We continue our breakdown with the NFC and AFC North. These are two of the better divisions in the league. Ironically I sort of hate all the AFC North teams and sort of like all the NFC North teams. Let’s dive in. We start with the AFC this time.

AFC North

First Place: Cincinnati Bengals

Have I mentioned I hate the Bengals? Well I do. It’s not that they beat the Chiefs a lot although that doesn’t help. It’s their cockiness and smugness. They are cocky and annoying and although they went to the Super Bowl one year, they still haven’t really won anything of significance. It seems Eminem, I mean Joe Burrow, gets hurt every other year. So does Lamar Jackson. Burrow was hurt last year and Lamar was healthy, so I am assuming the opposite is true this year which is why I have the Bengals in first place. Plus every year a team in some division goes from worst to first and this is the most obvious choice. The Bengals are talented. Burrow when healthy is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. They got a lot of guys who might be leaving after this year so it is sort of now or never for these punks. Here is hoping it is never.

Reason they will win the North: Will the real Joe Burrow please stand up…please stand up. He does and they win the north.

Reason they won’t win the North: This team sort of has a feel that will either be a championship run or they will completely fall apart with all their distractions with contracts, losing their offensive coordinator, Burrow’s hair and their all around shenanigans. Plus Burrow is fragile and their O Line still has issues. In this scenario Burrow is both slim and shady and the Bengals have a losing record.

Fantasy Players to draft: Chase…assuming he is playing and still not sitting out waiting for a contract. Also, I hate him so I won’t draft him but you should. Tee Higgins is of course draftable and my guess he will have a big year leading to a big pay day since the Bengals obviously aren’t going to resign him and Chase at this point. If you want a pretty good Qb who will be consistent for you, that’s Burrow assuming he is healthy. Zach Moss and Chase Brown are the running backs. Moss is supposed to be the starter but Brown has more upside.

Predicted Record: 12-5

2nd Place: Baltimore Ravens

Even when Lamar inevitably gets hurt, this team still makes the playoffs. They have a slightly harder schedule than the Bengals pulling the Bills and Texans instead of the Patriots and Titans. I think that will be the difference as the Bengals win both of those games and the Ravens drop one of them. I’m interested to see Derek Henry in the offense. In theory, this should be a dream scenario, Derek and Lamar in the same offense. But communism works in theory. King Henry isn’t getting any younger and he is in the range when running backs start to fade. But I think he has a chance to have a good year because he won’t be relied on to be the entire offense like he was in Tennessee. This is a good football team with an annoying but good coach. It’s hard for me to imagine them not making the playoffs. On a side note, is it just me or does John Harbaugh have a really punchable face?

Reason they will win the North: Lamar stays healthy. Henry looks like Henry from two years ago. The receivers don’t suck and they win division.

Reason they won’t win the North: Lamar gets hurt, Henry looks old, the receivers look like they do every year.

Fantasy Players to Draft: Lamar obviously. Maybe draft a back up for when Lamar gets hurt. I am not as high on Henry as some of the professional fantasy nerds but he is also hard to pass up because he has the potential to be a touchdown machine. Mark Andrews is a solid tight end that will likely finish in the top 5 at his position assuming he stays healthy. I’m steering clear of Ravens receivers but if you are going to get one, Zay Flowers is the one to get. Just don’t count on him holding on to the football when it matters most. 🙂

Predicted Record: 11-6

3rd Place: Pittsburgh Steelers

I am torn about the Steelers. The Steelers don’t ever have a losing record. But they got Russell Wilson as Quarterback. I am torn on what to do with this team. I don’t particularly like the Steelers or Russ. So the Steelers losing would be a win for me. But Tomlin seems to always find a way. He also often finds extra food and spit in his beard. I think they start slow, Russ plays poorly and they move on to Fields who gives the team life. They make a run and everyone is excited but they fall just short of the playoffs but Fields does just enough to get overpaid in the offseason and then suck the following year. Regardless surely, the QB play will be better than Kenny Pickett.

Reason they will win the North: Russ plays good enough like he did 4 years ago in Seattle. He has good weapons and they get Brandon Aiyuk to top things off. The defense does steeler defensive things.

Reason they won’t win the North: Russ plays like he has the past 3 years.

Fantasy Players to draft: Ugh…I’m not real excited about any of these guys. If Aiyuk gets traded to the Steelers then definitely draft him. George Pickens is draftable as well. Both Najee Harris and Jalen Warren will get drafted. I prefer Warren because he catches more passes and Harris only does well when he is not on my team. Their tight end Pat Freimuth is pretty good when healthy and someone can get him the ball.

Predicted Record: 10-7

4th Place: Cleveland Browns

The Browns made the playoffs led by Joe Flacco, not to be confused with Shane Falco. But prior to Joe taking over the Browns were not that good. Massage boy has not been the same since moving to Cleveland. Maybe it is the lack of massages. Maybe he is a bad fit for the offense. Maybe he was never really that good. But regardless, the last few years were supposed to be the comeback year. Watson has almost as many predicted comeback years as he does accusers. Honestly on paper this team is pretty good. The weak link seems to be the QB with 300 million guaranteed. That’s an odd predicament to be in. But it is pretty classic Browns. At least 4 new teams make the playoffs each year and that means at least 4 teams don’t go back to the playoffs the next year. I’m guessing the Browns are one of them.

Reason they will win the North: Massage boy returns to the form he played at when he was…well getting massages.

Reason they won’t win the North: Watson plays like he has the last few years.

