What We're Watching: AFC North
The NFL season is underway as all 32 teams will be opening training camp this week. The brief lull of the early summer is over, and it's time now to put the fantasy preparation into overdrive. As always, Footballguys is here to be your guide to another great season. Here's what we're watching for in the AFC North:
BALTIMORE RAVENS
John Harbaugh will oversee his 12th training camp as Ravens head coach, and there’s renewed excitement in the organization thanks to a successful transition from long-time starter Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson. Last year, the Ravens were 4-5 through nine games, and on the verge of missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season. In a fit of desperation, the team turned the huddle over to Jackson – who scrambled his way to six victories in seven games. The Ravens finished 10-6 and won their first division crown since 2012 (their Super Bowl championship season). The team had to make some difficult cap-related decisions on the defensive side of the ball but made wholesale upgrades on the offensive side to expedite Jackson’s development as a passer. Can they maintain last season’s momentum?
Camp Details:
- When: 7/17 (Rookies) / 7/24 (Veterans)
- Where: Under Armour Performance Center (Owings Mills, MD)
- Open to Public: Limited
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 8 -- Jacksonville 7:30pm EDT
- Aug 15 -- Green Bay 7:30pm
- Aug 22 -- @Philadelphia 7:30pm
- Aug 29 -- @Washington 7:30pm
What We're Watching:
- Turning Lamar Jackson from an athlete into a quarterback – Jackson was the catalyst for Baltimore’s dramatic second-half turnaround, and they franchise committed to him this offseason by parting ways with Joe Flacco and focusing on the offensive side of the ball during the NFL draft. Can offensive coordinator Greg Roman turn Jackson from a scrambler to a dual-purpose field general?
- Is Mark Ingram a bell cow? – The Ravens were ranked second in rushing yards (2,441) and touchdowns (19) last year, but Lamar Jackson led the team with 147 carries. Ingram was excellent in shared duties in New Orleans and has the build and temperament to be an every-down workhorse. Will the Ravens commit to Ingram, or will he have to share the backfield with Gus Edwards, rookie Justice Hill, and possibly Kenneth Dixon?
- Who starts at wide receiver (and does it matter?) – No team vacated a larger percentage of targets in the offseason, and the depth chart is wide open. The front office used two early picks on Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin and could become starters immediately unless Willie Snead is lights out during camp. But should fantasy owners care given the game script will usually involve 20-25 passing attempts?
- Is Mark Andrews a legitimate breakout candidate? – Andrews is getting much buzz after showing chemistry with Jackson last season. Assuming the offense plays conservatively and works short- and intermediate zones, Andrews could be this year’s tight end breakout. But the Ravens have Hayden Hurst and Nick Boyle on the roster, too.
- Can the defense survive the purge? – The Ravens defense returned to dominance last year (2nd in points allowed, 1st in yards allowed) and was a critical factor in putting Lamar Jackson in a position to win games with his legs. Even a modest falloff on defense could force Jackson into obvious throwing situations, and derail the momentum. Can defensive coordinator Don Martindale work his magic even though the team lost Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith, C.J. Mosley, and Eric Weddle? Signing Earl Thomas helps replace Weddle, but that doesn’t solve the major questions on the front seven.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
For the first time in seventeen years, the Bengals will have a new man at the helm as Zac Taylor replaces Marvin Lewis. Lewis’ 16-year tenure won’t be remembered fondly, but it wasn’t all bad. The Bengals won four division titles and made the playoffs seven times; unfortunately, they never won a playoff game under Lewis’ watch. It’s hard to argue with the decision to move in a new direction, as the Bengals defense (30th in points allowed, 32nd in yards) completely fell apart for the first time in Lewis’ era. Taylor is part of the vaunted “Sean McVay Tree” but only time will tell if he’s equipped to lead a franchise.
