We continue our tour around the league with predictions and commentary on each division. Up next is the South. Both of these divisions are quite interesting and predicting both divisions is difficult for the average man. Luckily, I am slightly above average. Let’s dive in starting with the NFC side.

NFC South

1st Place: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have had a ton of offensive talent for a while now. The problem has been not having someone to get them the ball. Enter our Netflix buddy, Kirk Cousins. Kirk is real good in the regular season and I think he will be just want Atlanta needs to take the next step. It is also time to shine for Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson. They have had the excuse of poor quarterback play up to this point. That excuse should be gone. The Falcons also recently added Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons. And also, the schedule is pretty easy. This has all the writing of a team ready to win the worst division in football. And then Kirk can go lose another playoff game.

Reason they will win the division: Kirk helps all the offensive weapons improve. The defense gets better and it all comes together so they can lose a first round playoff game.

Reason they will lose the division: Kirk gets hurt and/or the Falcons do falcon things.

Fantasy players to draft: Bijan should be the 3rd running back off the board. Drake London and Kyle Pitts are set to have breakout years. Although it feels like we have been saying that about those two guys for a while. Kirk is dramatically underrated in fantasy. And their kicker is usually pretty good.

Predicted Record: 12-5

2nd Place: Tampa Bay Bucs

Who would have guessed that the Bucs would be better last year with Baker than they were the year before with Brady. Football can be a funny game like that. The Bucs didn’t lose a lot but didn’t gain a lot either. Probably their biggest loss was their offensive coordinator who went to Carolina. The Bucs have a solid but not great team. I think they will be competitive in most games but their schedule is the toughest in the division having won the division last year. Baker and the gang do enough to have a winning record but not enough to win the division.

Reason they will win the division: Baker balls out and the defense stays strong and Kirk Cousins plays a lot of prime time games.

Reason they won’t win the division: Baker plays like he did every year besides last year.

Fantasy Players to draft: I don’t really like Mike Evans but he is good at football. Chris Godwin is very solid value for where you can draft him. Supposedly he is going to play in the slot a lot so that should help him. Rasheed White had a breakout year last year, but I don’t like where he is going in most drafts so I’ll probably pass on him. If you forget to draft a tight end, you can grab Otten late and he gets a decent amount of red zone targets.

Predicted Record: 10-7

3rd Place: Carolina Panthers

Look, it can’t go worst than last year, right? They were so bad that the Bears got the number 1 pick in the draft. Bryce Young did not do well. But now he has a head coach who helped Baker not suck. They got some decent weapons and some pretty good defensive players. I think they will start out bad but get better as the year goes on. They will finish 3rd or 4th but they should at least be better than last year…right?

Reason they will win the division: Everyone else is really bad and they play slightly better than expected.

Reason they won’t win the division: They will be better…but not that much better.

Fantasy Players to draft: Diontae Johnson and Chubba Hubbard are highly undervalued. I mean someone has to catch and run with the ball. Adam Thielen continues to not suck and be a decent guy to have on your team. I am high on drafting Jonathan Brooks. He won’t play for a few weeks but you can stash him on your IR spot.

Predicted record: 6-11

4th Place: New Orleans Saints

Is it just me or does this team get older and older every year? I feel like they keep rolling the same guys out there but somehow have massive salary cap issues. Derek Carr is not very good. Their O-line is not very good and their defense is aging. Also their coach seems like he is in over his head. I think this is the year it all falls apart and they finally have to rebuild the thing.

Reason they win the division: I am wrong and all their old players play way better than expected.

Reason they won’t win the division: their coach and QB are both bad and the organization finally goes into rebuild mode.

Fantasy Players to draft: Chris Olave for sure. Kamara catches lots of passes and they don’t really have anyone else to run the ball. Assuming Carr has time to throw the ball you can take a shot on Rashid Shaheed. He’s been a little bit up and down but he might be a little more up now that Michael Thomas is finally gone.

Predicted Record: 6-11

AFC South

1st Place: Houston Texans

The Texans finished strong last year and even won a playoff game. On paper they got even better and everyone is high on them and is predicting them to make a run to the AFC championship. All this hype has all the makings of an utter disappointment which would be about right for the Texans. But I trust the coach and Stroud to not fall into the trap. They got way better on defense and got even more weapons on offense. I don’t think they are as far ahead of the other teams in the division as others do but I think they do enough to win it.

Reason they will win the division: They have the best roster in the division.

Reason they won’t win the division: Stroud is a one hit wonder.

Fantasy players to draft: Umm…all of them. Stroud, Nico, Tank, Diggs, Mixon and Dalton Schultz are all worth drafting.

Predicted Record: 11-6

2nd Place: Jacksonville Jaguars

You remember when they were 8-3 last year? They got banged up and didn’t play well the rest of the way. Lawrence was particularly average and everyone is questioning if he will ever be consistently great. You know what is consistently great? His hair. Look, maybe one day I’ll stop believing in the Jags but that day is not today. They get back to their winning ways and beware the hair becomes a thing as Lawrence plays lights out.

Reason they will win the division: Besides the hair? They are talented and have a coach that knows how to win.

Reason they won’t win the division: Trevor cuts his hair thus losing all his power just like Samson in the Bible.

Fantasy Players to draft: I drafted Lawrence in one of my leagues last year and he was alright. He should do better this year. Christian Kirk when healthy always performs well. Their tight end Engram is really good especially in PPR leagues. Brian Thomas Jr is a rookie that has high upside. But the guy you really want is their running back Travis Etienne.

Predicted Record: 10-7

3rd Place: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts almost made the playoffs last year with Gardner Minshew playing QB. They have some talent and I like their coach. But I just think they are a step behind the other two and it starts with the quarterback. Anthony Richardson is high on everyone’s fantasy draft board but one, I don’t think he as good as Lawrence and Stroud at real football and two, the guy can’t stay healthy. I mean he only finished two games last year. That will be their demise and they will fall short of expectations and the playoffs. Plus, I mean Indy isn’t even in the South so how can they win the division. But don’t worry they still have more AFC East division titles than the Jets.

Reason they will win the division: Richardson stays healthy and gets better at real football.

Reason they won’t win the division: Richardson finishes slightly more games than last year but not a lot more.

Fantasy Players to draft: If you want to take the risk that Richardson plays a lot of games then he is definitely worth drafting. Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. are guys you definitely want. Its kind of a crap shoot after that.

Predicted Record: 8-9

Forth Place: Tennessee Titans

The Titans will rise and fall with Will Levis. They have some good skill players. They tried to improve their defense. I’m just not sure Will Levis is the guy. And a lot of their other players are kind of a mystery too. Is Hopkins going to be healthy? Will Tony Pollard be back to form? Is Calvin Ridley good? Too many questions for me so they are in last place.

Reason they will win the division: Levis turns out to be the man and all the other skill guys return to their form from two years ago. Except for Ridley who was suspended for the year for betting on a game two years ago. We will say 3 years ago for him.

Reason they won’t win the division: Levis isn’t the man and everyone else plays like they did last year.

Fantasy players to draft: I mean, you can draft Levis, Hopkins, Ridley, Pollard and Speaks if you want. I’m just not real excited about any of them.

Tune in next time for the AFC and NFC West breakdown!