Post by Washington Football Team on Sept 12, 2015 17:54:26 GMT -5
DFL Rankings (Week 1)
1) Ravens (0-0)
– The cream of the Crop, from top to bottom has the best team in the league. Has deepest WR depth. Every team should model their team after the Ravens, the defending 2-Time DFL Super Bowl Champion. Only weakness I would say his team has is his RB, he has a stud in Forte, but if Forte goes down he has nothing, but he has WR depth and can easily unload there to make-up for that weakness. Last year Ravens went UNDEFEATED, will he ever lose a game???
Prediction this week: Ravens over Jaguars
2) Broncos (0-0)
– Nobody can argue about the 1st two teams, both have been to the DFL Super Bowl for 2 straight years (Ravens taking both). Broncos has built one of the best offenses in the league. With the anchor of Charles, Bell and Thomas it is hard to see teams outscore his offense. Weakness I see would be his defense, Burfict out really hurts. His DL needs some improvements, but back to before his Offense makes up for his Defenses weakness.
Prediction this week: Broncos over Steelers
3) Redskins (0-0)
– Redskins formula going into this offseason is try to copy what Ravens has done with his team. I feel I have come close. Redskins like the Broncos in Bell and Charles, has the best WR duo in Julio and OBJ. Defense has really improved in a healthy Bowman and a young stud in Mosley. Weakness would be DB, after McDonald not very strong and a lot of (?) marks. DL depth is not that great either. I wanted to put me at #2, but felt Dave (Ravens) and Brooks (Broncos), have earned those spots for what they have done the past two seasons.
Prediction this week: Redskins over Saints
4) Packers (0-0)
– Anytime you have Aaron Rodgers you have to feel very safe about your team. Packers has a solid team overall. Hill, Lynch, Allen, VJax, etc. He has done a great job creating a solid contender. The biggest hurdle he has is having the Ravens in his division. Each year the Packers goes in wondering how he can take out his division rival!! Could this be the year? His defense looks poised and ready. A healthy Earl Thomas and Jon Beason will really help with his anchors of Collins and Jenkins. Packers goal this year give the Ravens his first loss!!
Prediction this week: Packers over Eagles
5) Cowboys (0-0)
- #1 offense last year. A big blow having lost Jordy Nelson for the year. However has a great young stud in Sammy Watkins waiting, only problem is Buffalo is a running team. Big upgrade in Eddie Lacy at RB, problem has not much depth after him. Defense Cowboys has solid contributors all around, biggest problem though is JPP being hurt. When and if he comes back to full strength will help the Cowboys defense. This team can move down the rankings in a hurry if some more injuries pile up.
Prediction this week: Cowboys over Bengals
6) Lions (0-0)
– I was really tempted to put Lions in at #5. He has depth at two of the most important positions. Kind of similar to Ravens team except he has depth at RB and LB, not the high quality as Ravens but still very solid players. He has a proven QB, and a great young TE. The weakness I would say is at WR, after Marshall he has a lot of inexperience at that position. I think Ravens and Lions need to get together and talk trade with RB’s and WR’s!! Lions toughest competitor will be the Vikings, it will come down to them two who takes the division.
Prediction this week: Lions over Vikings
7) Giants (0-0)
– He will soon be at the #1 spot if he keeps up his great trading ways of drafting young and stock piling on picks. If Gurley turns out the way all the experts are talking his offense jumps up to one of the best in the league. The defense is right up there as well. However, he is lacking at the DB position with Chancellor being a hold out. Again lots of talent and has youth on his side that will keep him in the top 10 for many years.
Prediction this week: Patriots over Giants (UPSET)
8) Texans (0-0)
– The Texans team looks really good on paper, but is filled with a lot of “What Ifs”. If Kaepernick can have the season that he has the potential to have. If Calvin can stay healthy. If DeMarco can put together another solid season in Chip Kelly’s offense, WATCH OUT. Texans defense is anchored by Bobby Wagner but they have some other top guys and other role players.
Prediction this week: Raiders over Texans (GAME of the WEEK)
9) Raiders (0-0)
- Through lots of trades this offseason, and keeping his main nucleus together the Raiders have put together a very solid roster. To begin with Tannehill is a rising young star, also getting RB’s Hyde and Martin will be a solid 1 – 2 combo. His defense has really no big name players but veterans like Timmons and Tulloch are great LB’s to lead the way. It’s hard to notice a weakness on the Raiders as I stated before no lights out stars but solid through the starters.
