RotoScoop.com

By Dalton Del Don

1. Indianapolis Colts

Last year Peyton Manning threw 14 interceptions; eight of them came against the Chargers, who ended up knocking Indy out of the playoffs. Manning enters 2008 surrounded by questions regarding his health, something unfamiliar with the signal caller. It’s still unclear just how serious the knee issue will be this season, but it’s clearly the most important aspect of the team’s season. With Jake Scott gone and Jeff Saturday injured, rookie Mike Pollak will become an integral part of the offense, playing a position of significant importance. Saturday’s injury could be devastating. With Anthony Gonzalez developing and the return of Marvin Harrison, there are plenty of weapons in the passing game, even if Harrison shows expected signs of decline. If Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders remain healthy, the defense will be very tough to score on.

2. Houston Texans (wild card)

Watch out, this team could be dangerous. Defense is still a huge question mark, but Mario Williams could lead the league in sacks this season, and a dominant end can be felt everywhere. Amobi Okoye could also break out, while DeMeco Ryans is a force at linebacker. Fred Bennett allowed the fewest YPA of any corner in football last season. Bottom line, it remains to be seen how the unit will perform as a whole, but there are some nice pieces in place, especially if Dunta Robinson can return to old form midway through the season. On offense, it’s imperative Matt Schaub stays healthy. Sage Rosenfels is a solid backup, but he’s nowhere near the QB Schaub is. With Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels as targets, this passing game could light up the scoreboard. The fact they don’t have a brand name running back means little.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville is a solid football team, but the defense overachieved last year. On a per play basis, they were average, but when it came to the red zone, they did a tremendous job of holding opponents to field goals and not touchdowns. Kind of like a hitter who raked with RISP one season, that type of performance is likely unsustainable, which means the Jags will be giving up more points this year, especially since Marcus Stroud is gone, and John Henderson is aging and a big injury risk. However, it’s possible their draft picks will help nullify that. Adding Jerry Porter probably won’t help much, but David Garrard is an elite talent. Still, his 0.9 interception percentage last year was the lowest in NFL history, so more turnovers are inevitable.

4. Tennessee Titans

If defense and running the football leads to winning, the Titans will certainly finish higher than this fourth place projection. The defense is strong, especially if Albert Haynesworth can stay healthy and motivated. Cortland Finnegan sounds more like an Irish Pub than it does a cornerback, but he’s legit. The offensive line is also a strength, and Chris Johnson adds an explosive element previously missing. It says here Johnson has a much better year than LenDale White. Unfortunately, the passing game is completely inept, with no wide receivers and Vince Young at quarterback. Young could show improvement with Norm Chow now gone, but he’s a better fantasy QB than one in real life. It’s a big problem.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The division is filled with solid yet flawed teams. The Steelers are least flawed.  The offensive line was already a weakness, and that was before Alan Faneca departed. The defensive line is also aging, so in the trenches, this team isn’t what it used to be, and that’s a major area of concern. The drafting of Rashard Mendenhall improves the running game, especially in short-yardage situations. Santonio Holmes is long on talent, and he’s a future superstar. Ben Roethlisberger takes too many sacks, but he’s the key difference maker in the division. He’s a top-5 player in football playing the most important position on the field.

2. Cleveland Browns

The Browns were the surprise team of 2007, and the requisite hype has followed that into this season. Cleveland’s schedule gets much tougher, including more games under the lights than the defending Super Bowl champs. Never has this team played with such expectations. The additions of Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers to the D-line could prove huge, but the secondary remains a huge problem. The offensive line is a big strength, as are Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards. Derek Anderson is the key, and the fact his YPA dropped from 8.2 to 6.2 over the second half of last season is some concern, but it was his first year as a starter, and the weather also played a role. Brady Quinn could be an adequate replacement if need be, but he’s more of a check down guy at this stage of his career, whereas Anderson attacks downfield like no other.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have stars at quarterback and wide receiver, but that’s about it. The defense remains a big problem, although adding Antwan Odom and Keith Rivers could help. The offensive line makes Palmer’s job much tougher, as it’s not a strong unit. If all three wide receivers can stay healthy and out of prison, the passing game won’t be easy to defend, especially with Ben Utecht now in the fold. Still, this team is soft and can’t play on the road. Of all the divisions in the NFL, this one would surprise me least if my predicted order was reversed at season’s end.

