5. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders (Thurs. 12/25 1pm EST) – Netflix

Get ready for a Christmas NFC East showdown in DC. The up-and-coming Commanders, who have 8 standalone games in the upcoming season, will host their rivals in this intriguing matchup.

Whenever these two teams play it’s always must watch television. Now we get to settle in after unwrapping presents and enjoy Jayden Daniels vs. Dak Prescott. This game could very much have NFC East title implications being this late in the season.

Many including myself expect the Commanders to be in the NFC East title race but the Cowboys are the wild card. If Prescott can stay healthy and newly acquired George Pickens behaves, Dallas could be in the mix by the time they kickoff this one.

4. Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (Fri. 9/5 8pm EST Brazil) – YouTube

YouTube will join the NFL party this upcoming season by streaming this AFC West battle opening week in Brazil. It’s a rare Friday night matchup but there is plenty of buzz for this one.

The Chiefs are coming of a 15-2 season where they were eventually blown out by the Eagles in the Super Bowl. They will look to start the season on a winning note versus their rival. Justin Herbert and the Chargers surprised many last season by finishing 11-6 and earning a Wild Card berth. It didn’t take long for Jim Harbaugh to make his mark in LA.

I expect the Chargers to take the next step this season and really challenge the Chiefs in this division. They added a much needed weapon in Omarion Hampton and Herbert should thrive in his second year in Harbaugh’s system. Look for this one to go down to the wire.

3. Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens (Mon. 9/25 8:15pm EST) – ABC/ESPN

This game may end up being the best Monday night matchup of the upcoming season. It is also a potential Super Bowl matchup. The Lions will look to bounce back from losing to the Commanders in the Divisional round while the Ravens will look to finally get over the hump.

Baltimore has been one of the best regular season teams the past couple of years but keep finding ways to lose in the playoffs. Case and point Mark Andrews costly fumble last year vs. the Bills. Lamar Jackson takes the majority of the blame for the playoff failures but the team as a whole seems to fade down the stretch.

Detroit was a heavy favorite last year to reach the Super Bowl but ran into a hot Commanders team. Expect them once again to compete for the NFC Title in 2025. The major question for the Lions is health. They were hammered with injuries last year, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

2. Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (Thurs. 9/4 8:20pm EST) – NBC/Peacock

Is there any question about whether the NFC East is the best division in football? The NFL seems to agree with the Cowboys, Commanders and Eagles dominating the primetime schedule. We are also fortunate to kick of the season with a classic Eagles vs. Cowboys matchup.

As we stated before, the Cowboys are a fascinating team to watch this season. On the one hand they could compete for the NFC East title or they could finish 4-13. It all depends on the health of Dak Prescott and if new head coach Brian Schottenheimer can push the right buttons.

The Eagles on the other hand should once again compete for the NFC crown with most of their weapons back. They are the team to beat until proven otherwise.

1. Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (Sun. 9/7 8:20pm EST) – NBC/Peacock

The Ravens have another big-time matchup against the Bills in our Sunday night opener. Baltimore will be out for revenge after their demoralizing defeat in Buffalo in last year’s playoffs.

Both of these AFC titans need to find a way to get past the Chiefs to reach their goal. Josh Allen and company came close last season but once again fell just short in KC. The Chiefs have had the Bills number for some time now. Can the Bills finally break through?

Meanwhile, the Ravens just need to play better in the playoffs. They have all the makings of a Super Bowl team but need to be more disciplined in crunch-time. This game, although in just week 1 could set the tone for the top of the AFC down the stretch.