Camp Details:
- When: 7/24 (Rookies) / 7/26 (Veterans)
- Where: Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
- Open to Public: Yes
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 10 -- @Kansas City 8:00pm EDT
- Aug 15 -- @Washington 7:30pm
- Aug 22 -- New York Giants 7:00pm
- Aug 29 -- Indianapolis 7:00pm
What We're Watching:
- Understanding the inexperienced coaching staff’s systems – Taylor is a first-time head coach (and NFL play-caller), but he bucked conventional wisdom and hired equally inexperienced coordinators. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo spent most of his career as a defensive backs coach, and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan has just three years as an NFL quarterbacks coach on his resume. Anarumo is promising a defense that uses multiple fronts but rushes four defenders most of the time. He believes in simplicity, which he thinks allows defensive players to react to the ball. On offense, Taylor has promised the Bengals playbook will start with what worked in Los Angeles; in which case we should expect a lot of 11-man personnel, with tight groupings, and plenty of play-action.
- Can the offensive line survive the preseason losses? – The Bengals needed to upgrade the offensive line and used its first-round pick on tackle Jonah Williams. Unfortunately, Williams will miss the season. Veteran Clint Boling – expected to vie for a guard spot – retired unexpectedly because of a blood clot. That leaves the Bengals line in bad shape and no depth. Expect the front office to add bodies in hopes of finding a stopgap answer.
- Can Tyler Boyd be a star with a healthy A.J. Green? – Tyler Boyd broke out last season with 76 receptions for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns and was rewarded with a 4-year, $43 million extension in July. Can Boyd sustain his gains with A.J. Green healthy? Green missed seven games last year, and Boyd was the de facto top target.
- Are A.J. Green and Andy Dalton healthy? – Dalton and Green missed chunks of the 2018 season, but are critical to making Zac Taylor’s first season a success. If Dalton has lost a step (and we’re not sure he had a step to lose), could Ryan Finley get a shot later in the year?
- Who emerges as the third receiver in base 11-personnel sets? – Assuming Taylor plans to use 11-personnel as the base offense, the team has to figure out who lines up alongside Boyd and Green. John Ross would be the top option, but he’s been terrible for two seasons. If Ross flops again, can the likes of Alex Erickson, Josh Malone, Auden Tate, or Cody Core make the leap?
CLEVELAND BROWNS
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, the Browns were coming off an 0-16 season and had Hue Jackson and Todd Haley battling for control of the offense. Freddie Kitchens was a position coach mostly unknown by the general NFL fanbase, and Baker Mayfield was the controversial first overall pick, sitting behind veteran Tyrod Taylor. Fast forward, and Kitchens has emerged as the brash, aggressive new leader of a team widely expected to break a 17-year playoff drought. The Browns were acquirers of a lot of big-name talent in the offseason, including Odell Beckham, and that’s led to fantasy owners viewing Baker Mayfield as an elite No. 1 fantasy option. Can the Browns survive an unprecedented change in perception, or will the weight of being winners trip up the process?
Camp Details:
- When: 7/24 (Rookies and Veterans)
- Where: Cleveland Browns Training Complex (Berea, OH)
- Open to Public: Yes
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 8 -- Washington 7:30pm EDT
- Aug 17 -- @Indianapolis 4:00pm
- Aug 23 -- @Tampa Bay 7:30pm
- Aug 29 -- Detroit 7:30pm
What We're Watching:
- Setting the tone for success – At the risk of being vague, no team underwent a more significant change in the world’s perception of them, and very few people in the Browns locker room or executive offices have dealt with the pressure of lofty expectations. Can Kitchens – an inexperienced head coach – emerge as the calming voice? Will new offensive coordinator Todd Monken fit in well with Kitchens? How will Steve Wilks fit in as Gregg Williams replacement on defense? Is it possible to manage all the massive egos in the locker room, particularly if the team gets off to a rocky start?
- The Odell Beckham Watch – Beckham is a transcendent talent, and grew unhappy in New York. He seemed to balk at going to Cleveland initially but has since embraced the opportunity and expectations are for a return to greatness. It would be comforting for Browns fans, and fantasy managers, if Beckham got off to a red-hot start in camp and the preseason.
