Post by Cincinnati Bengals (Chris) on Sept 5, 2017 22:57:12 GMT -5
NFC WEST
This time we take on the NFC West, the division that produced the league-champion Seattle Seahawks (For the first time…and finally) a year ago, and once again, very little else (Three bottom-11 teams). In 2014, the Cards and Hawks were locked in to a division battle for the ages, with Arizona coming out on top and Seattle getting revenge in the playoffs. This year, for the first time, Cecil will be mounting a title defense, while the rest of the division will be looking to play catch up, in varying degrees. Can Arizona get back in the conversation for a division crown? Or can Mett’s brother, Trey, get involved in the playoff conversation? San Francisco is dramatically improved, and can possibly get in on the conversation as well. Whatever the case, the West promises to be a more competitive division in 2017 than in 2016 (When I also said this exact same thing, and either lied to be kind, or was just wrong…I can’t remember which). Let me know what you think about my projections and post you own comments. Also, DON’T FORGET to vote in the poll, as that’s the whole point.
Arizona Cardinals (Mett)
Last year’s finish: 23rd (Division: 3rd)
Outlook: Mett has again made some interesting moves this off-season, including selling the farm (So to speak) to obtain Arizona’s future franchise quarterback, Carson Wentz, and adding Kendall Wright, now elevated to No. 2 status in Chicago with Cameron Meredith’s injury (More on that later). Again, with the move for Wentz, Mett has demonstrated a preference for veterans over rookies, and while so far it has yielded mixed results, but in making the deal, Mett provided his team with a future centerpiece, and a signal caller $5.5 cheaper than Andy Dalton. The question is, are the other assets up to snuff? Offensively, the Cardinals are pretty well stocked, with two “starting” running backs to begin the year in Matt Forte and Jacquizz Rodgers, wide receiver Golden Tate. Tight end Virgil Green might be the weak link of the unit. Defensively, this is an improved unit from the one Arizona sported last year, with a currently-low projected DL, an slightly below average linebacking corps (Jonathan Casillas and Nick Perry are the only two of fantasy import currently), but a defensive backfield with Trumaine Johnson, Damarious Randall, J.J. Wilcox, Ross Cockrell and Joe Haden. It’s certainly the weaker two of the units, but should produce better results than its 2016 iteration.
X-factor: TE/LB. Two areas that need reinforcements (And probably in different fashion) are TE, which could use a single upgrade, and LB, which could use a number of additions to supplement the top-two. If those areas could be shored up, perhaps Arizona can fight for a playoff spot this year.
Projected division finish: 3rd
Los Angeles Rams (Trey)
Last year’s finish: 24th (Division: 4th)
Outlook: Offensively, there’s a lot to like. DeMarco Murray and Amari Cooper headline the unit and are in the “now” group. Players like A.J. Derby, Vernon Davis, Jaelen Strong and Matt Jones bring up the next group, as players who might have some role or impact this year. Beyond those, exist players like Kasen Williams, Nathan Peterman, Chad Williams and Josh Reynolds (All rookies) who look promising beyond 2017, though Williams had the opportunity to contribute more this year prior to his release from the Seahawks. Basically though, the Rams offensive outlook changed with Cameron Meredith’s season-ending injury. Now, Trey will go from fielding a likely top-half offense to maybe a top-20 offense, a small drop, but likely a noticeable one for a team with likely playoff aspirations. Defensively, very few impact players exist as of now, but there is very little fat as well. Preston Brown is at the top of the pecking order, and players like Ronald Darby, Patrick Peterson, Akiem Hicks, Ryan Kerrigan, Kyle Van Noy, Darryl Worley and Sheldon Rankins all look like solid bets for some production. Is it an elite defense? No. Is it a top-half defense? Maybe. All that is needed for that to occur (Other than health, obviously) is for one or two of the players mentioned above to outperform their expectations.
X-factor: Offense. Filling in the gaping hole that Meredith’s injury left, maybe by one player, maybe in the aggregate, is key, especially with low-points projected QB Brian Hoyer under center.