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TENNESSEE TITANS TRADE UP TO THE TOP 10

Tennessee has become a target for trade talks as there are rumors that Derrick Henry could be traded very soon. Other than that, the QB situation seems even worse. The Titans feel they are done with Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis hasn’t developed as they hoped he would. Trading up would give them a chance with C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. With the AFC South as one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, a rebuild can show fruitful results very soon.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TRADE UP FOR NUMBER 2

The Indianapolis Colts have been linked to so many quarterbacks at the number four spot. It feels like the front office is split between C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. Now, talks are Houston could draft a non-QB with the second pick. However, this could be used to swerve other teams and keep people guessing. With the Colts having trouble searching for that franchise QB, moving up may hurt them picks-wise, but it will make the future much clearer.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS MAKE THE CROWD ROAR

With Kansas City being the host for the NFL Draft, the city will erupt if their team trades up in the draft, instead of waiting at the end. A player that has been linked to the Chiefs is Zay Flowers, one of the best wide receivers in the draft. With the Chiefs losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Patriots, a wide receiver would be a good pick for them. Zay would give them production and his speed would give nightmares to opposing teams.

We’re all excited to see how the NFL Draft will fold. Get your predictions ready as this feels much more uncertain compared to past years.

The post Possible Trade Scenarios in the NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

CHAOS #1: HOUSTON TEXANS DON’T TAKE A QB AT PICK #2

[PLAYER AFFECTED: C.J. STROUD]

C.J. Stroud has been the talk of the town the past few days. When the Panthers traded for the top pick, the gambling lines turned to Stroud as the favorite to be the first pick of the draft. After a few weeks have gone by, not only has Bryce Young been the heavy favorite to be the top pick, Stroud might not even be the second pick.

As of this writing, Will Levis has overtaken Stroud as the favorite to be the second overall pick. This has shocked everyone as some mocked Levis for going in the middle of the first round to even late in the first round. Back to C.J., there are those that say he is “uncoachable” and those words came out of nowhere. Another reason for “worry” is his 18 on the S2 Cognition Test. Now this test focuses on a QB’s ability in decision-making. He was the worst by far in terms of scoring, and this has executives worried about him overall. Studies have shown that those who don’t do well in the S2 Cognition Test, don’t translate in the NFL.

C.J. Stroud has been touted as at least the second-best QB prospect in this draft. With this, Houston is second and they need a QB, however, they aren’t sold on it as they want to see more of Davis Mills. If they don’t draft a QB, this could be trouble as the Colts and Seahawks have their eyes on other QB prospects. Maybe another team trades up for Stroud but that remains the case.

CHAOS #2: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TAKE ANTHONY RICHARDSON AT PICK #4

[PLAYER AFFECTED: WILL LEVIS]

For every positive of Will Levis, there is a negative that worries NFL teams. From his weird-eating habits to his IG post of him shirtless, experts are stumped on where to put him. One NFL team that seems to like him is the Indianapolis Colts. They need a QB and are intrigued by Levis as he is more polished compared to Richardson. Now, what if Richardson is the surprise pick of the Colts?

The next team that may draft a quarterback is the Titans at 11th overall. Mock drafts however see them taking another position of need. The Patriots at 14 could be a sleeper, but Will doesn’t seem to be the prototype New England likes in a quarterback. I think Will gets drafted in the first round, but the wait may be a little longer than he hoped for.

CHAOS #3: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS SKIP ON A QB AT PICK #5

[PLAYER AFFECTED: ANTHONY RICHARDSON]

Anthony Richardson to Seattle is my favorite pick for him as he is a raw prospect with great tools. The Seahawks do have Geno Smith signed to an extension, but it’s not a long-term contract. Having multiple first-round picks is a blessing for the Seahawks as they were one of the more surprising teams last season.

It’s possible that the Seahawks go for a talented defensive prospect with the fifth pick. Jalen Carter could be available after his weird past few weeks and months. The talent is there however and they rank him as one of the best defensive prospects. Anthony could be available at 20 for their second first-round pick but there’s no guarantee.

Look at last year’s Malik Willis as he had many similarities with Richardson. Both are athletes with great arms but lack experience. He was pegged as a first-round pick, but he slipped all the way to Day 2. Richardson does give that fear. The other top QB prospects held the starting job for at least multiple years while Richardson only had one. Only time will tell.

