Top 10 Fantasy Football Busts

1. Frank Gore RB San Francisco- One of the most overrated players in the NF, yet year after year he is consistently ranked in the Top 10 by many “experts”. I am fascinated by the individuals who draft Gore in the 1st round considering his stats and the injuries he has sustained. At Miami Gore had injuries to both of his knees which cost him considerable playing time. In the NFL Gore has only played a full season once, his 2nd year in the league. As to that, his age of 27 is noteworthy as Gore seems to have reached his full potential. Gore last year posted the second best stats of his career, however he only averaged 80 yards a game, while producing a career high 10 scores. An able pass catcher, Gore cannot depend on Alex Smith to offer an accurate passer and shouldn’t see the looks this year. In all Gore is overrated and reaching 10 TDs again is unlikely. His age and wear and tear should decrease his once impressive speed, yet in all I do not see 1,000 yards as a guarantee.

2. Steve Smith WR New York Giants- Any WR that has the fortune of playing with an elite QB like Eli Manning should produce dominant stats. What I see from Smith this year is not what we saw last year, the dominant target in the Giants pass attack. Much of that was attributed to early year success and the injuries of WR Hakim Nicks. Nicks last year showed game breaking abilities that should appear more often in 2010. This translates negatively for Smith who will be looked at as more of a second option for Manning. I don’t count out 800 yards receiving, yet low TD numbers are probable.

3. Ryan Matthews RB San Diego- Call me crazy but I just cannot get on the Matthews bandwagon. He was a high 1st round choice for the Chargers, and steps into one of the best offenses in the league, but something for me just looks questionable about Matthews. Playing last season at Fresno State, Matthews was one of the best RBs in the country, yet he suffered injuries during that season down the stretch and was playing against 2nd tier talent. What makes Matthews so appealing is his starting role in the San Diego backfield and sharing carriers on 3rd down situations with Darren Sproles. I personally like Sproles potential to breakout this year more than Matthews simply because of his proven capabilities. Adding to Matthews woes are the departures of many key pieces to the Charger line and the holdout of tackle Marcus McNeil doesn’t help matters. Matthews doesn’t possess the speed to compete at the NFL level, ball carrying skills are good, yet his ability for acceleration is average. If he can stay healthy expect average numbers for a rookie, 750 and a handful of scores.

4. Jerome Harrison RB Cleveland- No player put on a show the last few weeks of the season like Harrison. With the recent knee injury to rookie Montario Hardesty, Harrison looks to garner even more touches early in the season as the two battle it for carriers. What I worry about with Harrison is that much of his success last year came against the worst run defenses in the league in Kansas City (286), Oakland (148), and Jacksonville (127). In a full season against teams that the Browns will be outmatched against, especially in their own division, I don’t see him posting anything near those numbers. Furthering Harrison’s question marks are his modest (5’9 205) frame that offers little in terms of ability to stay healthy over a full season. In all, Harrisons hype is unjustified for 2010.

5. Kevin Kolb QB Philadelphia- Playing QB on a good team does not make you a good QB, ask Jake Delhomme. Kolb has been waiting in the wings to take over for Donovan McNabb for what seems years now. Kolb now has the opportunity, surrounded by a banged up line and with question marks at RB. He does however have intriguing WRs in Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson. What many people are forgetting about Kolb and the Eagles this year is absence of Brian Westbrook. Still a Free Agent, the injury prone, yet game breaking back, separated the Eagles from NFL East counterparts and had chemistry with the also athletically gifted McNabb. This year’s Philadelphia team will be interesting to watch from the offensive side of the ball in seeing if they can duplicate past success. For Kolb I do not see him leading a revamped Eagles team that is still green at all of its skill positions. I expect early struggles with some success against weaker teams in the league.

6. Mike Sims-Walker WR Jacksonville- Putting up appreciable stats in his first season of 869 yards and 7 scores, Sims-Walker still plays for a shaky Jaguars squad which will struggle to score this upcoming season. What makes his position for success worse is the fact that QB David Garrard has shown he is not a starter in the NFL and behind him no talent exists. At best on a team Sims-Walker is a good #3. Sims-Walker has shown in his own right he is a good receiver, but he doesn’t show the elite skill to overcome a poor QB. See a few games he plays well this year, but 750 yards and 4 scores are a likely outcome.