4. Baltimore Ravens

This defense could return to elite status, as the line is awfully strong and the secondary tough with a healthy Chris McAlister and the addition of Fabian Washington. The offense, however, is a problem, starting with the line, which is unproven and lost Jonathan Ogden to retirement. Rookie Ray Rice adds a much-needed new dimension to the backfield, and he looks like the future at the position for Baltimore. Todd Heap is perpetually banged up, and unfortunately, Mark Clayton looks like the new Michael Clayton. The team better hope Troy Smith makes it back on the field as soon as possible, because Joe Flacco certainly isn’t ready.

By Dalton Del Don

1. New England Patriots

After rewriting the record books in 2007, the Patriots actually enter the year with something to prove, as the Super Bowl loss to the Giants no doubt still lingers in their minds. There’s not much to say here; this team is very good and has few weaknesses, despite going through the preseason as if they were destined to finish last. The offense is more likely to play like it did during the second half of last season than the first, but that’s still plenty good. Tom Brady’s current health status is questionable, but it’s doubtful that situation turns into a long-term problem. Randy Moss needs to avoid leg injuries, and Laurence Maroney needs to learn how to block, but New England enters 2008 as the heavy favorite to win it all.

2. New York Jets

During the offseason, the Jets added Brett Favre, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and Kris Jenkins, so the expectations are sky high. While many of the additions look good on paper, the NFL’s not as easily transferable as other sports, and it’s extremely important to tie players together with scheme, so it remains to be seen how they fit in. Favre, most likely, will be an upgrade, and Jerricho Cotchery could explode as a result. If Thomas Jones gets another 300 carries, the team will likely have a below average ground game, but there should be more room to run in 2008. David Harris might be the best player few people talk about.

3. Miami Dolphins

Yes, they were 1-15 last year, but six of those losses were by three points, so they weren’t some historical doormat. With an entire new coaching regime, things are looking up, but there will need to be patience. Chad Pennington has his shortcomings, but there’s no doubt he’s an upgrade over John Beck. Chad Henne is the future. The O-line should also get better with the additions of Jake Long and Justin Smiley. Ted Ginn gives the offense an explosive element, while Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams form a terrific duo in the backfield. Miami isn’t headed to the playoffs, but they are likely to remain competitive in most of their games this season.

4. Buffalo Bills

The Bills weren’t bad last year, but they were probably a little bit worse than their record indicated. It’s possible Trent Edwards is the answer at quarterback, but he hasn’t shown many signs of that being the case thus far. Even if he demonstrates improvement during year two as starter, he’ll remain inconsistent. Marshawn Lynch is good, but Jason Peters might be more important to the franchise, and his holdout appears to be long lasting, which is a significant blow. Lee Evans has the skills of an elite wide receiver, but his numbers fail to reveal that more often than not.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Denver Broncos

The Broncos were soft against the run last year, but that’s the area on defense you’d prefer to be weak against. Champ Bailey figures to rebound after a disappointing 2007 campaign, and Dre Bly isn’t a bad No. 2 corner. The linebackers should improve, and Elvis Dumervil looks like a potential dominant end. With a relatively easy looking schedule, the defense could become a strength. If I had the No. 1 pick in starting a franchise right now, I’d be hard pressed to pass on Jay Cutler, who is going to explode in his third year and now healthy after his diabetes was treated. Football is more than the quarterback position, but the Broncos have a major advantage here, and Brandon Marshall is an elite weapon as well. Rookie Eddie Royal will also contribute, as will Tony Scheffler. The offensive line isn’t what it once was, but it’s still a plus, especially after adding left tackle Ryan Clady through the draft. It doesn’t matter that Denver doesn’t have a name brand running back; the team will almost assuredly average better than 4.5 YPC and finish among the league-leaders. Playing in Colorado’s thin air is also an advantage that can’t be underestimated.