CHAOS #4: CAROLINA PANTHERS SHOCK EVERYONE WITH C.J. STROUD AND HOUSTON TAKES A NON-QB

[PLAYER AFFECTED: BRYCE YOUNG]

This outcome seems the most unlikely as Stroud is the favorite to go first. The Texans at number two have been positive that they’ll take him if he’s available. However, anything is up in the air. Bryce Young is an interesting prospect as he has all the tools to be a successful quarterback. What makes him difficult is his size, which makes him an outlier.

Quarterbacks are a big investment and seeing Young scares a lot of teams. His size makes scouts and personnel worried about his durability, especially with numerous QB injuries that happened last season. With next year’s draft class having a much more intriguing QB class, teams may also wait instead of jumping the gun on Young. Personally, I wouldn’t take Young for the size concerns, but an NFL team will take a chance on him and hope they struck gold.

The post Possible Chaos Scenarios in the NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

BACKGROUND

Jordan Addison is a wide receiver prospect out of Maryland. Coming out of high school, he played multiple positions for his team. Rivals listed him as a three-star wide receiver. He decided to commit to the University of Pittsburgh.

COLLEGE CAREER

As a freshman, he started eight games for the Panthers. He led the team in almost all receiving statistics. He caught 60 passes for 666 yards and four touchdowns. In his second season with Pittsburgh, he was even more phenomenal. In 14 games, he caught 100 balls for 1593 yards. He had 17 TDs, which led all of college football. The awards came pouring in that year as he was a Consensus All-American and the Fred Biletnikoff Award.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

In a surprising turn of events, Addison transferred to USC before the start of his third season. With more eyes on him, he was still his elite self. He ended the season with 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight TDs. He was named to the First-team All-Pac 12 at the end of the season.

STRENGTHS: Elite Route Running

It’s very fun to watch Addison run his routes. He can easily separate from his defender due to his crafty moves. The receptions speak for themselves as he had 100 receptions and 17 TDs in his sophomore season. He looks like a fun RAC player especially if he’s open. With his size, he can start probably at the slot.

WEAKNESSES: Drops

Drops were an issue for Jordan from his Pittsburgh days. With his talent, he should be more consistent and use his hands better. If he doesn’t solve his dropping issue, teams can lose patience easily.

PLAYER COMPARISON: DeVonta Smith

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Jordan Addison is one of the most dynamic WRs in the draft and he will have a lot of love in the late first round. Minnesota and the Giants are two teams that would love to have him. The loss of Adam Thielen and the lack of an elite wide receiver in New York will make him look like a must-have.

The post 2023 NFL Draft Focus: Jordan Addison appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

BACKGROUND

Zay Flowers is a wide receiver prospect out of Florida. Coming out of NSU University School, he wasn’t heavily recruited by the big schools. Multiple websites had him ranked as a three-star prospect. He decided to commit to Boston College.

COLLEGE CAREER

Zay had a steady rise in his college career. In his first season, he caught 22 passes for 341 yards and three TDs. He made the leap in his second season with 56 catches for 892 yards and nine touchdowns. This year got him his first First-team All-ACC. There was a slight decline in performance in his junior season. In year three, Flowers only caught 44 passes for 746 yards and five TDs. He was named to the Third-team All-ACC.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

Flowers saved his best season for last as he had career-high numbers across the boards. In his final season, Zay had 78 receptions for 1077 yards and 12 touchdowns. This put him back for his second First-team All-ACC. He had gotten a reputation as one of the most electrifying wide receivers in college football.

STRENGTHS: Electric In The Open Field

Few are as impactful and exciting to watch when Zay is in the open field. His speed and tempo make him a tough player to cover. His balance and route running are crisp and he can make catches down the sidelines. There is a path for him to make an impact on a contending team.

WEAKNESSES: Size

He has been listed as 5’9″ and 182 lbs, so his size will definitely be in question as he is undersized and played as a WR 1. Teams will not want an undersized WR 1 for their team. Another problem with his size is his potential as a blocker. His arms are small also which can affect his catch radius.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Tyler Lockett

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Zay will have a lot of suitors in the 20s in the first round. He played super well with a QB who wasn’t that good so he can shine in a team who takes him. The Chargers at #21 and Minnesota at #23 are good places to look at as they need WR help.