7. Vince Young QB Tennessee- I personally have never liked Vince Young as the future NFL star he was projected to be. Still early in his career, Young has brought controversy and inconsistent play through his time with the Titans. His erratic accuracy along with bad decision making skills overall, makes for a bad mixture for dependability this year. Last year in games that he did play well in, it was either due to Chris Johnson making many of the plays or teams incorporating run focused defensive styles. Young doesn’t have any real receivers outside of Kenny Britt who is talented, yet still a young player. Young will have his opportunities for success as again schemes will look to stop Johnson. The benefit of that alone should allow him to operate at a similar level as he did last season. Young though is too inconsistent to look to offer success as a dependable backup. Look for no more than 1,700 yards 12 TDs and 10 INTs passing and rushing for around 300 yards and 2 scores.

8. Robert Meachem WR New Orleans- Usually you would think playing for a defending Super Bowl champion and having Drew Brees would equal opportunity for success for Meachem this season. It is not unlikely that Meachem will receive his fare share of looks, yet playing with so many other talented receivers, the opportunity for success are limited. I don’t see a repeat of the success that Saints had last year. The absence of a run game and loss of Jamal Brown makes me doubt their ability to match last year’s numbers. Meachem should have a decent year, yet look for his touchdown totals to fall drastically from 10 last year to around 4-5 this season. As for yards look for an increase to around 800. My biggest doubt is Meacham’s ability to play as a dependable #2 receiver on a fantasy team.

9. Braylon Edwards WR New York Jets- As of right now he is the go to guy for New York, yet his tendency to drop passes is of concern to me as he will be looked at as the second offensive option behind Greene this year. Braylon Edwards has never had the awareness to build upon his impressive skills, yet with inconsistent play and a 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez, I don’t see the boom for success Edwards has garnered by some. He does bring a star power that won’t be overlooked in drafts, as well as a potential for success with the absence of Santonio Holmes for the first 4 games, yet I don’t buy into it. It just is not a good mixture of experience at QB and dependability of Edwards to rely on a 1,000 yard season. Look for modest numbers that should equal those of #3 receiving option.

10. Matt Forte RB Chicago Bears- If you look up “Sophomore Slump” in the dictionary, which there isn’t, you will find a picture of Matt Forte. The success he posted in his first year showed promise last year as a potential staple in the fantasy Top 10 for years to come. Unlikely for Forte, last season the Bears acquired Jay Cutler, replacing Kyle Orton as the teams QB. Again for Forte, he will have to suffer again under a team that Cutler commands and will be slowed as teams load the box to stop Forte. The offensive line doesn’t help Forte this year as the addition of TE Brandon Manumaleuna doesn’t upgrade the blocking significantly enough for success in 2010. I would expect better stats this year from Forte, but only by a little as the cast surrounding him doesn’t offer opportunities for success.

Seattle Team Preview

I am excited to see how the Seahawks do this season as new coach Pete Carroll enters after his escape from L.A. Carroll brings a laid back and youthful flare to the once rigid and conservative coaching staff under Mike Holmgren and Jim Mora. Carroll inherits a young team with a veteran QB, yet many question marks surround the depth and talent of many key positions on the team.

At QB Matt Hasselbeck still is a capable team leader and shows he still has great accuracy to stay the starter. Backup Charlie Whitehurst seems poised to take the spot from Hasselbeck if he stumbles. Hasselbeck has an interesting surrounding cast that focuses primarily on the line. Coached by legend Alex Gibbs, the youth of 1st round pick Russell Okung, Chris Spencer, and Max Unger I see the potential of this group helping protect Hasselbeck and foster a healthy rushing attack. A major doubt for the Seahawks is the lack of talent at RB. Justin Forsett Leon Washington and Julius Jones all look to compete for the starting job. Neither one is particularly talented, yet Forsett has shown glimpses of promise. Receiving for Seattle is better than most would say. T.J Houshmandzadeh is still a capable wide out. He doesn’t offer the deep threat ability that would set him apart from most other players in the league, yet he still is a capable possession receiver Seattle can lean on. TE John Carlson is one of the best in the league at his position. His ability to pass catch and get to the second level downfield, makes for a great mismatch that Seattle can exploit when in long down scenarios. Rookie WR Golden Tate is full of potential and could prove a great complement to Houshmandzadeh. Tate possesses an excellent ability to jump up and catch balls even though he is not large in size. Tate brings a much needed youthful feel to a receiving corps that has been below average the last 2 seasons.

