Pelletier's Perspective 08.22.08: NFC & AFC East

Posted by Justin Pelletier on 08.22.2008

Three down and one to go. Join 411's Justin Pelletier as he takes a look at the AFC & NFC Eastern divisions in today's edition of Pelletier's Perspective.

Well my summer vacation is over. My school year has begun, which is the cause for this late column. I'm never one to skimp out on my readers (or, at least, no longer one). So please enjoy the final of our four part series highlighting each team in the NFL as today we here at the Perspective take a look at the AFC and NFC East!


NFC East


Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo has been the hottest topic of conservation among Perspectiv readers as Dallas haters have come out of the woodwork, If you listen to some, Romo shouldn't even be a starter, in the Areana League.

The reality is that Romo is a top flight quarterback who is entering, only, his second full-season as a starter. He also has the luxury of the best array of weapons in football.

Marion Barber is a beast and the departure of Julius Jones means even more carries for Marion The Barbarian. Whether he's throwing his quarterback under the bus, or crying in support of him, the bottom line is Terrell Owens is talented. The biggest surprise in Dallsas will be Patrick Crayton, who will emerge as a solid number-two receiver. The final weapon will be Jason Witten who will continue to grow into the game's top tight end.

One the defensive side of the ball, a good squad got better with the addition of a great athlete (Adam " Don't Call me Pacman" Jones) and a great football player (Zach Thomas).

2008 Record: 12-4

Fantasy Football has invaded the very fabric of sports fans. ESPN runs two-hour specials. There are dozens of magazines on newsstands devoted to the game and you can find a league on almost any sporting web site. So what I've set out to do is give you a glimpse at the fantasy impact of two players from each team. One player is sure to dominate (the "Fantasy Phelps") and the other will never live up to all the buzz surrounding him (the "Fantasy Favre").

Fantasy Phelps: Patrick Crayton – Romo, Barber and Witten are gimmees. Crayton moves into the role of number-two WR with the departure of Terry Glenn and should produce in this potent offense.
Fantasy Favre: None – This is not a copout. Like I said, Romo, Barber and Witten are stars and Crayton will be a good #2. The addition of Pacman (let's call him Q-Bert instead) will make the Dallas special teams/defense a monster too.


New York Giants: New York will be hard pressed to match its magical 2007 season, but still has the tools to be a playoff team.

The loss of Michael Strahan and Jeremy Shockey will leave a leadership void, that will be filled by Eli Manning. Manning will build on his Suuper Bowl MVP performance by becoming an All-Pro. Hej will continue to build a rapport with Plaxico Burress as they become a top tandem in the NFL.

While not individual stars, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmed Bradshaw make a good enough thunder and lightning attack to take pressure off of Manning.

The loss of Strahan will hurt the defense which brought pressure from everywhere to rattle Brady in the Super Bowl but Justin Tuck should fill in well and keep the defense strong.

2008 Record: 10-6

Fantasy Phelps: Eli Manning – While not an elite QB, Manning should continue to develop and should be one of the top second-tier fantasy quarterbacks.
Fantasy Favre: Amani Toomer – Toomer will be the G-Mens' second WR but his age will continue to cost him a step.


Philadelphia Eagles: The 2008 season rides on Donovan McNabb. That is a scary proposition for a guy who has only played one full season in the last six.

The truth is, Brian Westbrook will carry so much of the load that they might-as-well be called the Philadelphia Westbrooks. Westbrook's contribution not withstanding, McNabb's health is key. With No. 5 they are a playoff team (maybe a dark horse NFC championship contender) without him they are bottom feeders.

Kevin Kolb isn't ready to lead a team, whose top receiver is out with a hernia, anywhere. Only McNabb can take this cast of offensive characters (and Westbrook) anywhere.

The signing of Asante Samuel makes the secondary elite, but that won't matter much if their average linebackers and defensive linemen don't step up.

2008 Record: 9-7

Fantasy Phelps: Kevin Curtis – Westbrook would be the easy answer here (he may very well lead the league in all-purpose yards) but I don't like to give the easy ones too often. Curtis is out with the hernia now but when he returns he'll be the team's only viable receiver.
Fantasy Favre: Donovan McNabb – When healthy, McNabb is a top-five QB but betting on his health is like watching a Kurt Angle match, scary.


Washington Redskins: It doesn't matter how good a coach Jim Zorn turns out to be, replacing a legend like Joe Gibbs with a first-year coach means this team will take a step back.

The person who will benefit from the change the most will be Jason Campbell. Zorn is a quarterback coach and he can only help the development of the young signal caller.

Campbell's weapons are considerable with Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El both home run hitters. Clinton Portis is one of the most underrated backs in the league because, even though his rushing stats have gone down, he does everything well. He is a great blocker and a good pass catcher. He's a great player to utilize. Chris Cooley has turned into a top-of-the-line pass catching TE as well.

