I will go through all 32 NFL teams and give my immediate thoughts on their potential for success.
Jets
I expect the Jets to be in more shootout and entertaining games this year. Their playoff value is definitely lacking due to division opponents in the AFC East, which has quietly become an impressive division.
After being dominated by the Patriots for 20 years, the Bills have finally emerged as the top threat. The Jets may find themselves in a race for bronze with the Dolphins. There may be some value to their fantasy options. I have optimism about their new core. I believe the fate of their football team heavily relies on the skilled players to live up to the expectations.
Giants
The Giants seemed to be one of the worst teams in the league last year, even at full health. Kenny Golladay was practically a nonfactor, and there was nothing to write home about when it came to the rookie wideout Kadarius Toney. Daniel Jones has been almost as average as any QB in the league. I am not too excited about the Giants, but will I ever be?
Bengals
My thoughts on the Bengals have really not changed since my first article on the young team. I think the Bengals will be a fantasy-relevant team for a long time and a reoccurring guest in the Playoffs. I think they will eventually get the chance to play in another Super bowl.
Pats
The Patriots are among the few teams where winning football games does not translate to winning fantasy games. Many times there is a fresh touchdown scorer every game. However, I could see big fantasy games from key players here and there. I am excited about Devante Parker and think he will be a great addition to the team. It is just hard to use any early picks on Patriots players for fantasy. In real life, the Patriots are looking at upwards momentum into the third decade of dominance.
Steelers
I like the Steelers as a fantasy team this year. Najee Harris was more than we anticipated, although that may have been thanks to Bens’s last ride. He handed Najee the ball a lot.
Depending on whoever quarterbacks the Steelers next, I think it could open up the field more for their skill players. A few quarterback scrambles can work wonders. Chase Claypool has shown flashes of greatness but has not yet been a reliable fantasy option. As for making a deep playoff run, I think that will depend on how they start their season. They have a deep enough roster to be a playoff team.
Ravens
I think the Ravens have yet to peak with this generation. Lamar Jackson may have had his year, but that was with little help. The receiving core has yet to make the impact we all want to see. The loss of JK Dobbins was devastating last year. Things should look up with Lamar, JK, and Rashod Bateman active. Another reason to be high on the Ravens is Mark Andrews. There is no reason for Andrews not to be mentioned as the best tight end in the league. I think the Ravens will make a deep playoff run this year.
Bills
The Bills have become one of the most loved teams in the league for both fantasy and real life. Josh Allen has been the number 1 fantasy QB for two years straight, and Stefon Diggs has been one of the most reliable pass catchers.
I feel confident that the Bills will be successful yet again despite the horrific end to their season. The addition of James Cook was one of my favorite draft picks. The Bills needed a playmaker out of the backfield. Another addition to their team was the hall of fame-worthy Von Miller. The Bills are in a great spot and have a good chance of competing in the Superbowl.
Titans
Tennessee had a successful year even with the injuries and mishaps to their stars. Derrick Henry was having a career year until he went down.
This year they are a completely different team. Both AJ Brown and Julio Jones were sent packing. I think that Robert Woods could be a great compliment to Henry. We know Woods is an all-pro run blocker as a wide receiver. I am excited to see if dumbing down the offense actually makes them better.
Commanders
WFT was a bit of a letdown in fantasy last year. Their fantasy-relevant players didn’t live up to their projections. I’m not going to let last year decide their fate entirely. I think that they will have a bounce-back year. I believe they have built a decent culture already under Riverboat Ron.
The quarterback play has been their most significant issue. I have never been much of a fan of Carson Wentz, but I’m starting to believe that Washington was a good spot for him. He doesn’t have much to lose. A sleeper to be aware of is Curtis Samuel. He can play the same ball style that Deebo Samuel plays.
Bucs
Tampa Bay is my favorite to win the Superbowl. Tom Brady did the unthinkable and unretired after about two weeks at home. They now have another year with the Goat. Not only did the Bucs keep Brady, but they kept their entire Superbowl-winning core together.