Fantasy Players to Draft: Amari Cooper is still really good and no one seems to care. But you should during your fantasy draft. Their tight end Njoku finally lived up to his potential but most of his production came when Shane Falco started playing. So I am leery on drafting him. People are still drafting Nick Chubb even though their is no time table on his return. If you can stash him on an IR spot go ahead. But I prefer targeting Jerome Ford who will definitely play this year. By the time Chubb can play, you might already be eliminated.

Predicted Record: 8-9

NFC North

First Place: Green Bay Packers

I predicted the Packers would win the division last year. I got laughed at on sports platforms when I said the same thing. People said they would win 4 or 5 games. Well turns out we were both wrong. They didn’t win the division but they did make the playoffs. I think they do both this year. Of course I am banking that the Jordan Love of the last 10 games will be the Jordan Love this year. The Packers are literally banking on that as they just gave him a truckload of money. But this team is solid. They have great weapons. They added Jordan Jacobs. Love has like 47 guys to throw too. The defense on paper is improved. And I trust Matt LaFluer. They are young and have enough depth to get through a grueling season. Plus their schedule is easier than the Lions.

Reason they will win the North: Jordan Love continues his ascend. The weapons stay healthy and Jordan Jacobs gets back to his form from two years ago now that he doesn’t play for the awful Raiders.

Reason they won’t win the North: Jordan Love played his best 10 games last year. Made bank and sucks it up, heading towards early retirement as a rich, rich man.

Fantasy players to draft: Love is currently the 9th QB coming off the board in drafts. He is a great grab at that spot. I like Jacobs and he is typically going in the 3rd round which is about where I would want to take him. It’s hard to decide who to draft between their receivers Reed, Watson, Doubs and Wicks. They are all solid. My first choice is Reed because he gets the ball in a lot of different ways. I also like Watson a lot because if he stays healthy and I know it is a big if…but if he does he might be the steal of the draft where you can get him. Wicks is more explosive than Doubs so I’d probably draft him next. But in most leagues I’ll have at least one of these guys on my team. If you want to draft TE depth…which I never do, Musgrave and Kraft are both good options.

Predicted Record: 12-5

2nd Place: Detroit Lions

The Lions met and even exceeded expectations last year. I doubted them not because of their talent but because they are the Lions. Now the question is can they do what the Lions haven’t done since the 50’s which is be good in back to back years. Dan Campbell is a little annoying and a little lovable all at the same time. Jared Goff is a pretty good quarterback with a ton of weapons and a great o-line. The question mark is the defense. They did a lot in the offseason to make it better but will it all come together for them? I think they will be a very solid team and they have a lot of upside. If they can play better defensively and avoid the injury bug they should have a shot at a championship run. The reason I have them in second place is because their schedule is pretty brutal. But I would not be shocked if the Lions and Packers switched places.

Reason they will win the North: The Lions stay healthy, the defense improves and they handle the tough schedule.

Reason they won’t win the North: They do what the Lions usually do.

Fantasy Players to draft: I am all about Amon-Ra St. Brown. He is one of the most consistent players in the league. Sam Laporta is arguably TE 1 and often the first one off the board in drafts. Both running backs are definitely worthy of having on your team. Jameson Williams has high upside and the price is right because you can wait quite a while to draft him.

Predicted record: 11-6

3rd Place: Chicago Bears

Hey did you know the Bears drafted Caleb Williams? Did you know he is good at playing quarterback? He’s basically the best quarterback to ever play. That’s what everyone keeps telling us anyway. His play in the preseason game certainly didn’t do anything to lessen that belief. This has the feel of the first year with Mahomes at starter. The Chiefs did all they could to surround Pat with weapons to help his early success. Well the Bears have done the same. They have a ton of people to catch the ball. Their defense greatly improved during last year. Their biggest question is probably their offensive line but as Pat has proven over the years, when you are a versatile, mobile, creative quarterback you don’t necessarily need the best O-line. Can Caleb live up to the hype? Can Chicago finally find their franchise quarterback? Time will tell.

Reason they will win the North: Caleb matches expectations and the defense plays like it did the end of last year.

Reason they won’t win the North: the Bears can’t have nice things….especially at Quarterback.

Fantasy Players to draft: Caleb is sort of a diva which makes me not want to draft him. But taking him behind some one steady makes sense because of his upside depending on how many bench spots you have. DJ Moore is a no brainer. I have always disliked Keenan Allen as a player but he is a good fantasy player that always delivers. Cole Kmet is a red zone machine but I am fearful with all the new players his targets may be reduced. Deandre Swift is serviceable and should get opportunities. Khalil Herbert is a good handcuff for whenever Swift inevitably gets hurt.

Predicted Record: 10-7

4th Place: Minnesota Vikings

I like their coach. I really like their best player. Their defense is good. I like their defensive coordinator. Unfortunately for the Vikings I don’t like much after that. I am a fan of Aaron Jones but he is getting older and more injury prone. Ty Chandler didn’t do much last year at running back and not sure how he got any better. Hockenson is out for a good portion of the year. Now their rookie Qb is out for the season. Are we really trusting Sam Darnold to run this thing? The Vikings haven’t had this many issues since they threw parties on boats.

Reason they win the North: Sam Darnold finally plays to the level he was expected to when he got drafted and no one else gets hurt.

Reason they won’t win the North: Sam Darnold is their quarterback.

Players to draft in fantasy: I would still draft Justin Jefferson if my 81 year old mom was throwing to him. I wouldn’t want Aaron Jones as my number 1 back but I wouldn’t mind having him on my team. If you don’t like your tight end and want to store Hockenson in your IR spot until December…go for it!

Predicted Record: 6-11

Tune in next week when we head to the South and cover team like Indianapolis.