In the few short weeks since the conclusion of Super Bowl 55, the NFL landscape has changed drastically, with many teams taking entirely new forms. PlayerProfiler is a one-stop shop for all major moves, power rankings, and honest expectations for all 32 NFL teams heading into the NFL Draft and training camp.
Glossary
Each team will be broken down as follows:
- -Overall Power Ranking and Tier – the team’s Power Ranking relative to all 32 NFL teams
- -Notable Additions – new additions that move the needle
- -Notable Losses – lost talent that matters
- -Summary
- -Expectation – the minimum we should expect in 2021 to consider the season a success
- -Expected wins – based on a 17-game season
- -Fantasy implication – a broad spectrum look into each team’s seasonal fantasy value
Buffalo Bills
Overall Ranking: No. 4 (Above Average)
Notable Additions: Re-Signed LB Matt Milano, Added four offensive linemen and QB Mitchell Trubisky
Notable Losses: EDGE Trent Murphy
Summary
I have no love for the Buffalo Bills, but I can’t find any significant shortcomings for this team. Josh Allen is an upper-tier quarterback, the offense can score at a high level, and the defense has enough talent to finish games. Sean McDermott enters his fifth year as head coach, and both coordinators enter their fourth year. The team has no notable departures to move the needle on total wins/losses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wykh_ZmAlXA
Many fans will cite Baltimore’s regression from 2019 to 2020 as the model for what to expect this year from the Bills. That is a lazy take. Buffalo will continue to succeed because unlike the Ravens, they succeeded through the air with an emphasis on Allen’s arm talent, not his rushing ability. The Bills will be the hardest team to beat on Sundays outside of the league’s elite. I will note the Bills were 4-1 in one-score games last season, which contributed to their bloated 13-3 record. I’ll add two losses due to W/L regression and settle this team at 12-5 in 2022.
Expectation: Win Division
Expected Wins: 11-plus
Fantasy Implication: Target all those tethered to Josh Allen, i.e. his pass catchers, not the running backs
Miami Dolphins
Overall Ranking: No. 12 (Average, Upper)
Notable Additions: QB Jacoby Brissett, WR Will Fuller, LB Benardrick McKinney, CB Justin Coleman, Promoted Eric Studseville and George Godsey to co-offensive coordinators
Notable Losses: LB Kyle Van Noy, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, C Ted Karras, EDGE Shaq Lawson
Summary
The Dolphins are well aligned to be 2021’s biggest riser IF Tua Tagovailoa is the league’s next breakout quarterback. Miami is creating an environment for Tua to thrive. He has a new weapon in Will Fuller and more to come in the 2021 NFL Draft. The team returns most of their offensive linemen and should have the option to draft a top tackle at the No. 6 spot. With Brian Flores entering his third year, and with promotions from within to fill the offensive coordinator role, the coaching staff continues to grow together. The defense carries enough talent and coaching consistency to remain efficient.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiiV0aZIOaQ
The only major question is Tagovailoa himself. I believe in Tua. It was not that long ago when fans were chanting “Tank for Tua” at Hard Rock Stadium. He had a devastating injury entering the NFL and still managed half a season of meaningful reps in 2020. His confidence in his body will return in time, and I believe enough time has passed. Miami’s soft-ish schedule should help bloat the win total.
Expectation: Make the Playoffs
Projected Wins: 9-11
Fantasy Implication: Target the primary weapons if they are available at value, but don’t reach on a dream
Bold Prediction: Tua breaks out and Miami wins the division with 11-plus wins
New England Patriots
Overall Ranking: No. 18 (Average, Lower)
Notable Additions: TE Hunter Henry, TE Jonnu Smith, LB Kyle Van Noy, Multiple DL, LB, and OL additions, WR Nelson Agholor, OT Trent Brown
Notable Losses: S Terrence Brooks, DL Adam Butler, LB Brandon Copeland, OG Joe Thuney, S Patrick Chung
Summary
With a difficult schedule in 2020, and a roster devoid of talent, New England’s fall from grace was swift. Bill Belichick overhauled the talent on this roster with a historic free agency spending spree, loading his team with multiple interior players on both sides of the football.
The New England Patriots finished 27th in Scoring in 2020
They have added 4 weapons in the first 24 hours of Free Agency!
Are the Patriots back? ? pic.twitter.com/kabkWw97rl
— RotoUnderworld (@rotounderworld) March 16, 2021
The coaching remains unchanged, and the interior talent will give Belichick the kind of edge on Sundays that he is used to. Cam Newton is polarizing, but he brings a winner’s mentality to the field every day and has serious upgrades around him. The football product will improve, but the wins will remain average. Impressive as it was, one offseason of spending cannot heal Newton or bring Tom Brady back.
Expectation: Make the Playoffs
Projected Wins: 7-10
Fantasy Implication: Newton will be the only reliable weekly option. The rest will present good value later in Underdog Best Ball drafts
New York Jets
Overall Ranking: No. 26 (Below Average)
Notable Additions: HC Robert Saleh, OC Mike Lafluer, DC Jeff Ulbrich, DE Carl Lawson, DT Sheldon Rankins, WR Corey Davis
Notable Losses: HC Adam Gase, WR Breshad Perriman, G Pat Elflein
Summary
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: “Things are looking up for the Jets after a god awful season.” It’s true, the Jets are once again in a great position to improve upon an otherwise unwatchable football product. The bar is low after playing at a collegiate level in 2020, but the hope may be genuine this time around. Joe Douglas’ 2021 offseason moves boast the analytics-driven philosophy that helped build a Super Bowl roster in Philadelphia in 2018. Robert Saleh (hopefully) will bring forward-thinking game planning that utilizes his players’ strengths.
Who will be Quarterback for the Jets in Week 1? pic.twitter.com/uY8WvyMJrn
— RotoUnderworld (@rotounderworld) March 20, 2021
The chance to improve at quarterback with the NFL Draft’s No. 2 selection places the Jets firmly on the path to relevancy. The notable difference between 2021’s free agent haul and that of previous failed years is the emphasis on upside. Rather than overspending on overhyped names like Le’Veon Bell, C.J. Mosley, and Trumaine Johnson, the Jets targeted undervalued pros (Sheldon Rankins, Corey Davis) and potential breakout stars (Carl Lawson). Keep the expectations low in Saleh’s first year and just pray this team is watchable on Sundays.
Expectation: Be competitive at a professional level and win 5-7 games
Projected Wins: 4-8
Fantasy Implication: In a “tryout” year for the Jets, I would only target cheap guys who could climb the depth chart, so mostly any rookies they may draft at WR/RB
Division Summary
The AFC East is the division of potential in 2021 with a looming Tua Tagovailoa breakout, some new faces in New York, and an entire Patriots organization hanging on the edge. The division matchups for 2021 include the NFC and AFC South divisions. The strength of schedule should be average with eight games against two divisions on the downslide. Both opposing divisions are loaded with fantasy football studs, but present three teams each that could finish sub-.500 records.
