Tampa Bay Bucs
Predicted Record: 12-4
Playoff Seed: 1
Key Player: Chris Simms, his immergence will be the jusitifcation to my belief. I hated him at Texas, mostly because he replaced Major Applewhite for no intelligent reason, and the fact that he never beat Oklahoma, but I think this is his breakout year.
Fantasy Player to Eye: Michael Clayton, I feel Clayton is going to have a bounce back year and highly improve upon his bust sophomore campaign. Simms came in last season and placed almost all of his trust in the veteran recveiver Joey Galloway, with an off-season of work to get comfortable with each other Michael Clayton could replicate his rookie season.
Why the Record: This is out on a whim, the Bucs have a very difficult schedule but they have sufficient talent on the offensive side and defensive side to put up one of the best records in the NFL. I bet Phil can't wait to broadcast in the closing weeks of the season and mention how well his son is playing even though it will have nothing to do with the Pats Dolphins game he is broadcasting.
Projected Wins: BAL, @ATL, PHI, @NYG, NO, @CAR, WAS, @DAL, @PIT, ATL, @CLE, SEA
Projected Losses: CAR, @NO, CIN, @CHI
Carolina Panthers
Predicted Record: 11-5
Playoff Seed: 5
Key Player: Steve Smith, His lingering hamstring this preseason is becoming an increasing story. If Smith is healthy than the Panthers have the most explosive widereceiver in the NFL. If he is not healthy than the Panthers have no vertical threat, a running back in Foster who has never played a full season, and their #1 receiving option would become Keyshawn who is best served as a first down and goal line receiver. The Panthers desperately need Smith to stay healthy for the entire 2006 season.
Fantasy Player to Eye: DeAngelo Williams, once DeShaun Foster goes down due to injury which happens every single season Williams will be the #1 free agent pick up. DeAngelo was a steal at the end of the 1st round and a fantastic pick for the Panthers, if/when he gets in he will produce, just watch what Memphis will be this season without him.
Why the Record: The Panthers seem to be every single publication on the planets sheek pick to win the SuperBowl. The Keyshawn Johnson deal will help Smith get open but Smith's hammy injury is not a good start to this season and I just like Tampa to have a slightly better season than the Panthers this year.
Projected Wins: ATL, @MIN, @TB, NO, CLE, @CIN, DAL, STL, NYG, @ATL, @NO
Projected Losses: @BAL, TB, @WAS, @PHI, PIT
Atlanta Falcons
Predicted Record: 8-8
Key Player: Miachael Vick, Come on he's the obvious choice. If he gets injured or stinks then the Falcons will be lucky to achieve a .500 season. The one thing that I have been disappointed with Vick throughout his NFL career is his apparent inability to take anything off the football when he throws passes. Vick has one of the strongest arms in the league and throwing bullet passes is not always the most intelligent move.
Fantasy Player to Eye: Warrick Dunn, With the trade of TJ Duckett it will be interesting to see if Warrick will finally get the majority of touches around the goalline which has been the reason behind his status as a #2 fantasy back at best. His combination of rushing yards and receiving yards has always been a solid total, but because Duckett was always the bruising goal line back Dunn never put up enough touchdowns. If he gets these touches then he becomes a mid round steal.
Why the Record: They have a difficult schedule and are in one of the best divisions. In addition Michael Vick took a step back last season with his production and his running style is always susceptible for injuries. It will be interesting to see if the Lelie deal has any impact on the Falcons receiving core as the Falcons have brought in a high profiled receiver before that turned out miserable, see Pierless Price. If Vick and the Falcons can't develop a consistant passing game than it will be very difficult for them to be better than a .500 team.
Projected Wins: @CAR, TB, PIT, @DET, @BAL, NO, DAL, @PHI
Projected Losses: @NO, ARI, NYG, @CIN, CLE, @WAS, @TB, CAR
New Orleans Saints
Predicted Record: 6-10
Key Player: Doug Marrone/Sean Payton, Ya they're not players at all. I'm unsure as to whether Marrone, the offensive coordinator, or Payton, the head coach, will be calling plays and devising offensive gameplans but I think this is the key to the Saints season. Bush can become the best change of pace player in the entire NFL and I could easily forsee him becoming the gamebreaker that he was in college. Note, Bush is still faster than everyone on defense. This is where succesful offensive coordinators are made, they have very good weapons with Duece, Bush and Horn and a reliable QB in Brees, this team should be top 10 in the NFL in points scored no questions asked. If they are not well then it goes on the play caller.
Fantasy Player to Eye: John Carney, I know what your saying a kicker are you smoking the Mary-J. I think the Saints are going to score a solid amount of points this season and Carney is available in almost every draft in the last round so what I'm saying is do not bother to draft a kicker until the end and pick up Carney who will be just as productive at his position as players such as Mike Vanderweenie.
Why the Record: It's difficult to see the Saints being a a playoff caliber team. I'm not fully sure why the made the Stallworth deal, seeing how it does not appear they have a viable second wide receiver on their roster. Don't be shocked if Bush lines up at WR several times a game. However, with a new coach and a new QB and a new impact running back the Saints should be in a transitional year and i could see them being a much improved team for the 2007 season.