The post 2023 NFL Draft Focus: Zay Flowers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

After a top-five TE finish in his first year in Arizona, Zach Ertz had been under the radar regarding reliable tight ends in fantasy football. He ended 2021 with 74 receptions for 763 yards and five TDs. If you could not get one of the elite tight ends at the start of the draft, Zach Ertz would be a good backup choice.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

In the 2022 season, Ertz was an average sixth or seventh-round pick. This is good value for someone who’s been consistently healthy and someone who is capable of having a top-six TE season in fantasy. Another positive thing is with DeAndre Hopkins being out the first six games of the season, Zach would get extra receptions, especially in the endzone.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

Zach Ertz had a strong start to the season as he was one of the most consistent tight ends in the NFL. In nine games, he was in double-digit points for seven of those. He had 47 catches for 406 yards and four TDs. Even with Hopkins coming back in Week 7, Ertz still had 13 and 15 FP performances. With all the turmoil happening in Arizona, it will be interesting to see how Ertz will perform with all the chaos of Kyler and Hopkins.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 2 vs Las Vegas Raiders

The week two matchup against Las Vegas was Zach Ertz’s best non-TD game. He had a season-high 11 targets and caught a season-high eight receptions for 75 yards. It was a sight to see as fantasy owners were pleased with another double-digit performance.

Week 4 vs Carolina Panthers

Ertz had his best performance of the season when the Cardinals went to Carolina. He caught six passes for 47 yards and a two-yard TD in the third quarter to tie the game. All of this accumulated to 16.70 FP and he showed that he is one of the most consistent tight ends in football through four weeks.

Week 9 vs Seattle Seahawks

Zach’s last productive game of the season came against Seattle at home. He caught five passes for 40 yards and a TD. His six-yard TD catch late in the fourth made it a three-point game but Seattle answered back. The chaos for Arizona was about to begin as Ertz wouldn’t play anymore after Week 10.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Zach Ertz appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

BACKGROUND

Siaki Ika is a defensive tackle prospect out of Utah. He had a dominant senior season with 89 tackles and 14 sacks. He was invited to big games such as the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl. Rivals listed him as the top player from Utah and was a four-star prospect. He committed to play for the LSU Tigers.

COLLEGE CAREER

Siaki had a fast start to his college career as he was part of LSU’s 2020 National Championship Team. In 13 games, he had 18 total tackles. In his second season, he only played for three games before he decided to transfer to the Baylor Bears. In these three games, he recorded five tackles and his first sack. His first season at Baylor was arguably his best as he had 24 total tackles and four sacks in 2021. He was announced as the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Big 12.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

He returned for his senior year last season. Siaki had 23 total tackles and forced 18 total pressures. For the second year in a row, he was a first-team All-Big 12. After another steady season at Baylor, he decided to enter the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Prototype Size

At 6’4″, he is the prototypical nose tackle in the NFL. He uses his size to cause chaos in the backfield. For his size, he has good agility and quickness. The use of his hands is overrated as he can use them on his opponents because of their weight and can swat balls down from the line of scrimmage.

WEAKNESSES: Plays Too High

The usual complaint is he plays too high. Because of this, he looks unbalanced at times and misses some tackles. Blockers can get under his pads and stop him from making moves. There is a concern that he wasn’t able to get any sacks in his final season.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Danny Shelton

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Now many sites grade him as a Day 2 pick. However, given the lack of people in his position, teams may draft him early to fill a position of need. He could potentially be drafted in the second or maybe even the first round.

The post 2023 NFL Draft Focus: Siaki Ika appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

BACKGROUND

Devon Witherspoon is a cornerback prospect out of Florida. He had a peculiar high school career as he only played for two years. He only started football as a junior and it turned out to be the right move. In his second year of playing football, he recorded 74 tackles, seven interceptions, and a couple of TDs. Rivals didn’t list him as any star prospect, but he took the chance and committed to play for the University of Illinois.