Prediction this week: Raiders over Texans (GAME of the WEEK)
10) Vikings (0-0)
– What can you say about the Vikings? Well first of all they have the best QB in the league in Andrew Luck, also great young WR’s in Evans and Bryant. Drafting T.J. Yeldon was a solid pick as his RB situation was kind of weak after Gio Bernard. His team will be depending on how well Yeldon produces. As for his defense, at LB looks a weak, but he makes up for them with his solid DB’s led by Bethea, Cyprien, and Clinton-Dix. The Vikings do lack a little depth on offense, but as long as Luck does what he does it will make up for that lack of depth.
Prediction this week: Lions over Vikings
11) Bengals (0-0)
– The Commish has a new team, and boy has he built it up nice!! Foster going down in the early preseason hurts his team a little, but sounds like he is way ahead of schedule. With how nice Edelman looked on Thursday night he has a real chance to break the reception record with how many catches he had, and Brady will keep on relying on him too. The Bengals defense is very strong at DL especially when Hardy comes back from suspension. The problem with the Bengals is they are in a very tough division with Broncos (#2) and Cowboys (#5). Chief knows how to get things done and turn a dweller team into a powerhouse.
Prediction this week: Cowboys over Bengals
12) Patriots (0-0)
– Now when I wrote this up this was after the Thursday night game, and after seeing how Brady, Gronk, and Lewis did, I had to check where I had the Patriots. He very well could be in the top 10, but with how his WR situation and defense is (JJ Watt can’t play all the positions). I still feel this is a reasonable spot for the Pats. Although I do like to be proven wrong, I just would like to see more reliable players at the WR, LB, and DB spots on his team. However, last year he was undefeated in the regular season (Only NE and BAL were undefeated in regular season in 2014). Lastly, I will say that is 3 (WAS, NYG, and NE) of the 4 teams in the top 12 from the AFC East.
Prediction this week: Patriots over Giants (UPSET)
13) Panthers (0-0)
– The Panthers team comes in with a player that is angry – See Adrian Peterson. Teamed up with Matt Ryan, DeSean Jackson, and Darren Sproles rounds out a solid squad on offense. Panthers have some good depth on offense but will rely on AP and Ryan to carry the load most weeks. The defense is what moves them down the ranks. It would be nice to see over the course of the season the Panthers build up through waivers guys that are producing and cutting ties with those that are not putting up numbers. Big reason up this high too is the division the Panthers is in as well.
Prediction this week: Panthers over Cardinals
14) Falcons (0-0)
– If you look up the definition “Veterans” in the dictionary you might see a picture of the Atlanta Falcons team. Romo, Witten, D. Will, Fred Jackson, Steve Smith, and Anquan Boldin. That is quite the list of veterans, guys who know how to play football and know their rolls. The biggest negative is the Falcons defense, it hurt his team with the surprise retirement of Patrick Willis, and he has some solid role players but none that stand out above the rest. The defense will be average, I could be wrong though, but working the waivers will help the Falcons move up in the rankings.
Prediction this week: Falcons over Buccaneers
15) Buccaneers (0-0)
– Can you say 3 in a row?!! That is 3 teams in a row from the NFC West!! The Buccaneers were a laughing stock last year, previous GM had tough time finding talent. In comes Jake and turns things around. From easily ranked last in the league to #15 is an improvement already. The biggest thing is this division will be a fun one to watch. The Bucs have put together some solid young talent with Ellington, Wright, and Lockett to name a few, and last year’s waiver wire wonder Justin Forsett will look to repeat what he did last year. On defense the Bucs have some solid role players and one stud at DB Reshad Jones, look for him to be a top 5 DB. Again pay attention to the NFC West and watch to see who comes out of this tough division.
Prediction this week: Falcons over Buccaneers
16) Saints (0-0)
– Here is another team who has worked extensively this offseason improving his team. It really does help when you have 2 rookie picks in the top 10 and he drafted some pretty good players Melvin Gordon and Jameis Winston. Should be his QB and RB combo for many years to come and also hard to pry away from him. Where the Saints are set is RB having Gordon, Murray and Freeman. Where they are weak is WR after Decker and Royal not much their sides Janis. I’m sure he will have his waiver bids on speed dial to help with guys producing early in the season. Lastly, I will say this steal of the draft is the Saints drafting LB Kwon Alexander in the 3rd, if he can prove to be an every down player what a pick Saints!
Prediction this week: Redskins over Saints
17) Cardinals (0-0)
– The Cardinals team is welcomed back by DFL great Nick Campbell, welcome back Nick. He takes over a team that made the playoffs last year, however over the course of the offseason and players changing teams on NFL squad has shaken his team up a little. First the biggest question is how healthy can McCoy stay, if he has a tough time staying out of the trainer’s room, it could spell doom for the Cardinals. He does have a solid replacement in Ivory but to be successful the Cards would need a healthy dose of both McCoy and Ivory playing every week. Lastly, the defense has taken a big hit with only two players really standing out in Church and Lofton, if his other roll players can prove to be up to the task I can see the Cards moving up the list.
