver, he has all the tools and now has a top QB so this could be the season he puts it together.

11-5

Prediction: 11-5

 

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

2006 13-3

Key Addition: Willis McGahee

Key Losses: Adalius Thomas, Jamal Lewis

The 411: Same team, different year, their defense is as good as any team in the league. They still have all their key players; Thomas was a product of the system and will be replaced easily. I think the offense will be better, but don’t be fooled it won’t be about Steve McNair it will be about McGahee, he will have to rush for 1500, which will alow the defense to rest so they won’t be beat up for the playoffs. They are the class of the North and will win it but it won’t be a cakewalk like last year.

Fantasy:  Once again, same team, different year. I think every player will have the same year. McNair will miss a couple of games; McGahee had very similar numbers to Jamal Lewis, so I think he will produce the same in Balty.

10-6

 

Cincinnati Bengals

2006 8-8

Key additions:

Key Additions:

The 411: The offense is like a waterfall, powerful destructive and undeniable. Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson, and TJ Houshmandzadeh are as good as any groups of skill players in the league including Peyton’s Place; I would probably not take Houshmandzadeh because I do not know how to spell his name. But the team’s downfall last year was their defense, based on gambling but they busted to often last year, and they did not do a lot to fix it. I do think that they will be more like the 2005 team where they won and got turnovers.

Fantasy Players: All these players are studs, they are low risk, they will cost you, they are not sleepers, but they will produce.

Prediction: 9-7

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

8-8

Key Additions: Lawrence Timmons

Key Losses: Joey Porter, Bill Cowher

The 411: Mike Tomlin will be a good coach, but when a head coach enters an organization lack the most important thing, his guys. As great as Hines Ward is, he will not have the bond with Tomlin as he had with Cowher, because he developed him. Those are Key because they can tell new players about the jungle they are entering, well the whole teams is entering the jungle this. Plus Tomlin is going to transition into a 4-3 defense, which will cause some issues. They also lost the guy who got the defense geeked up no matter how bad the offense was playing. I think Big Ben will have issues again, in his first two seasons he was a caretaker didn’t win games didn’t lose games. Keep the ball in the RBs hands and let the defense control the game. He will face more growing pains this year.

Fantasy Players: Willie Parker is a stud. He will put up 1500 yards again and will give owners their return for a first round pick. Hines Ward is a solid number two receiver who allows you two gamble on your number three receiver. For all the talk of how Ben is healthy and now can return to his form, but that is not great, his first three seasons he had 17, 17, 18 touchdowns, which is in the middle of the pack, he is an all right number two QB.

Prediction: 6-10

 

Cleveland Browns

4-12

Key Additions: Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn

Key Losses:

The 411:  The Browns could be that team that comes out of nowhere; they have good defensive mix of young and old players with guys like Kamerion Wimbley and Willie McGinest. The offense will have a chance to be a very middle of the pack or better.  Fans want to give up on a quarterback if they don’t win every game buy 40 and have a 153.8 QB rating and sometime that still is not good enough, just ask Rex Groosman last year he lead the league with seven games of 100+ QB rating. Charlie Frye could have a very solid season. I think they will beat everybody in their division at least once, and four of their last six opponents had losing records, and three of those games will be in the dog pound.

Fantasy Players: I think that Braylon Edwards is going to be a true value pick, I think his numbers will be in the top ten just do not draft him to early because that would eliminate the value aspect. Kellen Winslow will be a top five TE, he is not going to be a value but he will payoff. I think Jamal Lewis is at the point of his career where he would be an ideal time share guy, but I am afraid he is just going to be beat up to much and he will miss six games with a 3 yard carry average.

9-7

 

AFC south

Indianapolis Colts

2006 12-4

Key Additions: Anthony Gonzalez

Key Losses: Anthony McFarland, Cato June, Corey Simon, Tarik Glenn Jason David, Nick Harper

The 411: Peyton Manning now can spit in the face of the know nothings who questioned, “can he win the big game?” But now he has new wholes that will force the team to struggles at points during the season. The lose of Tarik Glenn is being underrated; you know that because the entire organization has spent the whole preseason begging him to comeback. Did you know that left tackle is the second highest paying position in the NFL and they just lost one of the best? Tony Dungy credits the defense’s turn around in the playoffs because of McFarland, now he is out for the season. With a whole in the offensive line and the defense that got significantly worse they will struggle. But Peyton Manning is the only guy in the entire league that I will guarantee his team will win eight games no matter the players around him.

Fantasy Players: I am not wasting time talking about Mr. death and taxes. The receivers are going to be good but they will cost you. And I love Joseph Adai; he will have better numbers than Ederin James.

10-6

 

Tennessee Titans

2006 8-8

Key Additions: Eric Moulds

Key losses: Drew Bennett, Bobby Wade, Adam Jones

The 411: I was a big fan of Vince Young before everybody knew him, but I have no feel for him or his team. They stole some victories last year and now the league has the opportunity to start a book on him. The defense will have to carry this team, but it can’t carry it to the playoffs.

Fantasy Players: Vince Young is going to be a good value. As bad as Michael Vicks Passing numbers were last year he was the number three scorers in standard scoring leagues, Young is a better passer and they will need Young’s legs to manufactory offense. Chris Brown will be the starter and is very undervalued; he is a starter being drafted behind backups. I also think Eric Moulds will be a good guy to play on your starters bye weeks.