Projected division finish: 4th
San Francisco 49ers (Darryl)
Last year’s finish: 22nd (Division: 2nd)
Outlook: The 49ers enter the season in year-2 of Darryl as the general manager. There are some truly positive possibilities offensively, with Eli Manning, Lamar Miller, Kenny Britt, Jermaine Kearse (Likelier in a larger role), Ben Watson and Jamaal Charles. Unfortunately, the backups behind that starting unit are a mess. For example, Larry Donnell and Kenbrell Thompkins aren’t on teams, and unlikely to be picked up, and Pharoh Cooper, Ricardo Lewis and Nick Vannett are hardly the most inspiring players in the league. Defensively, it’s an almost identical situation. Calais Campbell, Bruce Irvin, Ahmad Brooks, Eric Reed, Jalen Ramsey, Bashaud Breeland, Darian Stewart, Jacquies Smith, Julius Peppers and Eli Harold. Beyond that is only Brock Vereen, another player not near a roster right now.
X-factor: Depth. It seems silly to say with deep starting units on both sides of the ball, but once you get past that, the talent falls off the cliff. Whether or not Darryl has any potential as a playoff team likely depends on how he addresses this.
Projected division finish: 2nd
Seattle Seahawks (Cecil)
Last year’s finish: 1st (Division: 1st)
Outlook: Cecil finally got off the schneid last year, winning the Super Bowl in his third try. Known for his legendary teams, this one will again be hard to stop. The offense is particularly potent, with Carson Palmer, Melvin Gordon, Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Travis Kelce, Todd Gurley, Martellus Bennett, Thomas Rawls, and several high-impact rookies who may not make much of a dent this year. Still, there is plenty of firepower even without their contributions, especially for a team that finished with the second-best offensive season in league history. Defensively, the unit is clearly not as strong, but that’s not saying it’s not up to snuff. Ryan Shazier, Deion Jones, Darron Lee, Reuben Foster, Shaq Thompson, Jamal Adams, Myles Garrett, Soloman Thomas, Byron Jones and Budda Baker round out the group. Once again, there is a question about the over-reliance on rookies on that side of the ball, as well as depth. But that’s about the only question that rears its head, and it’s one that despite being asked of him last year as well, the Seahawks answered emphatically on the way to winning it all.
X-factor: Defensive youth/depth. See above. That’s all I’ve got. If Cecil doesn’t win another title with this roster, this will likely be the reason why.
Projected division finish: 1st
Remember to watch out for the fifth of our divisional previews tomorrow, this time covering the AFC West!
This time we take on the NFC West, the division that produced the league-champion Seattle Seahawks (For the first time…and finally) a year ago, and once again, very little else (Three bottom-11 teams). In 2014, the Cards and Hawks were locked in to a division battle for the ages, with Arizona coming out on top and Seattle getting revenge in the playoffs. This year, for the first time, Cecil will be mounting a title defense, while the rest of the division will be looking to play catch up, in varying degrees. Can Arizona get back in the conversation for a division crown? Or can Mett’s brother, Trey, get involved in the playoff conversation? San Francisco is dramatically improved, and can possibly get in on the conversation as well. Whatever the case, the West promises to be a more competitive division in 2017 than in 2016 (When I also said this exact same thing, and either lied to be kind, or was just wrong…I can’t remember which). Let me know what you think about my projections and post you own comments. Also, DON’T FORGET to vote in the poll, as that’s the whole point.
Arizona Cardinals (Mett)
Last year’s finish: 23rd (Division: 3rd)
Outlook: Mett has again made some interesting moves this off-season, including selling the farm (So to speak) to obtain Arizona’s future franchise quarterback, Carson Wentz, and adding Kendall Wright, now elevated to No. 2 status in Chicago with Cameron Meredith’s injury (More on that later). Again, with the move for Wentz, Mett has demonstrated a preference for veterans over rookies, and while so far it has yielded mixed results, but in making the deal, Mett provided his team with a future centerpiece, and a signal caller $5.5 cheaper than Andy Dalton. The question is, are the other assets up to snuff? Offensively, the Cardinals are pretty well stocked, with two “starting” running backs to begin the year in Matt Forte and Jacquizz Rodgers, wide receiver Golden Tate. Tight end Virgil Green might be the weak link of the unit. Defensively, this is an improved unit from the one Arizona sported last year, with a currently-low projected DL, an slightly below average linebacking corps (Jonathan Casillas and Nick Perry are the only two of fantasy import currently), but a defensive backfield with Trumaine Johnson, Damarious Randall, J.J. Wilcox, Ross Cockrell and Joe Haden. It’s certainly the weaker two of the units, but should produce better results than its 2016 iteration.
