1. Green Bay (10-6): I like the Packers this season. They have a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball. It starts with Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He is a star in the making, and a top five fantasy quarterback. He has a deep and talented group of targets to throw to. They are led by Wide Receivers Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson, and Jordy Nelson, and Tight Ends Donald Lee and Jermichael Finley. Jennings is a must start fantasy player weekly, and is a top ten receiver. Driver is an excellent, reliable flex play. Ferguson, Nelson and Lee are nothing more than bye week fill-ins. Finley had the breakout training camp, and has star potential, but with the tight end position so deep this year, he's more of a matchup play.
The running game is strong behind Running Back Ryan Grant. He looks better after an injury-plagued 2008 season. Grant is also a worthy number two fantasy back.
The new Defensive Coordinator is Dom Capers, and he's one of the best in the league at running the 3-4 scheme. They have a talented secondary, and the pass-rushers to pressure the passer. This should be a solid defense to use on a weekly basis.
Prediction: This team is very strong, but is probably a year away from serious contention. They lose in the first round to Philadelphia.
2. Minnesota (9-7): A lot of people think the Vikings will make a deep run into the playoffs. I'm not one of them. Two reason's they won't: Coach Brad Childress and Quarterback Brett Favre. Childress has made many questionable decisions since becoming the coach in Minnesota, and Favre missed all of training camp, all the mini-camps, and had offseason surgery on his throwing arm. Here's a fact I heard last season that I found interesting. At the time, it was the third time in four years that he missed significant time in training camp. During the season his numbers suffered and his interceptions increased. The year he went through all the camps was 2007, and he had a monster season. His targets are solid in Wide Receivers Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and rookie Percy Harvin and Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe. Berrian is a flex play, and Rice and Shiancoe are matchup plays. I like Harvin to be a breakout sensation his rookie season. He can many things on the field and possesses dynamite speed. Right now he's an interesting matchup play.
The Vikings have arguably the best player in the NFL in Running Back Adrian Peterson. Peterson went off first in most draft boards this season, so I would start him every week. His backup is Chester Taylor, and he gets a touches himself, so he works as a matchup/bye week fill-in.
This defense improved a lot last season with the addition of Defensive End Jared Allen. They should be excellent against the run, but need to improve against the pass. From a fantasy prospective, this a good defense, especially since your getting Harvin as the return man.
Prediction: This team just misses the playoffs.
3. Chicago (8-8): Once they acquired Quarterback Jay Cutler, many believed this was the team to beat in the division. While Cutler is a solid player, he needs to get used to a new system, a less talented group of receivers and offensive line, and doesn't have a record better than .500 as a starter. Cutler should finish the season in the eight-twelve range at his position, but needs to get over the horrendous start on Sunday night. His targets are Wide Receivers Devin Hester, a very explosive player, Earl Bennett, his former college teammate, and Tight End Greg Olsen. Hester is a good flex play, while Bennett is more of a matchup/bye week fill-in. Olsen should finish the season as a top ten tight end, and should start on a weekly basis.
Running Back Matt Forte is a stud. He didn't touch the ball enough on Sunday night. Plus, he doesn't have anyone to vulture carries, as his backup Kevin Jones is out for the season. Forte should be a weekly start, since he was a top-five pick in most leagues.
The Defense suffered a big-loss when Linebacker Brian Urlacher dislocated his wrist on Sunday night. He's a big-time player, and they will suffer without him. I pegged this defense as a top ten prior to the season, considering Hester is the return man, but I cannot recommend them more than a matchup play after Urlacher's injury.
Prediction: They are a year away from playoff contention, as they deal with Urlacher's loss, and assimilating Cutler into the system.
4. Detroit (4-12): New coach Jim Schwartz as a lot on his plate, because he has to turn around the worst team in NFL history. I think he can do it, but the talent is a ways off. Rookie Quarterback Matthew Stafford has the ability to be a big-time player, but will take his lumps this season. He'll be waiver wire fodder for fantasy teams this season. He does have two intriguing targets in Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson and rookie Tight End Brandon Pettigrew. Johnson will end the season as the number one wide receiver. They will be down a lot, so they'll have to throw, and he's one of the best in the game. Pettigrew will catch people by surprise. Since he's a rookie, not many people know about him, but he was clearly the best player at his position in the draft. And for a young quarterback, a tight end can be a good security blanket. Right now, he's a matchup play, but I can see Pettigrew finishing the season in the ten-twelve range at his position.
For a team that will have to throw the ball a bunch, they have a talented Running Back in Kevin Smith. He should be a top fifteen back this season, and can catch passes out of the backfield, so he'll be useful in PPR leagues.
The defense is still a work in progress, and Schwartz is a defensive coach, so he'll turn them around, just not this season. I can't recommend them, until they increase the talent level on that side of the ball.
Predicition: This team will be much improved and well-coached, but need an influx of talent if they desire sustained growth.
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