Adding Jason Taylor makes the front-four a very dangerous one. It is the Taylor that was lost last year which will hurt the most, however. The team rode the emotion of Sean Taylor's death to the playoffs last year but this year the loss of the Pro-Bowler will haunt this team.

2008 Record: 7-9

Fantasy Phelps: Jason Campbell – Don't rest your hopes on Campbell as your starting QB but he's progressing nicely and you can expect to see his stats jump, slightly, under Zorn.
Fantasy Favre: Antwaan Randle-El – Randle-El is a home run hitter but, rookie, Devin Thomas has been impressing this summer and could cut in on the veteran's time.



AFC East



New England Patriots: The Patriots DOM-IN-ATED last year. Don't expect quite the same results in 2008 but, when Tom Brady and Randy Moss are still there, you can expect another great season.

Brady and Moss rewrote the record books last year and, while they won't have the same success, another year together can only help. Wes Welker is so underrated he's almost overrated. He's good but really benefits from Moss being on the other side.

The Giants proved that the way to get to New England is to rush the passer but the burden of truth falls on Lawrence Maroney. He needs to become the back they thought he was when they drafted him, if the Pats want to continue as the league's top team.

The defense lost its top player (Samuel) and has gotten older but they are so smart and well coached that they can make up for the losses.

2008 Record: 13-3

Fantasy Phelps: Wes Welker – Brady and Moss will be the top QB and WR in football and Welker will, once again, benefit from that.
Fantasy Favre: Lawrence Maroney – Maroney hasn't shown that he's a true, impact fantasy player, as of yet. He hasn't gotten much of a chance in NE's pass happy offense, but still.


New York Jets: New York Jets: New York brought in some guy named Favre to play quarterback and, as tired as I am of him, the trade was HUGE!

NY signed a bunch of vets in the offseason, in hopes of becoming competitive, but with Chad Pennington at QB that's all they would be, competitive. Favre is not only an elite passer, but a great leader. The entire team will love him and will follow his lead (well maybe not Laveranues Coles, but everybody else.) Favre will make Coles better and Jerricho Cotchery a Pro-Bowler

The pressure is on Thomas Jones to provide a running game, as the passing attack is clearly better. Jones is talented enough to do that and with defenses planning against Favre, he has a chance to have a great season.

Outside of the front-three the defense is unproven but should be good enough to give the Jets a shot at the playoffs.

2008 Record: 8-8

Fantasy Phelps: Thomas Jones – The arrival of Favre means defenses have to watch out for the passing game. That means Jones should see a lot more daylight.
Fantasy Favre: Bret Favre – He will have a good season and will be a starter in any league but to expect him to live up to the reputation he's made is crazy.


Buffalo Bills: The Bills were a below average team in 2007 and not much has changed.

Marshawn Lynch is quietly developing into a very good running buck, but that's about all the team has going for it. Lee Evans is a competent receiver but the main concern is that neither of Buffalo's quarterbacks can get him the ball.

Trent Edwards is the better option because he's much more consistent than J.P. Losman. Neither, however, should evoke much confidence in the Bills faithful. The same could be said of its nondescript defense.

Expect another long year in Buffalo.

2008 Record: 6-10

Fantasy Phelps: Marshawn Lynch – Lynch is becoming a true force in fantasy football. Couple that with the fact that the rest of the offense stink and he quickly becomes the only Bill worth having.
Fantasy Favre: Lee Evans – Evans is good and a number one receiver but the unsettled QB situation makes a lot of other receivers more desirable.


Miami Dolphins: Signing Chad Pennington will make the Dolphins much better. The bad news for Fish fans is that there were so bad last year that much better still means double figure loses.

On the offensive side of the ball, Ricky Williams has impressed so much that he's been named starting running back. That is bad news for Ronnie Brown.

Ted Ginn Jr. is an explosive downfield threat but Pennington doesn't have the arm to get him the ball.

The story is worse on defense where the loss of Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas means the unit will be worse in '08.

2008 Record: 4-12

Fantasy Phelps: Ricky Williams – The savvy league will know that Williams has been named starter but in a league which has already drafted Williams is a HUGE waiver wire pick up.
Fantasy Favre: Ronnie Brown – Coming off injury and splitting time is not a good thing for the former top fantasy producer.

That's it, we've reached our, regular season, conclusion. With the beginning of school comes an much increased work load so next week marks a return to our normal once-a-week column. Tune in then when we'll give you our playoff predictions, as well as award winners and Super Bowl champion, as well as a peek at 411's recent expert fantasy draft. Until then, enjoy the Bret Favre talk.