The defense for Seattle is much like the offense, an underrated unit that hinges on the success of a couple key people. The most important of those is 2nd year LB Aaron Curry who didn’t live up to expectations last season. Look for Curry to come into his own this year and play up to the potential he has. Along with Curry LB Lofa Tatupu is a great player who should anchor the team in providing excellent tackling skills and play recognition. On the defensive line, DT Brandon Mebane is an excellent pass rusher and brings a unique skill to the line. Other players such as DE Lawrence Jackson and DE Chris Clemmons don’t provide enough skill to prevent teams from double teaming Mebane. If Jackson can develop in his 4th year, the line should play better than their dreadful performance of last season. The secondary for the Seahawks offers the most depth on the team. CB Marcus Trufant, Josh Wilson, and Kelly Jennings to go along with Safeties Jordan Babineaux Earl Thomas and Lawyer Milloy offer some of the greatest blend of youth and experience in the league. Trufant leads in terms of talent, and at times can be one of the best in the league. Expectations are high from Earl Thomas who should provide a lot of playmaking opportunities for this unit.

Seattle can, and will be easily looked over many times this season. The question marks surrounding Hasselbeck and Forsett along with a weak defensive line offers suspicions on the ability for the team to be competitive. Luckily for the Seahawks, playing in a weak division should bolster their win total above what pure talent would produce elsewhere. I only see 5-6 wins coming from this group but a few surprise wins could put them in playoff talk later in the year.

Top 10 NFL Fantasy Sleepers

1. Matthew Stafford Detroit QB- The former #1 overall selection enters his second season with the Lions poised to take the team to the next level. Blessed with a great arm and precession downfield, Stafford is going to be an impactful player for years to come. However for the talented QB he plays for the Lions who are far from a dangerous offensive team. Stafford’s saving grace is that he is blessed with one of the best receivers in the game in Calvin Johnson. Johnson elevates Stafford to another level that most 2nd year QBs are never given, a true elite WR who can beat any cover in the game. Along with Johnson, the Lions have stockpiled a plethora of talented pass catchers such as Nate Burleson, Brandon Pettigrew among others. Stafford will be throwing early and often as the Lions should be playing behind in many of their games, yet if he can limit his interceptions, Stafford should post impressive stats.

2. C.J. Spiller Buffalo RB- The rookie out of Clemson is the most explosive player to enter the league since Chris Johnson. Spiller is a rare athlete with ability to change direction without losing speed and make cuts that break defenders ankles. His presence in the loaded backfield in Buffalo might hinder his overall potential, yet I expect a trade of either Fred Jackson or Marshawn Lynch before the year starts as to give room for Spiller. He has the size to sustain numerous carries, yet limited touches in his first year are likely to preserve his speed. What cannot be understated though is Spillers ability to break off long plays for scores that could make his limited touches inconsequential. Look for an exciting year out of this talented player.


3. Mike Wallace Pittsburgh WR- Opportunity is the name of the game in the NFL, and that is exactly what 2nd year receiver Mike Wallace has as the exodus of Santonio Holmes has left a void in the Steelers passing attack. Playing alongside aging veteran Hines Ward, Wallace will be looked on even more for deep threat ability. Wallace has the size at 6 feet 199lbs and great speed to counter Wards savvy route running skills. Obviously the absence of Ben Roethlisberger for the first 6 games will have an effect on Wallace’s performance and backup Dennis Dixon is my favorite to take the job and I see potential for surprising success from the young duo. When Roethlisberger returns expect Wallace to rake in touchdowns as the Steelers look for a late playoff push.

4. Kenny Britt Tennessee WR- The main man in the Titans air attack, Britt and Vince Young looked like they were developing a great chemistry towards the last few games of the season. This year I expect the 2nd year man out of Rutgers to get even more targets as teams key in on the rushing attack. Britt has an elite blend of size (6-3 215) and speed (4.5 40) to go along with a knack for going up and snaring deep passes. I would say it is fair to expect Britt to flirt with 1,000 yards and 6-7 scores over the year.

