AFC North Fantasy Football Breakdown Recap
In the most recent episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast, hosts Andy, Mike, and Jason continue their divisional breakdown with the AFC West. You can listen to the whole AFC North Breakdown and Hot Takes podcast episode to get the scoop on the Browns hype, JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s outlook as the WR in Pittsburgh and more.
Look for links to other Divisional Breakdowns at the end of the article.
Each projected starter includes their average draft position from Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team, .5 PPR scoring.
Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
2018 Offensive Stats
[lptw_table id=”160419″ style=”default”]Projected Week 1 Starters (ADP)
QB: Lamar Jackson (12.09)
RB: Mark Ingram (4.06), Justice Hill (12.06), Gus Edwards(N/A), Kenneth Dixon(N/A)
WR: Marquise Brown (14.07), Willie Snead (N/A)
TE: Mark Andrews (13.10), Hayden Hurst (N/A),
Additions:
RB Mark Ingram
RB Justice Hill
WR Marquise Brown (Hollywood!!!)
WR Miles Boykin
Subtractions:
WR John Brown
WR Michael Crabtree
WR Breshad Perriman
RB Alex Collins
QB Joe Flacco
Offseason Summary:
The Ravens drafted some playmakers, but are a team that will run, run some more, and then run for good measure. Lamar Jackson and the backfield will run behind what projects to be one of the best offensive lines in the league. With Hayden Hurst and Marquise Brown still not fully healthy, the most valuable receiving option may be turn out to be second-year TE Mark Andrews.
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6-1)
2018 Offensive Snaps
[lptw_table id=”160401″ style=”default”]Projected Week 1 Starters (ADP)
QB: Ben Roethlisberger (11.03)
RB: James Conner (1.11), Jaylen Samuels (9.04), Benny Snell (N/A)
WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster (2.04), Donte Moncrief (11.04), James Washington (N/A)
TE: Vance McDonald (7.09)
Additions:
WR Donte Moncrief
WR Diontae Johnson
RB Benny Snell
Subtractions:
RB Le’Veon Bell
WR Antonio Brown
TE Jesse James
Offseason Summary:
The Steelers’ offseason raises more questions than it answers. 35% of last years’ targets have been vacated (fourth-most in the NFL) with the loss of Antonio Brown and Jesse James. The Steelers WRs had more receptions than any other team last year, but JuJu Smith-Schuster can’t absorb many more targets than he already had last year leaving Donte Moncrief and/or James Washington the likely beneficiaries. The Steelers offense may also pivot focus and try to get Vance McDonald and Jaylen Samuels into the passing game more often. James Conner appears to have the workhorse RB role, but questions remain about his role in the passing game and his ability to approach double-digit TDs on the ground especially if this offense takes a step back. You cannot lose a player of Antonio Brown’s stature and not expect massive ripple effects throughout the offense. The loss of AB creates a wide range of outcomes for many of the skill-position players and the Steelers offense as a whole.
Cleveland Browns (7-8-1)
2018 Offensive Snaps
Projected Week 1 Starters (ADP)
QB: Baker Mayfield (6.10)
RB: Nick Chubb (2.08), Duke Johnson (13.12), Kareem Hunt (8.04)
WR: Odell Beckham Jr. (2.02), Jarvis Landry (5.11), Antonio Calloway (N/A)
TE: David Njoku (8.08)
Additions:
HC Freddie Kitchens
OC Todd Monken
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
RB Kareem Hunt
Addition by Subtraction:
Hue Jackson
Offseason Summary:
The Browns had an exciting up-and-coming offense and then added Odell Beckham Jr. and Kareem Hunt. They are stacked with one of the best wide receiver corps, backfields, TEs, and QBs in the league. Freddie Kitchens was officially named the Head Coach putting the nail in the coffin of the previous coach who shall not be named. This offense should be humming with premier skill-position players all over the field. From a fantasy perspective, the problem may be the sheer number of offensive weapons. The opportunity funnels necessary to produce elite fantasy seasons cannot exist for all of the fantasy-relevant players projected to be on the field. David Njoku and Jarvis Landry owners may end up disappointed depending on where they drafted him.
Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
2018 Offensive Snaps
[lptw_table id=”160421″ style=”default”]
Projected Week 1 Starters (ADP)
QB: Andy Dalton (N/A)
RB: Joe Mixon (2.01), Giovani Bernard (N/A)
WR: A.J. Green (3.06), Tyler Boyd (6.05), John Ross (N/A)
TE: Tyler Eifert (N/A), Drew Sample (N/A)
Additions:
HC Zac Taylor
OC Brian Callahan
RB Trayveon Williams
RB Rodney Anderson
QB Ryan Finley
TE Drew Sample
T Jonah Williams
Subtractions:
Offseason Summary:
Zac Taylor comes in from the Sean McVay coaching tree, but he’s already dealing with an injury to the Bengals 11th overall pick in offensive tackle Jonah Williams who may miss the entire season. A.J. Green appears on track to be healthy enough for team drills following yet another “below the shin” injury that ended a season where he was on pace for 1,000+ receiving yards and double-digit TDs. Vegas has the Bengals at 100-1 odds to win the Super Bowl ahead of only Arizona and Miami. On the plus side, Tyler Eifert is healthy-ish and the Bengals drafted blocking TE Drew Sample which may allow Eifert to specialize in pass-catching duties.