X-factor: TE/LB. Two areas that need reinforcements (And probably in different fashion) are TE, which could use a single upgrade, and LB, which could use a number of additions to supplement the top-two. If those areas could be shored up, perhaps Arizona can fight for a playoff spot this year.
Projected division finish: 3rd
Los Angeles Rams (Trey)
Last year’s finish: 24th (Division: 4th)
Outlook: Offensively, there’s a lot to like. DeMarco Murray and Amari Cooper headline the unit and are in the “now” group. Players like A.J. Derby, Vernon Davis, Jaelen Strong and Matt Jones bring up the next group, as players who might have some role or impact this year. Beyond those, exist players like Kasen Williams, Nathan Peterman, Chad Williams and Josh Reynolds (All rookies) who look promising beyond 2017, though Williams had the opportunity to contribute more this year prior to his release from the Seahawks. Basically though, the Rams offensive outlook changed with Cameron Meredith’s season-ending injury. Now, Trey will go from fielding a likely top-half offense to maybe a top-20 offense, a small drop, but likely a noticeable one for a team with likely playoff aspirations. Defensively, very few impact players exist as of now, but there is very little fat as well. Preston Brown is at the top of the pecking order, and players like Ronald Darby, Patrick Peterson, Akiem Hicks, Ryan Kerrigan, Kyle Van Noy, Darryl Worley and Sheldon Rankins all look like solid bets for some production. Is it an elite defense? No. Is it a top-half defense? Maybe. All that is needed for that to occur (Other than health, obviously) is for one or two of the players mentioned above to outperform their expectations.
X-factor: Offense. Filling in the gaping hole that Meredith’s injury left, maybe by one player, maybe in the aggregate, is key, especially with low-points projected QB Brian Hoyer under center.
Projected division finish: 4th
San Francisco 49ers (Darryl)
Last year’s finish: 22nd (Division: 2nd)
Outlook: The 49ers enter the season in year-2 of Darryl as the general manager. There are some truly positive possibilities offensively, with Eli Manning, Lamar Miller, Kenny Britt, Jermaine Kearse (Likelier in a larger role), Ben Watson and Jamaal Charles. Unfortunately, the backups behind that starting unit are a mess. For example, Larry Donnell and Kenbrell Thompkins aren’t on teams, and unlikely to be picked up, and Pharoh Cooper, Ricardo Lewis and Nick Vannett are hardly the most inspiring players in the league. Defensively, it’s an almost identical situation. Calais Campbell, Bruce Irvin, Ahmad Brooks, Eric Reed, Jalen Ramsey, Bashaud Breeland, Darian Stewart, Jacquies Smith, Julius Peppers and Eli Harold. Beyond that is only Brock Vereen, another player not near a roster right now.
X-factor: Depth. It seems silly to say with deep starting units on both sides of the ball, but once you get past that, the talent falls off the cliff. Whether or not Darryl has any potential as a playoff team likely depends on how he addresses this.
Projected division finish: 2nd
Seattle Seahawks (Cecil)
Last year’s finish: 1st (Division: 1st)
Outlook: Cecil finally got off the schneid last year, winning the Super Bowl in his third try. Known for his legendary teams, this one will again be hard to stop. The offense is particularly potent, with Carson Palmer, Melvin Gordon, Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Travis Kelce, Todd Gurley, Martellus Bennett, Thomas Rawls, and several high-impact rookies who may not make much of a dent this year. Still, there is plenty of firepower even without their contributions, especially for a team that finished with the second-best offensive season in league history. Defensively, the unit is clearly not as strong, but that’s not saying it’s not up to snuff. Ryan Shazier, Deion Jones, Darron Lee, Reuben Foster, Shaq Thompson, Jamal Adams, Myles Garrett, Soloman Thomas, Byron Jones and Budda Baker round out the group. Once again, there is a question about the over-reliance on rookies on that side of the ball, as well as depth. But that’s about the only question that rears its head, and it’s one that despite being asked of him last year as well, the Seahawks answered emphatically on the way to winning it all.
X-factor: Defensive youth/depth. See above. That’s all I’ve got. If Cecil doesn’t win another title with this roster, this will likely be the reason why.
Projected division finish: 1st
Remember to watch out for the fifth of our divisional previews tomorrow, this time covering the AFC West!