5. Donald Brown Indianapolis RB- The 2nd year player out of Connecticut should amass more carries in 2010 than he did last year. Splitting time with veteran Joseph Addai, Brown has been challenging the banged up former Pro-Bowler since he arrived. Addai has only so many more miles in his engine, and is injury prone. With that said, Brown looks to capitalize on his current status as the team’s backup and unseat Addai. Playing in a prolific offense with Peyton Manning at the helm, the opportunities for scores are limitless for Brown, who at worst would be the beneficiary of goal line touches. Look for a successful season that can see 8-10 scores.

6. Malcolm Floyd San Diego WR- As with Wallace, Floyd is the beneficiary of an offensive void left by LaDainian Tomlinson, and Vincent Jackson’s uncertain future with the team. San Diego will look more to passing this year as the question marks that surround rookie RB Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles as to filling Tomlinson’s shoes swirl. With that Vincent Jacksons contract disputes with the team have put his future in doubt, and a possible trade before the season seems possible. Floyd is similar to Jackson in size (6-5 225) and pass catching ability. Even if Jackson were to stay, I see the reliance to throw the ball becoming a big concern for the Chargers in 2010 and Floyd should get his fare share of opportunities to shine.

7. Chad Henne Miami QB- Henne has shown through his promising career at Michigan and in the pros he is a great leader on the field. This season he has the opportunity to take the helm from day 1 as the unquestioned leader of a talented Dolphins squad. Surrounded with talented players such as Devonne Bess and the newly acquired Brandon Marshall, it looks like a sign that Miami will throw more in 2010. The run first system they operate out of will not give Henne the opportunity to throw for Drew Brees numbers, however low attempts in high percentage plays could lead to impressive stats and low interception numbers. I would say Henne has a good shot of finishing the year as a Top-10 ranked QB.

8. Early Doucet Arizona WR- Doucet looks to play in the slot a great deal this season and could challenge Steve Breaston for the #2 spot later in the season. He performed well in the final games of the Cardinals season in 2009 and with Anquan Boldin now he gone could end up as Cards weapon next to Larry Fitzgerald. Doucet runs routes well, and has the speed necessary to overcome his size. With a new QB in Arizona look for Doucet to struggle early, yet breakthrough later in the season as the team adjusts to personnel changes.

9. Montario Hardesty Cleveland RB- I am not completely sold on Jerome Harrison as the featured back for the Browns. Yes posting impressive numbers down the stretch last season, Harrison doesn’t seem durable enough to carry the load for a run first Browns attack. Hardesty, a rookie out of Tennessee looks to have an opportunity to display his skills early and possibly split time with Harrison as early as Week 3. With his skills and an absence of talent elsewhere on the Browns roster Hardesty looks to garner his fare share of opportunities to breakthrough.

10. Devin Thomas Washington WR- Entering his 3rd season in the league Thomas looks to benefit from an upgrade at QB in Donovan McNabb. With McNabb taking the helm, the Redskins should be more proficient in the passing game, an area that has eluded them for years. Thomas last year showed he is a good player in finding the end zone 3 times on only 25 receptions. Playing opposite of Santana Moss, Thomas should provide a nice second option for McNabb on curl routes and high percentage slants. Thomas is a reach no doubt; however his potential to benefit in the overhaul from last season’s team is valuable.

Jacksonville Team Preview

This preview could be the easiest one of any team in the league. Maurice Jones-Drew is all Jacksonville has. There is your preview. Jacksonville outside of the pintsized back is a talentless group of hyped college players and ignorance to hone a manageable defensive strategy. Coach Jack Del Rio has proven in the past that he can propel amazing defensive units and that he is capable of leading a team, yet for him, the lack of talent and bad investments made on the defensive side of the ball have turned Jacksonville from a once dominant team to a joke.