Prediction this week: Panthers over Cardinals
18) Jaguars (0-0)
– What I have found that works as a success in this league is having a solid weekly QB, the Jags are missing that piece. He could be on speed dial as Alex Smith and Nick Foles are in the waits on the Waiver wire. I see it really hard for Cousins to be successful in this league with the way Griffin has already been beat up. The one thing the Jags do have going for them are STUDS. Antonio Brown, Lavonte David, and Ryan Shazier. He will be able to rely on those players on a weekly basis, but he will need better support from elsewhere. Also needs to look at adding more depth. Lastly, the Jags are in a tough division being with BAL and GB, those two juggernauts are hard to overcome.
Prediction this week: Ravens over Jaguars
19) Steelers (0-0)
– I thought about having them ranked higher, but after Cooks and Gore, there are a lot of question marks. The Steelers I believe had the most rookies added to their roster, so his team is very young. Young brings a lot of inexperience, however they also be beasts. Just a lot of uncertainty with the roster. In addition in the DFL as we are seeing with every team it is important that you have a balanced offense and defense. Beside Collins and Tevin Smith the Steelers need to see some other guys step up to be weekly starters. It will be a fun season to watch to see what young rookies produce on the Steelers team.
Prediction this week: Broncos over Steelers
20) Titans (0-0)
– One of the original owners the Titans has had Drew Brees in a Titans uniform from the beginning, but as we all saw last year he has lost a little on his touch, although it is rumored he worked on that this offseason. What really brings the Titans team to ranked #20 is he has no RB, he has a couple backups but he is in dire need of a solid starter. Also his top 2 WR’s are getting pretty long in the teeth in Fitzgerald and Roddy White. Looking for owners with added depth at RB and younger WR’s is where the Titans I’m sure has begun looking. He will also be a busy owner on the waiver wire. On defense he boasts two of the top LB’s in the league in Levy and Ogletree. They are a huge anchor to his defense and a healthy Mathieu will help as well if he shows great strides this year. If he gets that solid starting RB this year, he could move up really quick.
Prediction this week: Chiefs over Titans (UPSET)
21) Eagles (0-0)
– I think the Eagles have finally found their QB of the future!! Mariota will be an Eagle I believe for a very long time. It will be someone he can rely on and build his team around. The Eagles come into this season with a much improved lineup over years past having Vereen, Charles Clay, and Doug Baldwin. A decent starting group, but will just have to be patient with the growing pains of a young rookie QB. He will get there but might just take some time. As for his defense Justin Houston anchors that side, and followed by Suh, sides Houston, not big stat stuffers, but working the waivers for those that do, can really help his defense out. Lastly, like the Jaguars, is in the toughest division in the league with BAL and GB.
Prediction this week: Packers over Eagles
22) Chiefs (0-0)
– New ownership and GM, this team has been busy in trades this offseason. The Chiefs are getting to where they want to be with their young nucleus of Bortles, CJ Anderson, and Charles Johnson. If Bortles can make a big step this year which is a big IF that will really help the Chiefs, but as for now it will be CJ Anderson carrying them. The defense has some solid starters but not ones that make the big plays or that are on the field all the time. Finding those defensive stars possibly on the waivers might help this defense a little more. Overall a good owner to talk trades with and look forward to see what he can do for the Chiefs this year.
Prediction this week: Chiefs over Titans (UPSET)
23) Colts (0-0)
– The last two teams were a toss-up. Both reside in the AFC Central, the weakest division in the DFL in my opinion. I picked the Colts with his young talent at WR in Agholor and Peerman (if he can get healthy) and possible Karlos Williams. On defense he has the same thing with McCoy at DL and Kendricks, and Freeman at LB. I will be honest this might be the first year where I can’t say for sure who will be at the bottom. I think all the owners this year have taken pride in their teams and worked to build them up the best they can. If the Colts can work the waiver wire, they can pick up some solid pieces in areas they need improvements, like DB and depth everywhere.
Prediction this week: Jets over Colts
24) Jets (0-0)
– Like I stated with the Colts I view them neck and neck. Maybe I should have them at 23 with having Big Ben as their QB, what will help the Jets out is if Bishop Sankey can prove to be the back he was supposed to be. The Jets are filled with what if’s as well with his rookies, he may need to patient as it could take a year or two for guys like Maxx Williams and Green-Beckham to get where they need to be. His defense has two young studs in Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack, easily guys you can build your defense around. He has his first pick for next year, it should be valued very high, and could get a player like Ezekial Elliott to bolster his team at the RB positon.
Prediction this week: Jets over Colts