COLLEGE CAREER

Devon was able to play in all 13 games for Illinois as he racked up 33 total tackles. His second season was even better as he collected 33 total tackles and two interceptions in seven games. After a shortened season, he put up career highs in multiple stats in his junior season. He had 52 total tackles and a sack in 10 starts.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

In his final year, Devon was one of the best defensive backs in all of college football. In 738 snaps, he had 42 total tackles and three interceptions. The best stat in my opinion is that when being targeted, the QBR was just 24.6. He earned numerous All-American awards and was praised often for his unique route to his NFL dream.

STRENGTHS: Intelligence

He has good anticipation on passes and he can read receivers’ routes very well. He also has the ability to read the quarterbacks’ eyes and can make quick decisions when the ball is thrown. Man coverage is where he shines as he believes he can handle any wide receiver that lines up against him.

WEAKNESSES: Too Aggressive At Times

The problem with his intelligence is that he often targets the big plays. By being overaggressive, he sometimes gets penalized for it a bit too much and needs to catch up for the tackle. This will be a possible problem once he faces the bigger WRs in the NFL. He needs to improve also in press coverage.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Levi Wallace

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

A team will be lucky to have their hands on Devon Witherspoon. He is consistently ranked as a top-three cornerback in this draft. Some have him before the top 10 while others have him in the later first half of the draft. A sneaky team could be the Raiders at seven who need to shore up on defense.

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Panthers Go Young

We are now fairly confident that the Panthers will draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick. As we have stated before, Young has big upside despite his size. If he can stay healthy I expect him to excel in Frank Reich‘s system.

Texans Grab C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans will waist no time sending in their pick for Stroud. C.J. Stroud has all tools and intangibles to succeed in this league. If the Texans are smart they beef up their offensive line and protect Stroud at all costs.

Colts Take a Chance on Will Levis

There is no doubt that the Indianapolis Colts need to take a chance on a quarterback in this draft. The main question is will it be Anthony Richardson or Will Levis? We have flip flopped a couple time on this one but believe the Colts will end up taking Levis. Levis has the physical tools to succeed in this league. Is he ready to be a day one starter?

Jalen Carter Drops to Seattle

Jalen Carter is arguably the best overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. The recent legal issues will cause him to drop but only by a couple picks. Carter will anchor the Seahawks defensive line for many years to come.

The post NFL Mock Draft 2023 – Version 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

After a stellar sophomore season with him ranked the top player in the NFL, Jonathan Taylor became a household name for all fantasy football fans. He ran for 1811 yards and 18 TDs and caught for 360 yards and a couple of TDs. People wondered if he would be the first overall pick for the upcoming season.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

Jonathan Taylor was the favorite non-QB player in fantasy drafts as he and Josh Allen were usually the first picks in fantasy drafts. With the RB position so volatile, having the best RB from last season makes it an easy choice for owners with the first or second pick.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

It was a nightmare of a season for the top-ranked RB of the Colts. There was a perfect storm of chaos from an injured offensive line to a subpar QB performance and to him being hurt. Teams were just focusing on him and were able to neutralize him. JT was only able to play 11 games for the Colts and this hurt the team. He ran for just 861 yards and four TDs. It will be interesting to see if teams will target him in the first round.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 1 vs Houston Texans

It was an amazing start to the season by JT as he rushed for 161 yards and 31 carries in the season-opener. He ran in for a two-yard TD with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Fantasy owners were delighted as they expected the Jonathan Taylor of last year to be the same for this season. This would be his best performance of the year with 27.50 FP.

Week 10 vs Las Vegas Raiders

It had been a slow season for Taylor as the Colts went to Las Vegas in Week 10. The Raiders’ defense had no answer as JT ran for 147 yards, including a 66-yard TD run late in the third quarter. His 24.30 FP this week was more than his previous three weeks combined.

Week 12 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Before being shut down due to a high ankle sprain, Jonathan Taylor’s last good game came against the Steelers. He ran for 86 yards and scored on a two-yard run in the third. It had been a subpar season to this point and we hope JT will be healthy and ready come the 2023 season.

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