This is an intriguing matchup for several reasons. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be returning from his season ending hamstring injury with a lot to prove. The Eagles on the other hand will try to avoid the Super Bowl hangover and start the season on a winning note. It will also mark the debut for new Cowboys receiver George Pickens who was recently acquired in a trade from the Steelers.

Then of course there is the rivalry aspect that always ramps up the intensity of this NFC East battle. Dallas was blown out in both matchups last year and they will want to return the favor. Prescott, when healthy has shown he has the Eagles number with a 9-4 record head-to-head. This will be an entertaining opener to say the least and we can’t wait to see it play out.

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He’s big, can scramble, and is pretty smart with the football. The question now becomes which team would want to take on his contract. If no one clears him off waivers he could become a free agent and not take on that massive contract. As I look at the football landscape, my first thought was to team with a quarterback need who has a bad record this year. These teams include the Raiders, Browns, Titans. But these teams are better off drafting a young quarterback in this year’s draft. Or are they?

Daniel Jones just needs the right situation, like a Sam Darnold in Minnesota. Could he go to a playoff team as their backup this year? Not a bad idea since at any time a starter could get hurt and they need somebody formidable to step in and win games. So of the current playoff teams, who could benefit. The team I immediately think of is the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen and Daniel Jones are similar in stature and have the same kind of game. They both scramble when they have to and have strong arms. A backup quarterback is very important in this league, just ask the Chiefs when Chad Henne stepped in and won. I believe this scenario might be a possibility where Daniel Jones could get a fresh start. We will see how it all shakes out, but it’s a story we will be watching in the days to come.

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1. Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles came oh so close to taking home the Super Bowl last year against the Kansas City Chiefs. Most of those same players are coming back with the most important being Jalen Hurts. I do worry a little about a Superbowl hangover but they should be OK. Losing Miles Sanders was tough but the addition of D’Andre Swift means they don’t skip a beat. I think for most writers the Eagles are the consensus #1 in the NFC.

2. San Francisco 49ers – There’s a correlation between a team’s high power ranking and how good their defense will be. The 49ers have built a solid defense culture and have their star player in Christian McCaffrey. Not sure what we’ll see from Brock Purdy but if you go off last year he should do well.

3. Dallas Cowboys – Cowboys are good on paper they have a solid QB with good receivers. How will their defense be this year? I think the Cowboys are the team that will get you 10 or 11 wins but I can’t trust them in the playoffs.

4. Minnesota Vikings – What will happen to the running game without Dalvin Cook? Will Alexander Mattison take the next step? I think that would make a difference as well as the Vikings shoring up on defense. The Vikings should push the Lions to win the NFC North.

5. Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks are coming off a great year led by Geno Smith at QB. It was an amazing resurgence for a player that was counted out by many. The Seahawks should contend this year and give other NFC teams a run for their money. And of course the 12th man is very real at home!

6. Detroit Lions – Dan Campbell has transformed the culture of the Detroit Lions. They go into games expecting to win and with all the talented young players they have, expect them to make another push for the playoffs.

7. New York Giants – Daniel Jones is coming off a stellar year and the addition of Darren Waller should help them a lot. The key for Waller is staying healthy as well as Saquon Barkley staying healthy. The problem with the Giants is they play in the NFC East where all the teams could be over 8 wins.

8. Washington Commanders – Two words, Eric Bieniemy! His addition to this team I think is being undervalued. He will get the skill players the ball quickly and let them use their speed. If Sam Howell can ball out and eliminate turnovers expect the Commanders to win 8 or more games this year. Also, let’s not forget about their formidable defense.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Who is Baker Mayfield? Is this the opportunity he needed to really excel? It could be but I see him as a Derek Carr type player where he will put up yards but also throw plenty of picks. This is probably his last chance so there is some pressure on him. The Bucs could win the division but to me that’s a toss up.

10. Chicago Bears – I expect the Bears to have a bounce back year with Justin Fields at the helm. The division got easier with Aaron Rodgers gone, the problem is the Detroit Lions who appear to be on the up and up.

11. Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons are a .500 team this year as I look at their QB situation. The only saving grace for them is that they play in the NFC South with no clear dominant team.

12. Carolina Panthers – Their is a new era in Carolina with Bryce Young commanding the offense along side his coach Frank Reich. Bryce Young will have his struggles though as he will learn the NFL has players that are all Alabama style talent.

13. Arizona Cardinals – The Cards will be something special in the coming years with a bright young proven Head Coach now leading the team. He will bring that strong defensive mindset that he brought to the Eagles. I’m curious what will see from Kyler Murray this year, can he stay healthy?

14. New Orleans Saints – Saints are an interesting team in 2023. They have Derek Carr now who could put up over 4k yards, especially with Michael Thomas back. The issue with the Saints is their defense. Again their another .500 team but play in a weak division.

15. Green Bay Packers – The Packers have been good for a long while with Aaron Rodgers at the QB position. Expect the Packers to decline this year and not make the playoffs. What Aaron Rodgers meant to the Packers is so invaluable. Jordan Love is talented but he’s no Rodgers.

16. Los Angeles Rams – I have the Rams dead last but they do still have key weapons on offense. I’m curious to see who takes over at QB, will Stetson Bennett get his chance? Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy?

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According to a recent report from Josina Anderson, Kareem Hunt is on the Washington Commanders radar. The free agent running back has yet to sign on with a team this offseason. In Cleveland, Hunt’s primary role was 3rd down back but his production dropped last year for the Browns. Hunt’s YPC (yards per carry) in 2022 was only 3.8 and despite being healthy all season he could only muster 678 all-purpose yards. At age 27, Hunt can still make an impact on the field if he goes to the right situation.

Familiar System in Washington

When Eric Bieniemy became the Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator, I expected some ex-Chiefs to follow him. Washington did sign former Chiefs OL Andrew Wylie in free agency but no other former Kansas City players of note. It doesn’t shock me that Bieniemy would be interested in his former running back but is there room for him in DC?

The Commanders already have Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson in the running back room and they drafted Chris Rodriguez Jr. from Kentucky. Robinson and Gibson should carry a majority of the load and Rodriguez Jr. is a wild card. The Commanders likely want a veteran presence that knows Bieniemy’s system to mentor the young players. While the role would likely be minimal, adding Hunt as an additional weapon is not a bad idea. The key will be if they can get him at a reasonable price.

Fantasy Angle

In terms of fantasy, this would not be an ideal scenario. Robinson and Gibson’s overall value would take a hit if the Commanders signed Hunt. More so Gibson, as Robinson has carved out his role as the goal-line back. Gibson’s ADP has been steadily rising as his potential in this offense is exciting. The addition of Hunt would tamper that hype and he would take away some touches from Gibson. There are still unknowns with this offense and how these roles will be defined.

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The Giants had a difficult decision to make this offseason. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley were both in line for a new contract but they couldn’t afford to sign both to mega deals. They decided to pay their young quarterback instead of Barkley and signed him to a 4-year $160 million dollar deal. While you can argue if that was the right move or not the Giants knew one of their stars would not be happy. Now they must deal with the fallout from that situation and find a resolution with Barkley.

The Le’Veon Bell Effect

Sitting out an entire NFL season is not unprecedented. In 2018, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell sat out the entire season when he refused to sign his 2nd franchise tag. It was a gamble by Bell that ended up working in his favor. The following year Bell signed a 4-year $52.5 million dollar contract with the New York Jets. This made Bell the 2nd highest-paid running back at the time. Although Bell made his money, he wasn’t the same player we saw in Pittsburgh and never could replicate that success.

Standing His Ground

Saquon Barkley and the Giants have until July 17th to come to terms on a new deal. If they can’t, Barkley will either have to play the year under the franchise tag or not play at all. Barkley has stated all along he is not looking to be the top paid running back in the NFL. He just wants a respectable contract that pays him what he’s worth. At 26, Barkley is still in his prime and has shown he can be a difference-maker on the field. He finished his 2022-23 campaign with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Most importantly he didn’t miss any games due to injury.