Bears
I believe Chicago’s first season with Justin Fields under center was a success. He did not play as much as he should’ve, but he got the rookie year out of the way. He showed that he could be a star.
I don’t know if I just don’t follow him on socials or if he is quiet, but he seems like a hard worker. Bears fans could be in for a surprise. I like the options at wide receiver, and I like David Montgomery. The Bears have what it takes to be a good football team for both fantasy and real life. I think they could battle for the last playoff spot, but they are going to have to ask for permission.
Lions
The Lions had quite an unfortunate season last year. It seemed they were always close to winning games only to have it taken from them in the fourth quarter. Losing Matt Stafford will sting for a bit, especially after he went out and won the Superbowl. However, I think the Lions finally got out of the hump they have been in for about 20 years. I think Jared Goff could be a sleeper this year, and I think they will go out and win some games.
Packers
The Packers are going to be a different team in 2022. They obviously lost their top option in DaVante Adams. I think they will be relying heavily on their running backs to be the engine that keeps them going. I am not sure who will step in with Adam’s departure, but I think they will still be a good team. They are hopeful that the younger receivers can be reliable options. They have had some struggles in the Playoffs, so it is hard to believe they will make a run this year without DaVante.
Texans
Unfortunately, one of the rookies I was looking forward to watching the most won’t be playing this year. John Metchie, the former Alabama star, was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Without a doubt, it is a heartbreaking story, and the entirety of the NFL is in his corner. I expect the Texans to rally behind his story and fight for some hard-fought victories this year, as they will be underdogs in almost every game.
Dolphins
I like what the Dolphins have done over the past few years. They have brought in a potential franchise quarterback and wide receiver that already have a good look together and now added Tyreek Hill. They will be a hard team to play because of their highly skilled receivers.
Although, I am still confused about the Brian Flores situation months later. He is a good coach, and it showed throughout his time with them. He built a new Miami team with a brighter future than when he got there. I think it will come back to bite them in the long run. I think Flores will have success under Mike Tomlin. Thanks to coaching, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Steelers beat the Dolphins in the wildcard.
Seahawks
Russell Wilson leaving the Seahawks will not be the easiest hole to fill. He has been their leader his whole career. Although, I still have faith. The only reason I do is because of the rather faithful man himself, DK Metcalf. I still think he can be one of the NFL’s top WR options. If he gets to that point, the “hawks” should see success in the win column. It isn’t always that simple, but I’ll make an exception. Their QB just needs to play mistake-free football and get the ball in his hands. I wouldn’t bet on them clinching a playoff spot this year, but I think their offense can still be successful.
Niners
With the explosion of Deebo Samuel last year, the Niners found themselves a star and a franchise changer. I think Deebo will get spoiled with touches next year. The Niners probably could have gotten him the ball more at the start of last year if they knew what he was capable of.
They have already announced that Trey Lance will be their starting quarterback. I think he can win games, but it’s hard to believe he will bring them to the NFC Championship as Jimmy G did. I don’t know if I’ll ever be entirely in on the Trey Lance pick, considering how many games they won with Jimmy polo.
Colts
The Colts had a disastrous end to their season last year, losing the last game of the year to the 3-win Jags. They have been hoping from QB TO QB over the past few years, and now it is time for Matty Ice to give it a go. I don’t see him being much of an upgrade from Philip Rivers two seasons ago. I personally think Baker Mayfield would’ve been a better fit than Matt Ryan for the Colts.
Chiefs
Seeing the Cheifs play without Tyreek Hill will definitely be very interesting. He was a significant piece of their past successes. I think Pat Mahomes will slow down a bit this year without Hill making all sorts of ridiculous plays for him. I am excited to see Mahomes adapt to his new receivers.