Offensively for Jacksonville QB David Garrard is about as streaky as they come, one week he could look like a Pro-Bowler and the next resemble an Arena League backup. Garrard’s biggest asset of mobility in the pocket has been wasted in past years due to instability on the line. His accuracy is questionable, though again the youth at receiver he has seen in past years is an acceptable excuse. In any case Garrard can will his teams to wins; however the reliance on MJD cannot be overstated in the success of Garrard as a starter in the league. This brings us to MJD himself. He has proven over the last 3 seasons he is one of the all around elite players in the league. His ability to catch the ball only adds to his appeal and importance in the Jaguars attack. MJD also provides above average blocking skills adding another element to what makes him so special. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, behind MJD only FB Greg Jones provides a mentionable skill set to spell the Pro Bowl RB. The line protecting Garrard and MJD is young yet a talented group. Tackles Eben Britton and Eugene Monroe will have to raise their play this year to give Garrard more time in the pocket, a job they failed miserably at last season. Filling out the other spots, veterans Justin Smiley and Brad Meester add to a veteran feel that hopefully can gel the talented unit. Receiving targets for Jacksonville have always been suspect since the exit of Jimmy Smith. Last year Mike Sims Walker provided a glimmer of hope at WR for the club. He looks again to be the go to guy for Garrard as the depth at this position is scarce. TE Mercedes Lewis has talent as a receiver, but with Jacksonville’s reliance on the run, he is often used as a primary blocker. Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood offer more promise than current #2 Mike Thomas, yet expect neither to make a significant impact because of lack of opportunities.

Where the Jaguars need the most help is on the defensive side of the ball. On paper it looks like a veteran unit that has the ability to play better than last year’s dismal season that witnessed a line unable to stop ball carriers, yet the holes are obvious as the defensive line lacks a capable pass rusher and the secondary plays below their athletic ball hawks skill set. The line that features former Pro-Bowler Aaron Kampman and first round pick Tyson Alualu should be interesting to watch in their attempt to resurrect a pass rush that has been absent for several years. With John Henderson no longer anchoring the middle, Terrance Knighton is now allowed to step up and show that last year was no fluke and that he can become the space eater so desperately needed. Roaming the middle linebackers Daryl Smith and Justin Durant provide average talent. They are not impact players that are needed to mesh the secondary and line, yet provide enough talent in terms of making tackles and in pursuit to show hopes for success 2010. Though they are an older group, they do provide the most stable and reliable part of the defense. The secondary for Jacksonville is loaded with super athletic players who just haven’t been able to make a considerable contribution in bettering the overall team. At CB Rashean Mathis is only behind MJD in terms of skill. When on, he is an excellent cover corner, when off, he doesn’t apply an adequate press and is susceptible to double moves on deep routes. Derek Cox is another young talented player who when playing well can be a great 2nd corner, however he is too often beat on underneath routes. The biggest disappointment for the Jaguars is in FS Reggie Nelson. An incredible athlete, Nelson has been unable to absorb the knowledge to read coverages and not get beat out of position. If not for his elite speed and agility he would no longer be i the league, let alone contending for a starting spot.

Jaguar fans will not enjoy 2010 any more than they did last season. Other than watching MJD break off 60 yard runs, the inability to stop the run and provide a pass rush will force Jacksonville to constantly play from behind. In doing so, this takes away the potential for their greatest weapon, MJD. Garrard can lead this unit to the playoffs, however he needs the young line to show they are worth their 1st round selection and give Garrard time to find receivers other than Sims-Walker on deep fly routes. In all for Jacksonville success this year, better defensive and offensive line play are key to the team’s success. In a tough division the Jaguars look for moderate success, yet with question marks along key areas, 4-5 wins seems about all this team will muster.

Disparity in the NFL

Yesterday as a college friend and I ate lunch discussing the upcoming football season, we began talking about the recent 2 year pay raise that Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans just received, a deal which will pay him an upgrade from $ 550,000 in 2010 to $2.5 million. Now to you and me this seems like a great pay raise, however for Johnson’s profession and the financial contradictions it has with rookie signings and player wages altogether, are undermining the fairness the NFL has implemented with preference for a salary cap and strong handed rule from the top. In 2010 that is an uncapped year for the league which at the end of the season will have to meet with the players union and make concessions to avoid a holdout, the financial uncertainty that runs rampant through every organization is putting teams and players future success in question. So why for this dispute among players and owners who are both part of the most popular and lucrative sport in the country I ask? Selfish owners are the obvious answer. Having a salary cap provides each team to pay a maximum amount for a team’s total salary based on that year. Last year each team was allowed to spend up to $127 million on filling its roster. $127 million for a 53 man roster which represents the most viewed sport in the U.S. In comparison to baseball and basketball that are both dwarfed by the fan fare and revenue generated by the NFL, player salaries for baseball are laughable in comparison to players value and what they actually get paid.