When the season opens in the Fall, I expect Saquon Barkley to be on the field. In order for that to happen the Giants must budge and up their contract offer. There are rumors that Barkley turned down a $14 million per year contract offer from the Giants. Will Barkley accept if they up the offer to $15 million per year? Possibly, but the Giants may wait and call Barkley’s bluff.

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Chase Young suffered a grade 3 ACL injury in 2021 that kept him out of much of the 2022-2023 season. When he returned he wasn’t the same dominant force we were accustomed to seeing. He seemed to still be favoring his leg and lacked the explosiveness we saw during his rookie campaign. It’s understandable as this was a significant knee injury that can take time to heal.

Back in April, the Washington Commanders decided to decline Young’s 5th-year option which raised some eyebrows. You can look at this two ways. The Commanders want to motivate Young and see if he bounces back next season. The other is the ownership factor which has yet to be official. It’s possible the Commanders are waiting for the new ownership group before making any decisions on the future. Head Coach Ron Rivera has stated more than once that the team is in a holding pattern until new ownership takes over. Either way, this decision has caused several different trade rumors to pop up. Could the Commanders make the move?

Potential Trade Candidates for Chase Young

Here’s the thing, it’s very likely the Commanders don’t trade Chase Young but that doesn’t mean teams won’t poke around. If a trade package is significant enough it may tempt Washington to make the move. They also have Montez Sweat who will be due a new contract soon and they may not be able to keep Sweat and Young.

The Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs have all been rumored to be interested in Young. Of those teams, the Chiefs make the most sense. They are obviously a contender and lost stud DE Frank Clark this offseason. What could they offer the Commanders in return? An early-round draft pick is likely the answer but it needs to be high enough to get Washington’s interest.

I fully expect the Commanders to hold onto their star despite the trade rumors. According to Albert Breer, this is the likely outcome. Chase Young has turned some heads in OTA’s as it’s looking like he is completely healthy now and ready to prove his doubters wrong.

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When it’s all said and done, Justin Jefferson could be one of the best wide receivers the NFL has ever seen. Jefferson is only 23 and is already a 3x Pro Bowler and 1x All-Pro. He continues to get better each year despite getting double-covered regularly and blanketed by every NFL defense. In his first 3 seasons, he has given us incredible highlights including a one-handed catch for the ages in a critical situation.

When Jefferson was drafted in the 1st round by the Minnesota Vikings it wasn’t a big surprise. If you watched the potent LSU offense you saw a star in the making. Although raw, Jefferson showed outstanding ball skills and would catch just about everything thrown his way. During his final year in College, he lined up primarily in the slot and there were questions on if he could excel in the outside role. It’s safe to say that those questions can already be put to rest as it doesn’t matter where Jefferson is lined up. He has shown he will consistently win in any position.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently claimed that he would break the single-season receiving yards record. While Hill is talented and very well could come close, it will instead be Justin Jefferson who does it. The Dolphins also have Jaylen Waddle and he will account for a good amount of the target share. Before we look ahead at how Justin Jefferson will break the receiving record, let’s first dive into his stats.

Justin Jefferson Stats

It’s hard not to be in awe when looking at Justin Jefferson’s receiving stats. In 2022 alone, he was first in total receptions (128), first in First Downs Receiving (80) and second in Yards Before Catch (1,185). Jefferson also had a drop rate of only 2.7% which is impressive given the number of targets that went his way (184). His 1,809 receiving yards in 2022 was good for 6th all-time. Jefferson was on pace to break the record last year but was uncharacteristically quiet in his final two games. He had only 5 catches for 53 yards during that span with 0 touchdowns.

Next, I want to take a look at comparing Justin Jefferson to the best wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice. I took the overall stats from both of their first 3 seasons and here is what I found.

