The ESPN Fantasy Football crew is counting down the days until the season begins! This summer, we've looked at each NFL division with a focus on what is new, old and perhaps quite a bit in between!
Click below to check out your favorite division:
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC North
Key fantasy offseason movement
--This seems the quietest division for new faces relevant to most fantasy managers, perhaps not too surprising since three of the teams won 11 or more games, and the fourth already has key offensive players in place. The Pittsburgh Steelers. who found a way to keep quarterback Ben Roethlisberger despite a precarious cap situation that cost them several offensive linemen, did utilize a first-round choice on Alabama running back Najee Harris, saying farewell to James Conner. Blessed with likely opportunity, Harris figures to be the first rookie chosen in most fantasy leagues.
--Meanwhile, the rival Baltimore Ravens found their new right tackle in longtime Steelers stalwart Alejandro Villanueva, also signed Kevin Zeitler to handle guard and figure to again rely heavily on an effective running game. Then again, the Ravens added a few weapons for Lamar Jackson to target in ever-tantalizing Sammy Watkins and they chose Minnesota's Rashod Bateman in the first round. The depth may affect targets for Marquise Brown but then again, are you really still depending on Brown in fantasy?
Something to prove
--The Cleveland Browns, coming off their first playoff appearance since the 2002 season, concentrated on the defensive side of the football, which could be relevant in fantasy. The Browns D/ST was not among the top fantasy options in 2020. Still, few quarterbacks for winning teams -- if any -- have more to prove than Baker Mayfield, as the Browns could look to upgrade after this season. Mayfield was not much of a fantasy asset in 2020, despite cutting down on his many turnovers, as running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are the offensive stars here.
--The other Ohio quarterback is the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, and his rookie season ended in Week 11 after he tore multiple ligaments in his left knee. Burrow averaged 17.4 PPR points per game, 16th among those who reached 2,500 passing yards, and well ahead of Mayfield, Matthew Stafford and plenty of others that may have received more attention. The Bengals, who last won a playoff game more than 30 years ago, may struggle to protect Burrow sufficiently, but he surely has skill-position weapons around him, including former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase, who the team selected fifth in the draft this summer. Burrow expects to be ready to start in Week 1.
--Speaking of the Bengals, running back Joe Mixon played in only six games last season after suffering a foot injury, and he averaged a mere 3.6 yards per rush. Fantasy managers viewed Mixon as a RB1 entering 2020, and for good reason, as he played to that level the prior two seasons. They may need some convincing that he will return to that lofty status.
Whose fantasy stock may fluctuate?
--Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. tore his knee in his seventh game last season, and it is notable that statistically he was far from a WR2 option to start with. Yes, Beckham has much to prove and perhaps his returning to a Pro Bowl level from his New York Giants days is impossible in a run-first offense, but fantasy managers continue to fool themselves into believing he will do so. Watch Beckham say all the right things about his recovery and move up draft boards in August, even with little viable reason to expect WR2 performance.
--The rookie Chase joins a Bengals wide receiver crew that featured a pair of WR3 options in Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins. What should the order be for this trio on fantasy draft day? Well, at least Chase figures to go third, but as a decorated college option reunited with his college quarterback, chances are he will rise in drafts throughout August. Most relevant rookies do.
--And finally, not that everyone expected Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to follow up his MVP season with another ... but myriad fantasy managers likely did, thus his aggressive ADP. Jackson ended up the No. 10 fantasy quarterback and there is nothing wrong with that, but it is certainly possible he moves up in drafts merely because we have seen his upside, and it was indeed awesome. It is also just as likely second-year running back J.K. Dobbins rises at a greater rate to become more popular in drafts.