Projected Wins: @CLE, @GB, TB, BAL, CIN, SF
Projected Losses: ATL, @CAR, PHI, @TB, @PIT, @ATL, @DAL, WAS, @NYG, CAR
Predicted Record: 12-4
Playoff Seed: 1
Key Player: Chris Simms, his immergence will be the jusitifcation to my belief. I hated him at Texas, mostly because he replaced Major Applewhite for no intelligent reason, and the fact that he never beat Oklahoma, but I think this is his breakout year.
Fantasy Player to Eye: Michael Clayton, I feel Clayton is going to have a bounce back year and highly improve upon his bust sophomore campaign. Simms came in last season and placed almost all of his trust in the veteran recveiver Joey Galloway, with an off-season of work to get comfortable with each other Michael Clayton could replicate his rookie season.
Why the Record: This is out on a whim, the Bucs have a very difficult schedule but they have sufficient talent on the offensive side and defensive side to put up one of the best records in the NFL. I bet Phil can't wait to broadcast in the closing weeks of the season and mention how well his son is playing even though it will have nothing to do with the Pats Dolphins game he is broadcasting.
Projected Wins: BAL, @ATL, PHI, @NYG, NO, @CAR, WAS, @DAL, @PIT, ATL, @CLE, SEA
Projected Losses: CAR, @NO, CIN, @CHI
Carolina Panthers
Predicted Record: 11-5
Playoff Seed: 5
Key Player: Steve Smith, His lingering hamstring this preseason is becoming an increasing story. If Smith is healthy than the Panthers have the most explosive widereceiver in the NFL. If he is not healthy than the Panthers have no vertical threat, a running back in Foster who has never played a full season, and their #1 receiving option would become Keyshawn who is best served as a first down and goal line receiver. The Panthers desperately need Smith to stay healthy for the entire 2006 season.
Fantasy Player to Eye: DeAngelo Williams, once DeShaun Foster goes down due to injury which happens every single season Williams will be the #1 free agent pick up. DeAngelo was a steal at the end of the 1st round and a fantastic pick for the Panthers, if/when he gets in he will produce, just watch what Memphis will be this season without him.
Why the Record: The Panthers seem to be every single publication on the planets sheek pick to win the SuperBowl. The Keyshawn Johnson deal will help Smith get open but Smith's hammy injury is not a good start to this season and I just like Tampa to have a slightly better season than the Panthers this year.
Projected Wins: ATL, @MIN, @TB, NO, CLE, @CIN, DAL, STL, NYG, @ATL, @NO
Projected Losses: @BAL, TB, @WAS, @PHI, PIT
Atlanta Falcons
Predicted Record: 8-8
Key Player: Miachael Vick, Come on he's the obvious choice. If he gets injured or stinks then the Falcons will be lucky to achieve a .500 season. The one thing that I have been disappointed with Vick throughout his NFL career is his apparent inability to take anything off the football when he throws passes. Vick has one of the strongest arms in the league and throwing bullet passes is not always the most intelligent move.
Fantasy Player to Eye: Warrick Dunn, With the trade of TJ Duckett it will be interesting to see if Warrick will finally get the majority of touches around the goalline which has been the reason behind his status as a #2 fantasy back at best. His combination of rushing yards and receiving yards has always been a solid total, but because Duckett was always the bruising goal line back Dunn never put up enough touchdowns. If he gets these touches then he becomes a mid round steal.
Why the Record: They have a difficult schedule and are in one of the best divisions. In addition Michael Vick took a step back last season with his production and his running style is always susceptible for injuries. It will be interesting to see if the Lelie deal has any impact on the Falcons receiving core as the Falcons have brought in a high profiled receiver before that turned out miserable, see Pierless Price. If Vick and the Falcons can't develop a consistant passing game than it will be very difficult for them to be better than a .500 team.
Projected Wins: @CAR, TB, PIT, @DET, @BAL, NO, DAL, @PHI
Projected Losses: @NO, ARI, NYG, @CIN, CLE, @WAS, @TB, CAR
New Orleans Saints
Predicted Record: 6-10
Key Player: Doug Marrone/Sean Payton, Ya they're not players at all. I'm unsure as to whether Marrone, the offensive coordinator, or Payton, the head coach, will be calling plays and devising offensive gameplans but I think this is the key to the Saints season. Bush can become the best change of pace player in the entire NFL and I could easily forsee him becoming the gamebreaker that he was in college. Note, Bush is still faster than everyone on defense. This is where succesful offensive coordinators are made, they have very good weapons with Duece, Bush and Horn and a reliable QB in Brees, this team should be top 10 in the NFL in points scored no questions asked. If they are not well then it goes on the play caller.
Fantasy Player to Eye: John Carney, I know what your saying a kicker are you smoking the Mary-J. I think the Saints are going to score a solid amount of points this season and Carney is available in almost every draft in the last round so what I'm saying is do not bother to draft a kicker until the end and pick up Carney who will be just as productive at his position as players such as Mike Vanderweenie.
Why the Record: It's difficult to see the Saints being a a playoff caliber team. I'm not fully sure why the made the Stallworth deal, seeing how it does not appear they have a viable second wide receiver on their roster. Don't be shocked if Bush lines up at WR several times a game. However, with a new coach and a new QB and a new impact running back the Saints should be in a transitional year and i could see them being a much improved team for the 2007 season.
Projected Wins: @CLE, @GB, TB, BAL, CIN, SF
Projected Losses: ATL, @CAR, PHI, @TB, @PIT, @ATL, @DAL, WAS, @NYG, CAR
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