- Does Duke Johnson Jr have a role? – With Nick Chubb’s emergence and the acquisition of Kareem Hunt, Duke Johnson Jr has requested his trade or release, but the Browns haven’t acquiesced. Is Johnson right to be concerned about his role?
- Maintaining the offensive line as a team strength – When Joe Thomas retired, expectations were dim for the Browns offensive line, but the unit was among the league’s best a year ago. The Odell Beckham trade came at a cost – Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler – and camp promises to be a wide-open battle between Austin Corbett, Erick Kush, Kyle Kalis, and Bryan Witzmann.
- Putting the defensive puzzle pieces together – The offense was 11th in touchdowns last year, which provides a compelling floor given the skill-position upgrades, but there is more work to be done on defense. The unit finished 21st in points allowed and 30th in yards last year, and new coordinator Steve Wilks will have a plethora of new pieces to the puzzle. Veterans Morgan Burnett, Sheldon Richardson, and Olivier Vernon will be mixed in with rookies Greedy Williams, Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, and Sheldrick Redwine.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Steelers fans never seem fully satisfied with head coach Mike Tomlin, which speaks to the high bar set by the storied franchise. In twelve seasons as head coach, Pittsburgh has won the AFC North six times, made the playoffs eight times, gone to two Super Bowls and won a championship. Few coaches can match that success over the last decade-plus. The Steelers had to Saint Vincent College hoping to exorcise the demons of last year’s drama-fueled soap opera. Antonio Brown is gone. Le’Veon Bell is gone. But offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner was masterful in his first season at the helm and turned JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner into potent weapons. With an elite offensive line and Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh should be able to keep the streak of top-10 offensive finishes alive (five years and counting). On defense, the team gave up too many points (16th in points allowed) but generated the league-best pass rush (52 sacks) and allowed the 6th-fewest yards.
Camp Details:
- When: 7/24 (Rookies) / 7/25 (Veterans)
- Where: Saint Vincent College (Latrobe, PA)
- Open to Public: Yes
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 9 -- Tampa Bay 7:30pm EDT
- Aug 17 -- Kansas City 7:30pm
- Aug 25 -- @Tennessee 8:00pm
- Aug 29 -- @Carolina 7:00pm
What We're Watching:
- Who becomes the Robin to JuJu’s Batman? – Smith-Schuster dominated last year (111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns) and can thrive regardless of his role, but as he steps into the No. 1 spot, it’s unclear whether James Washington or Donte Moncrief will take hold of the No. 2 role. If both falter, could rookie Diontae Johnson come to prominence? If someone wins the job convincingly, they’ll have instant fantasy value. If not, the Steelers may be in the unfamiliar territory of spreading the ball around.
- Is Vance McDonald the answer to the No. 2 question? – Vance McDonald is a late bloomer; he broke out last year in his sixth season. Expectations are sky-high with Jesse James leaving for Detroit, and the massive target share vacated by Antonio Brown. Can McDonald become a No. 1 fantasy tight end in his seventh year, at 28 years old? Stranger things have happened.
- Can James Conner handle the feature role? – Conner stepped into LeVeon Bell’s spot admirably and was a top-8 fantasy running back in spite of missing three games with a leg contusion. Given the Steelers’ propensity to use a single feature-back, Conner need only stay healthy in training camp to secure his place among the fantasy elite.
- Battle of the backups – Although most of the starting positions are set, the backup jobs are wide open, and we know reserves are only an injury away from relevance. At quarterback, Mason Rudolph will push incumbent No. 2, Josh Dobbs. At running back, rookie Benny Snell will try to overtake Jaylen Samuels. At tight end, Xavier Grimble’s hold on the No. 2 job is hardly safe if rookie Zach Gentry flashes in camp.
- Is Chris Boswell’s job safe? – Unless you’re in a fantasy league that’s outlawed kickers, Boswell’s job security is noteworthy because whoever wins the Steelers place-kicking job will have plenty of opportunities.