Take for example Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda who will make this year just under $15.5 million dollars. First thoughts when thinking about that are, who the heck is Hiroki Kuroda and why is he making that much money. Well Mr. Kuroda is an average right handed starter, who in three full Major League seasons has never won more than 10 games, and currently sports a 3.53 ERA. It is agreeable this is a bad contract, yet in baseballs free spending system the margin for error to sink millions of dollars into a risky player are offered greater error proof as well as ability to pay world class athletes what they deserve for what they do and generate for the teams and league they are a part of. With baseball unlike football the players careers are much longer and can sustain power in their union by taking a stance against unfair pay. However where the NFL is misguided by greed in opposing a cap, players whose careers average about 3.5 years have little room to forgo a season in lockout as leverage against the league, thus only strengthening the owners position at the bargaining table. Players such as Chris Johnson who set league records last year posting 2,509 yards from scrimmage and others will suffer due to these restrictions.

Further undermining the financial structure of the NFL is rookie pay scale. Recently the St. Louis Rams signed number one overall pick Sam Bradford to a six year, $78 million dollar contract, that includes $50 million guaranteed. That means that if Bradford who has never taken a snap in the league is unfortunate enough to suffer a career ending injury in his first pre-season game, he will garner $50 million dollars over the next seven years. How can that be you might ask? How can a player like Johnson who has accomplished so much more earn so much less than a player who has done nothing yet shown “promise” to become a great player. This recent deal with Bradford and Johnson both comes at a time when the disparity for proper financial pay to players is necessary for the leagues survival. A salary cap is not the answer for next season no matter what the bar is set at. With its current financial gains and widespread appeal, the league should look to offer the fruits of its labor to its hardest workers, the players who make the league. Players like Johnson who instantly becomes the face of the franchise selling jerseys and giving their image back to the league at risk for the health on every play for what by league finances equals mediocre pay.

Though the other disagreements concerning post retirement benefits and injured player compensations will be other issues discussed after the 2010 season, the glaring need for the NFL to rethink its financial system are imperative to keep the popularity of the sport at the zenith it currently resides. Yet as this article has discussed the key to who controls the power and money will be of significant issue in deciding the leagues uncertain future and it is up to anyone’s guess on how far the owners will bend to the player’s demands for a bigger piece of the pie.

Oakland Team Preview

I wonder what it must be like to be an Oakland Raiders fan. Considering their past history of awful coaches, overrated players, and an owner who is crazy, the passion they still bring to the games everyday shows why the football is such a great sport. That’s about as good as the Oakland team has it this year, as the team itself is riddled with overrated players and blissful ignorance of the season to come. Starting at QB Jason Campbell has been talked about as the QB that can turn it around this year for the Raiders, however if you have ever watched Jason Campbell play a game, you will quickly realize that he is no better than Seneca Wallace of Cleveland or dare I say former backup Shaun King, nothing more than a guy who can roll out of the pocket on play-action and complete a 10-12 yard pass. Backups Brad Gradkowski and Charlie Fry don’t prove to be looked upon as reliable backups, questioning if a veteran signed early in the year could be an option. Carrying the rock for the Raiders will most likely be a by committee format as Michael Bush and Daren McFadden both seem capable to making strides this season. Bush is an all around better back than McFadden, though he lacks his speed, and Bush can provide a consistent pace and sustain more contact. McFadden is not a bad player; however his inability to find holes, and display side to side cuts to go along with his top end straight line speed makes him the consummate #2. Inhibiting the Raiders promising run game is an offensive line that shows little promise. Outside of Mario Henderson, and I hate to say Robert Gallery, the line is a dismal group. Gallery’s play is spotty and Henderson is still finding his own consistency, so I don’t see much changing, especially with a mobile QB. At the receiving position, TE Zach Miller is the best pass catcher on the team. Look for him often to be the go to weapon for Campbell, much like Fred Davis was last season in Washington. At WR Louis Murphy showed a lot of promise last season considering the QB play. If Campbell does shock and surprise us, Murphy should have a respectable sophomore year. Other WR Chaz Schilens also displayed abilities to change games and should step in comfortably to play opposite of Murphy. A lot of eyes will be watching 2nd year man Darius Heyward-Bey this year in Oakland to see if he was a complete bust. He is a talented player, yet cannot run a route or catch a ball to save his life. We will see early if off-season drills helped a skilled, yet flawed player.

