4. Washington Redskins
2010 Record = 6-10 (4th in Division)
Key Additions = DT Barry Cofield, CB Josh Wilson, DE Stephen Bowen, G Sean Locklear, RB Tim HightowerKey Losses = QB Donovan McNabb, CB Carlos Rogers
Schedule = Giants, Cardinals, @ Cowboys, @ Rams, BYE, Eagles, @ Panthers, @ Bills, 49ers, @ Dolphins, Cowboys, @ Seahawks, Jets, Patriots, @ Giants, Vikings, @ Eagles
Real-Life Outlook = I don’t feel like wasting too much time on this crummy team, so I’ll keep this real brief…the Redskins stink.
Fantasy Outlook = If you have John Beck or Rex Grossman starting for you at some point this season, than something must’ve gone terribly wrong for your fantasy team. Santana Moss is the most reliable fantasy asset Washington employs. You won’t be very excited to draft him, but he’s a very solid third wide receiver option. Mike Shanahan is notorious for constantly swapping out runningbacks. While Tim Hightower has been announced as the starter, rookie Roy Helu should be drafted in the final third of your draft. Eventually Shanahan will figure out the that Tim Hightower is limited to doing Tim Hightower sort of things, so he will eventually go with the player with more upside. Ceiling = 7-9
Floor = 1-15No Credentials Prediction = 2-14
3. New York Giants
2010 Record = 10-6 (2nd in Division)
Key Additions = C David BaasKey Losses = DT Barry Cofield, WR Steve Smith, TE Kevin Boss
Schedule = @ Redskins, Rams, @ Eagles, @ Cardinals, Seahawks, Bills, BYE, Dolphins, @ Patriots, @ 49ers, Eagles, @ Saints, Packers, @ Cowboys, Redskins, @ Jets, Cowboys
Real-Life Outlook = There wasn’t a more accident-prone team in the NFC last season than the New York Giants (San Diego was their counterpart in the AFC). Eli Manning set a career high in passing yards, but also tossed a career high 25 interceptions. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs were productive in terms of yardage, but killed too many drives with critical fumbles. Special teams were the silent killer, with DeSean Jackson’s punt return last December delivering the finishing blow to the Giants season. Throw in a slew of injuries to their secondary during the preseason (no team has lost more key contributors in exhibition games), and I just don’t like New York’s chances this season. This feels like a team that will have an uneven season that will result in Head Coach Tom Coughlin finally getting canned (I know he won a Super Bowl, but Coughlin lost the locker room two years ago. It’s time for a change).
Fantasy Outlook = When you think of high flying offenses, the New York Giants don’t immediately come to mind, but all the pieces are there. As mentioned before, Eli Manning broke the 4,000-yard barrier last season. He’s a great option to use if you plan on having a quarterback platoon. Sure he turns the ball over a ton, but depending on your league scoring settings, that may not be a huge issue in the fantasy game. Ahmad Bradshaw resigned with New York after briefly flirting with other teams. As long as he hangs on to the ball, I expect him to take on even more of the workload as Brandon Jacobs continues to slow down. Hakeem Nicks is a great option to add in the third round at wide receiver. If he stays healthy, a line of 95-1400-12 is not out of the question. No Credentials is also all-in on Mario Manningham. Expect him to fill the role that the other Steve Smith filled brilliantly before blowing out his knee last season (a role that led to the other Steve Smith catching over 100 passes in 2009).Ceiling = 12-4
Floor = 6-10No Credentials Prediction = 7-9
2. Philadelphia Eagles
2010 Record = 10-6 (1st in Division, Lost in Wildcard Round vs. Packers)
Key Additions = CB Nnamdi Asomugha, CB Domonic Rodgers-Cromartie, DE Cullen Jenkins, DE Jason Babin, WR Steve Smith, T Ryan Harris, RB Ronnie Brown
Key Losses = S Quintin Mikell, LB Stewart Bradley, K David Akers
Schedule = @ Rams, @ Falcons, Giants, 49ers, @ Bills, @ Redskins, BYE, Cowboys, Bears, Cardinals, @ Giants, Patriots, @ Seahawks, @ Dolphins, Jets, @ Cowboys, Redskins
Real-Life Outlook = For those of you who have anointed the Eagles as the Miami Heat of the NFL, sit down for a second. Take a deep breath. Relax. This team is not going to be the ’85 Bears. Philadelphia is bringing back an entire offense that for other than the fourth quarter against the Giants, was shut down during the final month of the season and their home playoff game against Green Bay. Certainly their off-season moves were huge, but this is still a team with holes. The Eagles have put together the best trio of cornerbacks the NFL has seen in a long time, but safety is a major issue with Quintin Mikell going to St. Louis. Philadelphia will be able to bottle up most wide receivers, but they’ll have a tough time defending players like Jason Witten. The offensive line is average (Vick has been running for his life so far in the pre-season, which is the same thing he was doing during the final month of last season). This will inevitably lead to Michael Vick missing a few games at some point during the season. As long as Vick is healthy enough to start 12 games, this team will make the playoffs (and still be one of the favorites to win the NFC), but No Credentials is boldly predicting that Vick’s future injury issues will keep Philadelphia from winning the division.