6-10

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

2006 8-8

Key Additions:

Key Losses:

The 411: The defense and running game are as get as it gets in the NFL. The two things holding this team back are consistency and quarterback. I think this team will beat down all of there opponents and David Garrad will play solid enough for this team to be very good. It’s a good thing that they have decided on a quarterback.

Fantasy Player: Maurice Jones-Drew is overrated and Fred Taylor is underrated. Fred Taylor is the starter and will receive most of the carries. He will have another good season. Jones-Drew is still the back up and I think it’s hard to count on touchdown vultures from year to year. No need to talk about the rest of the Jacksonville skill player, because they do not meet the requirement to be known as a skill player.

11-5

 

Houston Texans

2006 6-10

Key Addition: Matt Schuab, Ahmen Green

Key Losses: David Carr, Eric Moulds

The 411:  Defense his how teams improve themselves from team that always pick in the top 10 to a team battling for a playoff spot late in the season. They have spent most of their draft picks adding good defensive players. Now they add a new QB and an underrated running back with a lot miles on tread. I think they will have some streaks this year, wining and losing, and they will shock some teams, they did beat the colts last year with Ron Dayne and David Carr.

Fantasy Players: Andre Johnson is another blue chip player that will cost you a blue chip price, not much of a value player. Ahmen Green will be a great number three RB, because he is a starter who has already produced and it will be a very affordable pick.

7-9

 

AFC West

San Diego Chargers

2006 14-2

Key Additions: Norv Turner

Key Losses: Entire coaching staff, Donnie Edwards

The 411: There is a fishy smell coming from the whale’s vagina and it concerns me. LT is the man, and I have always been a fan, but he is overdue for an injury. Any injury to him will make this team like the Channel 4 News Team without Ron Burgundy, bunch of guys jabbering about tridents, black panthers and a chocolate covered squirrel. It will not be Norv Turner fault when this team comes up short. Phillip Rivers threw the ball to his WR like he wants them to live the field on a stretcher. That defense is built to stop the players behind the line of scrimmage, but teams will protect the quarterbacks better and will be very vulnerable with that secondary.

Fantasy Players: LT is good, I know that’s a crazy statement, but I will put my rep on that and my argument that gravity does exist. Gates is another blue chip guy who will cost you. Rivers is a nice lower end starting QB, but could blow up.

Prediction: 8-8

 

Kansas City

2006 9-7

Key Addition: Donnie Edwards Napoleon Harris

Key Losses: Will Shields, Trent Green

The 411: The lose of Trent Green is huge, but very quietly they are building a great defense. They are a Herm Edwards team and can play some clock ball. They have five pro-bowlers in their back seven. This team will be that team every Sunday people will not know how they won but they beat teams.

Fantasy Players: Larry Johnson is, well Larry Johnson, take him with the third period. I am a little concerned about Tony Gonzalez getting enough touchdowns to by the number two TE. Treat the rest of the Chiefs like a dead bird in the park, because they might give you the killer bird flu.

9-7

 

Denver Broncos

2006 9-7

Key Additions: Travis Henry, Dre Bly

Key Losses: Jake Plummer, Al Wilson, Darrent Williams, Tatum bell

The 411: What is about Super bowl winning coaches that once they change teams (actual franchises, or brought in new players) they have to be completely irrational about their moves. After going to the AFC championship you don’t trade up to get a quarterback when your quarterback is in his early thirties. There are two reasons why you don’t do that, number one you just destroyed your quarterback confidence, number two you just pissed off all of your veterans who are putting their bodies on the line so that Coach can have a good quarterback in a couple of years. I just think Mike Shannhan has shiny toy syndrome, ask Clinton Portis, Jake Plummer and a list of other players that all they did was produce for their franchise. Shannehan will screw this team up some time this year, especially if they start playing well.

Fantasy Players: Most fantasy owners realize season ending surgery is the second worst phrase for one of your players, the worst, Mike Shanahan coached team. Again the shiny toy syndrome is quite apparent in fantasy leagues. Travis Henry will have four games where he leads the league in points, but he will have three weeks where he does not get five carries. Draft any Bronco at your own risk.

Prediction: 9-7

 

Oakland Raiders

2006 2-14

Key Additions: Daunte Culpepper, Mike Williams

Key Losses: Art Shell, Randy Moss, Aaron Brooks

The 411: They have a good defense, but teams that bad usually have good defensive stats because the other teams is up to scores and playing a little three yards and a cloud of dust. They will be better because their offensive coordinator has been on the football field in the last decade. And Al Davis always has good offensive lineman. This team still won’t be good but they will be better.

Fantasy Player: Culpepper is not going back to being pro-bowler, Lamont Jordan is an umpalumpa, who in his six year career has had one good season, and it was not all that great (1025 yards and 9 TDs). Mike Williams might be a good pick up week three if he played well in his first two weeks, ditto for Jerry Porter, but he will be picked up after week one.

Prediction: 6-10

  

Division Winners

East Dolphins

North Ravens

South Jaguars

West Chiefs

Wild Card Colts, Patriots

AFC Champs Ravens