The bread and butter of the Oakland Raiders this year is their defense. This unit possesses a unique quality and that is to go out and win games by itself. Playing in conservative 3-4 scheme, the front line consisting of Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, and Jay Richardson all have great size and athleticism to stop the run and force pressure from inside. At linebacker, a talented group of Kamerion Wimbley, Thomas Howard, and rookie Rolando McLain all offer great tackling skills, and notably Wimbley, offers an outside rushing presence that could prove effective. In the secondary, the dominant abilities of Nnamdi Asomugha cannot be understated. His cover ability to latterly take teams #1 receivers out of games is the lynch pin that elevates this unit from a par to above average group. Playing his opposite, the other Chris Johnson will be tested often as teams will shy away from Asomugha. His decent ability should prove adequate over the course of the season. Roaming the back end, Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff are an average group that plays overly aggressive, yet has the skill set to be one of the best in the league. Branch has proven he is a good player, yet this will be a year in which his play could significantly improve the overall pass defense of Oakland.

For the Oakland Raiders this year I see hardships aplenty. Playing in the AFC West offers opportunities to steal a few games, yet outside of that winning will be an overwhelming task. To put it simply if Jason Campbell finds his groove this year, and Hayward-Bey can show he isn’t the bust he is quickly becoming, then the team stands to challenge for a playoff spot. The defense is overall an above average group who should keep them in many games. It is up to the offense to produce for success for Raider nation in 2010. In all 4-5 wins seems reasonable though I wouldn’t bet against them going .500 with their schedule and new hopes at QB.

Buffalo Team Preview

If there was a team that epitomized the argument that a QB can make or break a team it would be Buffalo. With the roster currently composing of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards, and Brian Brohm all fighting for the starting spot, no matter who wins, their play will not be of any benefit to the team. There are several bright spots on the Bills roster this year that include rookie running back C.J. Spiller and receiver Lee Evans, who both offer game changing abilities. In Spillers case he will be battling veterans Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson for carries. With a lack of ability at QB expect to see all of these players garner 12-15 carriers a game as Buffalo will live and die on the legs of their running backs. An added benefit to Spiller and Lynch are their abilities to catch balls out of the backfield, and will be looked upon as safety blankets often. At receiver Evans is by far the best on the team. His breakaway speed and agility give the Bills a deep threat weapon, however the question remains on how much they will be able to throw to him. Other receivers of note are James Hardy who is coming of an injury, yet offers promise as a tall possession receiver. After Hardy, the drop off is noticeable as 3rd stinger Roscoe Parrish has not lived up to his potential and others on the team will not get the looks due to a poor passing attack. The line for the Bills isn’t as impressive as it has been in years past. Guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre are young and talented; however question marks exist at both tackle spots where uncertainty will cause problems from day one.

The defensive unit of the Bills shows greater talent and depth than the offense, and will have to step up often if Buffalo is to improve on their win totals from last year. Starting on the defensive line, Marcus Stroud is a stout run stopper and pass rusher who has the height to bat down passes. At nose tackle Kyle Williams will provide the needed cog in the Bills 3-4 system which should prove effective considering the personnel. A big question mark for the unit is if Aaron Schobel returns for another season, which would improve the line greatly. At linebacker the Bills see a plethora of youth and talent in Paul Posluszny, Kawika Mitchell, and Aaron Maybin. Along with that the veteran leadership of Andra Davis allows for Buffalo to blitz heavy and often with all possessing great tackling skills and the ability to track down ball carriers. The Buffalo secondary on paper looks good; however I am not sold on Donte Whitner or Leodis McKelvin as starters in the league. Safety Jarius Byrd leads the unit after posting a league leading 9 INT last year, and Terrance McGee is a capable cover corner. In any form the secondary shouldn’t hinder the team this season, yet will not make the impact that group offers.

For Buffalo in 2010 it should be another troubled season playing in the AFC East. With an absence of talent at QB and youth on the offensive line, the talented weapons they do have in the running backs and Evans will have problems living up to potential. The defensive unit will keep the team in many games as they are well built and have talent to keep games close. A determining factor in that is if the youth at linebacker can improve on last season’s ups and downs and provide a consistent pass rush. Look for 3-4 wins as a young team tries to survive a tough division and no defined leader.