Fantasy Outlook = Some of you might look at the previous paragraph and think that I’m down on Vick for fantasy, but that isn’t the case. Vick went fourth in the No Credentials mock draft. You need to invest in a solid second-string if you draft him, but Vick’s per-game output is enough value that even 12 games of Vick will be better than 16 games of any other fantasy QB. The fantasy discussion does not end at quarterback for Philadelphia. LeSean McCoy appears to be poised for a monster season. If you are in a PPR league, feel free to take him as high as 5th. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin should both be drafted as #2 fantasy receivers. Jackson is more explosive (upgrade him if you are in a league that gives bonuses for going over 100 yards, 150 yards, ect.), but Maclin is steadier and generally more consistent. Jason Avant should also be drafted in the event that one of those two suffers an injury. Brent Celek is a solid tight end, but didn’t click with Vick (hey that rhymed) during 2010. If those two figure it out, Celek represents a great buy later in the draft if you miss out on the elite tight ends.
Ceiling = 15-1 (totally dependant on the health of Michael Vick)
Floor = 9-7 (totally dependant on Wonderlic legend Vince Young takes too many snaps)No Credentials Prediction = 10-6
1. Dallas Cowboys
2010 Record = 6-10 (3rd in Division)
Key Additions = S Abram ElamKey Losses = RB Marion Barber, WR Roy Williams, DE Stephen Bowen, G Leonard Davis, C Andre Gurode
Schedule = @ Jets, @ 49ers, Redskins, Lions, BYE, @ Patriots, Rams, @ Eagles, Seahawks, Bills, @ Redskins, Dolphins, @ Cardinals, Giants, @ Buccaneers, Eagles, @ Giants
Real-Life Outlook = This is a homer pick, but I feel better about it because my Dad (who loathes the Cowboys) also predicts that they will win the division (this mostly has to do with the combined Wonderlic scores of Vick and Vince Young. Maybe one day I’ll let him post a rant about those two on this blog). It’s hard to tell who’s shed more dead weight in the last nine months, Snooki or the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones finally admitted he was wrong by letting go of Roy Williams (keep in mind that Jerry traded away three draft picks for Williams, and then signed him to a $35 million extension). Marion Barber, who has been a warrior but also was vastly overpaid before having ankle issues, has also been released. Dallas even shed a couple of over-priced offensive linemen in Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis. There is a strong case to be made that Dallas will see significant addition by subtraction. Throw in a healthy Tony Romo playing under Head Coach Jason Garrett (Dallas went 5-3 under Garrett last season with Jon Kitna and Stephen McGee playing quarterback) with four games against the entire NFC West, and things are looking up for the Cowboys. I’m not signing off on them as a Super Bowl contender, but they have enough talent (and a favorable enough schedule) to steal a division win from Philadelphia.
Fantasy Outlook = Tony Romo is the last of the elite-7 fantasy quarterbacks, but with Peyton Manning’s neck concerns, he might end up as the sixth QB taken in your draft. He can be a little streaky (be prepared for a few games where he gives you eight points or less), but when he’s rolling there aren’t many more productive fantasy quarterbacks. Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, and Jason Witten are all elite receiving options that will be off the board between the third and fifth rounds. Bryant has the most touchdown potential, while Austin and Witten will be the steadiest in terms of receptions. I would not be shocked if all three went over 1,000 yards receiving. Kevin Ogletree shouldn’t be drafted, but keep an eye on him if one of the two starters suffers an injury. Felix Jones has gotten so much hype the past two weeks that his Yahoo rank has gone from 66 to 39. He’s looked sharp in the pre-season, and has the talent to deliver 1,300 rushing yards and another 500 through the air. You should feel very fortunate if you can grab him in the early part of the fourth round or later. Ceiling = 13-3
Floor = 8-8No Credentials Prediction = 11-5
the AFC North
the AFC South
the AFC West
the NFC North
the NFC South
the NFC West
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