2. San Diego Chargers (wild card)

This might be the only preview where the Chargers aren’t finishing first in the division, but there’s no doubting the team enters with plenty of talent. The health of Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates are concerns. Shawne Merriman and Nick Hardwick are also hurt. San Diego has a very good offensive line (although Marcus McNeill took a huge step back last year) with Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson out wide, so there’s no shortage of depth. Still, Rivers will need to play like he did in the playoffs for the team to dominate, as he was merely a league average starter throughout the regular season, and the rest of the division figures to be improved this time around. This is admittedly anecdotal, but teams often struggle the year after losing in the Conference Championship.

3. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are moving in the right direction, but the decision to draft JaMarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson last year could prove crushing. The defense could be sneaky good, as DeAngelo Hall was added to play alongside Nnamdi Asomugha, the NFL’s best cover corner. Additionally, the signing of Gibril Wilson helped two-fold, as he’s a big upgrade from Stewart Schweigert, and it also allowed Michael Huff to move to free safety, which will better utilize his skills. The strong secondary will allow the team to allocate more resources toward stopping the run, an area the Raiders struggled mightily in last year. The offensive line, and in particular the run blocking, is a major strength. Robert Gallery has finally found a home at left guard, and while new left tackle Kwame Harris can run block, it could get ugly in pass protection. Oakland will be a run-heavy team that’s likely successful, but Russell is going to struggle, especially with a very thin receiving group.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs were smart to admit where the franchise stood and went into full-blown rebuild mode this offseason, focusing on getting younger through the draft. The additions of Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert should pay dividends down the road, but this team is quite a ways from contention, mainly because they still lack a franchise quarterback. Brodie Croyle’s wife may be hot, but that appears to be about all he’s got going for him. Dwayne Bowe will be a star once the team does decide to upgrade under center, and any fantasy owner who drafted Larry Johnson this year will end up disappointed.

By Dalton Del Don

1. New Orleans Saints

After an 0-4 start last year, the Saints were a pretty good football team. However, the defense is a problem. The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis could make a major impact, and the offense should be a plus. One serious concern is that the team may once again be at the mercy of New Orleans’ weather, which is even worse when you consider one of their “home” games will be played in London. It’s amazing how few times Drew Brees gets sacked with all those pass attempts, and it’s safe to expect last year’s 6.8 YPA to jump at least a half a yard. Jeremy Shockey’s presence certainly won’t hurt. Absolutely nothing should be expected of Deuce McAllister, and it’d be a mild surprise if Pierre Thomas doesn’t finish with more yards and touchdowns than the disappointing Reggie Bush. But the Saints will win with their passing attack.

2. Carolina Panthers (wild card)

The Panthers were one of only two teams last year to start four different quarterbacks, and since they were painfully slow to realize David Carr is a lemon, the team was doomed as a result. There’s no guarantee Jake Delhomme stays healthy or returns to form coming off major elbow surgery and now 33 years old, but all signs point to a full recovery. It’s simple – when he and Steve Smith are on the same field together, the offense is tough. Of course, Smith will miss the first two games of the season after rearranging Ken Lucas’ face, but that incident supposedly brought the team together like never before. Seriously. D.J. Hackett probably won’t make a huge difference, but the return of Muhsin Muhammad should help the running game. Speaking of which, Carolina’s ground game should take huge strides, as rookie Jonathan Stewart is a massive upgrade over the departed DeShaun Foster, and his addition has also led to a vastly improved DeAngelo Williams. Rookie Jeff Otah’s presence can’t hurt either. Expect a monstrous bounce back from Julius Peppers, making the defense a force.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Out with the old, and in with the new. One more year removed from the Michael Vick debacle, the Falcons now have their franchise quarterback, left tackle, running back and coach. Of course, there’s going to be growing pains, especially since they will be starting a rookie QB from the get go. Still, there’s reason for optimism here, and Mike Smith is a gigantic upgrade over that fraud Bobby Petrino. Roddy White is a star who will demand opposing defenses attention, while the Michael Turner/Jerious Norwood combo should be pretty productive.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The fact every single division winner in the NFC South has finished in last place the following year is irrelevant, as stats like that certainly aren’t useful predictive measures. Still, it’s quite possible the trend continues, as Tampa Bay enters 2008 with plenty of question marks. The defense is solid, no doubt, but the offense could be a major problem, with its two best players ages 36 and 38. Expect plenty of regression from Jeff Garcia this season.