• Jefferson had 124 more receptions than Rice (324 vs 200)
• Jefferson also had 1,250 more receiving yards than Rice (4,825 vs 3,575)
• Rice had 15 more touchdowns than Jefferson (40 vs 25)

As you can see the numbers are similar given that Rice played in 6 less games than Jefferson in his first three seasons. The 40 touchdowns by Rice in that span is the second most all-time just behind Randy Moss who had 43. It’s still too early to put Jefferson in the class of the greats but you can see where the stats are trending.

How Justin Jefferson Will Break the Record

So far, we’ve recapped Jefferson’s first three seasons and broke down some key statistics vs the greats. Now let’s point out how he will break the single-season receiving record in 2023.

Next season, the Minnesota Vikings have a fairly manageable schedule. They are in the middle of the pack in terms of strength of schedule. While NFL teams’ success can change drastically from year to year, I expect the Vikings to finish first in the NFC North. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions finished towards the bottom in NFL total team defense last year and I expect the Packers defense will take a step back.

Putting the schedule aside, I project that Jefferson will finish the year with 2,015 receiving yards. If you look at the stats above, Jefferson has averaged around +200 yards each season and +20 receptions.

The Vikings also drafted Jordan Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. While some will say this is going to take away from Jefferson’s production, I am going in the opposite direction. This will only help Jefferson as some of the defensive attention will now be off him with an additional weapon on the field. With that said, I expect Justin Jefferson to break the single-season receiving yards record in 2023 and I can’t wait to watch him do it.

The post Why Justin Jefferson Will Break the Receiving Yards Record in 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

This is obviously huge news for Alexander Mattison as he will finally be the lead back in Minnesota. Mattison has a chance now to finish as a top-tier fantasy running back in 2023. Keep an eye out for our fantasy football rankings as when they are updated you will see a pretty big jump for Mattison. As for Cook, it all depends on where he lands. Let’s now look at 3 potential suitors for the star running back.

Miami Dolphins

Rumors of Dalvin Cook to the Dolphins have been circulating for months now. The Dolphins have no clear-cut #1 running back and this spot makes the most sense. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Devon Achane round out the crowded running back room for the Dolphins. Achane was a 3rd round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft so the Dolphins have some investment there. Still, when you have a chance to grab one of the top running backs in the game you take it.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are another team to keep an eye on as a Dalvin Cook landing spot. Denver has Javonte Williams coming back and they also signed ex-Bengal Samaje Perine this offseason. There are some factors here to consider. The first is Williams suffered an ACL tear back in October and it might take some time before he is ready. The other is Perine is more of third down running back and has never handled a heavy load. If Head Coach Sean Payton believes his team is a contender, expect him to make a move.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas is a bit of a wild card on this list but there are signs the Cowboys may be interested in Cook. Earlier this offseason the Cowboys decided to release Ezekiel Elliott and move ahead with Tony Pollard. Although Pollard has shown a ton of potential the questions are there if he can handle a full-time role. Fantasy owners would not be happy with Cook entering the mix but the Cowboys offense would become a major threat next season. Never count out Jerry Jones to make a splashy move and bringing in Dalvin Cook would certainly be that.

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Revisiting the previous season, a total of five coaches got the axe. Kliff Kingsbury, Lovie Smith, Matt Rhule, Frank Reich and Nathaniel Hackett are all out. Of the five that were let go, only Frank Reich landed another NFL Head Coaching position as he signed on with the Carolina Panthers. You can expect around the same number to be fired next year if not more. NFL teams are hiring and firing coaches more quickly now (see Hackett).

With that said we picked five coaches that are currently on the hot seat for the upcoming season. Keep an eye on these coaches as it will be important for all of them to start fast when the season starts.

Robert Saleh – New York Jets

Robert Saleh very well could’ve been fired following the 2022-2023 season. The Jets spiraled out of the NFL playoff picture losing their last 6 games. Despite having a stellar NFL Draft, they lacked a true offensive identity and finished near the bottom in total points (296).