Vikings
The Vikings have very sneakily been one of the best fantasy teams over the last few years. Dalvin Cook has consistently been at the top of the RB charts. Adam Thielen has 30 touchdowns in his previous 30 games. Justin Jefferson took the league by storm, and Kirk Cousins is playing like a QB1. I don’t think the Vikings need to make dramatic changes. They had an unlucky year. They were better than their record and suffered losing Thielen. They have built a strong culture in Minnesota, and I don’t think they should give up just yet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this group of guys play for a Superbowl in the next few years.
Chargers
The Chargers have been one of the most exciting young teams in the NFL lately. I have nothing bad to say about them. No one would be surprised by an over-the-top year for them in both the win column and fantasy points. The Chargers should be a lock for the postseason with their free agency work.
Rams
The Rams had a great year ending in a Superbowl. Cooper Kupp was pretty much earning every fantasy point there was. Cam Akers going down was helpful to Kupp’s success. Next year I think the Rams will be more balanced by getting more players involved. Kupp had one of the best fantasy years in NFL history, so that will be hard to repeat.
Cowboys
The Cowboys have yet to get over their hump. I think the Cowboys should go back to relying on the run game and consider a split backfield with Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard. They lost the punch they had back with Demarco Murray and Zeke’s early years.
The Cowboys are at the point where it’s Superbowl or bust in their eyes.
Falcons
The Falcons are in a great spot. They just lost their Veteran Quarterback and replaced him with a very exciting player. Desmond Ridder was one of the most talked about players in college football. He may have been a steal at the position they grabbed him. I am also very optimistic about Drake London. I think the Falcons will be a fun team that most NFL fans will have no problem rooting for.
Saints
After losing Drew Brees and Sean Payton, the Saints are in a tough spot. They have been a successful football team for a while now. I expect a bit of a rough patch as they look for their new identity. Alvin Kamara has been so good for so long that we may have seen his best. I don’t know how long he can carry them on his back. He has consistently been one of the best options in all of fantasy. Kamara and Watson are in the same boat. They will most likely miss time and are among the best NFL players.
Jags
With the return of Travis Etienne, I think the Jags will feel good about themselves this year. They definitely didn’t last year. From Urban Meyer to the lack of James Robinson, they were a letdown. Let’s get our heads on straight, run the ball effectively, and give Trevor some breathing room. The Jaguars got some more help in the NFL draft, so there is no more room for excuses.
Raiders
The Raiders have caught my interest the most this NFL offseason. Not just because of the addition of DaVante Adams but Chandler Jones and head coach Josh McDaniels as well. I think they will be successful with their fantasy points and NFL wins. I think they could make a run at the AFC championship game.
Eagles
In my opinion, the Eagles had one of the better off-seasons on both sides of the ball. Most people expect the Eagles to be better than last year with the addition of AJ Brown, and I don’t see any reason not to believe they will improve. He is one of my favorite NFL players to watch on Sundays.
Panthers
The Panther’s season is as big a question mark as any team in the NFL, starting with their star, Christian McCaffrey. Their success could very well rely on how healthy he is. He is a game changer when he plays. Another question mark is who will be their quarterback. I don’t have any preference between the guys they have on the roster. That being said I do not plan on taking McCaffrey first overall.
Broncos
The Broncos, too many experts, were the ideal destination for a free agent QB. They made a massive deal with the Hawks for Russell Wilson. They have a relatively balanced team. It is always tough to predict what will happen when someone joins a new team. However, it worked very well for Tom Brady and Matt Stafford. So, Bronco’s Country, let’s ride.
Browns
The Browns have somehow managed to find themselves in even deeper shit after the last decade. Unfortunately, their season’s fate may very well revolve around whether or not Deshaun Watson is playing or not.
One thing they can be hopeful for is that Myles Garrett will hopefully play like an NFL DPOTY candidate, and usually, great players make the players around them better.
Cardinals
The Cardinals are going to look different to begin this NFL season. They will be without their star wide receiver for six weeks, and they will be without Christian Kirk for the whole year as he is now on the Jaguars. This leaves a lot on Kyler Murray’s plate. The Cardinals are relying on him big time to carry them throughout the year. They paid a lot of money for him, so they expect a lot from him.
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