In steps Aaron Rodgers to try and revitalize the Jets franchise. Rodgers brought with him some old friends in Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. He also has Nathaniel Hackett running the offense as the two former Packers team up again. The expectations are now sky-high and if the Jets start off the season slow it may be Saleh that pays the price.

Kevin Stefanski – Cleveland Browns

Kevin Stefanski had a dream debut season for Cleveland. The Browns finished that season with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs. In their Wild Card matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the offense was unstoppable and they put up a whopping 48 points. It seemed as if Stefanski and Baker Mayfield were the perfect match. Since then things haven’t gone as planned. Mayfield is no longer with the Browns and Deshaun Watson was brought in on a massive contract.

Cleveland is now predicted to finish last in the AFC North next season. Stefanski will need a strong season from Watson and the offense as a whole to keep his job.

Mike McCarthy – Dallas Cowboys

If this were any other team in the NFL Mike McCarthy would be safe. The Cowboys finished last season with a 12-5 record and a playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet there is a sense of urgency that Dallas needs to produce better postseason results.

They since have let go of their promising offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. McCarthy has taken over the play-calling duties and with that is more added pressure. If the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs or fail to advance in the postseason, Jerry Jones may lose his patience.

Matt LaFleur – Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have officially entered the Jordan Love era. Whether it’s fair or not, Matt LaFleur’s future depends on how well Love progresses. Aaron Rodgers leaving could be a blessing in disguise for the Packers franchise. It could also end up being the start of a stretch where Green Bay is no longer relevant and they are back in the quarterback market next year. Regardless, the microscope will be on LaFleur as he enters the upcoming season.

Ron Rivera – Washington Commanders

It’s already been an unusual offseason for Head Coach Ron Rivera. The Washington Commanders are finally getting rid of their hated owner Dan Snyder. This alone has caused a new level of optimism around the franchise. They also brought in Eric Bieniemy as Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. With that, there is a bit of strange dynamic while they wait for future owner Josh Harris to take over.

Will Rivera be safe until next year? No one really knows but don’t discount the Bieniemy effect. Early reports from Commanders OTA’s are saying Rivera has delegated many duties to Bieniemy. It’s plausible that Bieniemy has been tabbed the Head Coach in waiting. This situation is worth keeping an eye on as we get into training camp.

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Looking back on his 2022-2023 season, Hopkins played in only 9 games due to a PED suspension. When he returned the Cardinals were hovering around .500 and hoped he would provide a spark. That didn’t happen as Arizona finished the year with a 4-13 record.

When looking at his stats you can understand why Hopkins was frustrated. He had zero big plays over 40+ yards and his longest reception of the year was 33 yards. Moreover, his Air Yards Per Reception was 8.6 which in large part was due to poor quarterback play. Hopkins will be looking to correct that on his next team as determines where to go next. With that let’s take a look at the top landing spots for DeAndre Hopkins.

Las Vegas Raiders

Although the Raiders already have a star wide receiver in Davante Adams, pairing him with Hopkins could be a lethal combo. The Raiders brought in Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason and brought back stud running back Josh Jacobs. Adding Hopkins to this group could push the Raiders to the top of the AFC. Questions still remain on defense as Las Vegas finished towards the bottom of the league last year in total team defense.

Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson was the hottest topic in the NFL this offseason. The Ravens and Jackson finally came to terms on a long-term deal, locking up their franchise quarterback. They also made a splash at the wide receiver position by bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. for a hefty price. They should still bring in another receiver as OBJ will be rusty and is coming back after a significant ACL injury.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills championship window is now and they need to push all their chips to the center of the table. This is why I believe Deandre Hopkins will eventually end up in Buffalo. Adding him to the mix and pairing him with Stefon Diggs could be exactly what gets Buffalo its first Super Bowl title. If I am Brandon Beane, I am doing everything in my power to make this happen. If you want to win championships you have to take risks (see the 2022 LA Rams) and grabbing Hopkins is a risk worth taking.

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