Part 3.. AFC South

(by Steven Kolb, Contributor)

           Houston Texans

Houston is one of those teams this season that offers interesting fantasy potential. QB Matt Schaub in his first season as a starter got off to a hot start throwing 5 TD’s in the first month of the season. He struggled though after that and a shoulder injury ended his season. Of his nine touchdown passes last season seven went to WR Andre Johnson, if both guys can stay healthy and stay in the lineup this season look for Schaub to eclipse 20 TD passes. In just eight games last season Johnson had 851 receiving yards and 8 Td’s, if you project that for 16 games Johnson would have had over 1,400 receiving yards and 14-15 Td’s. Johnson should be considered a number 1 WR this season and should be one of the top 4 WR off the board. Kevin Walter who should open the season as the number 2 WR in Houston had his best season of his career last season. Granted most of his numbers came after Johnson went down, Walter is still an intriguing name to keep tabs on if this Houston offense does take off this year. Watch for WR Jacoby Jones this season, the athletic WR is entering his second NFL season and offers some sleeper potential. RB Ahman Green will open the season in the backfield for the Texans, but the question is how long before he goes down with an injury? The 31 year old Green only played in six games last year, and with the depth at RB in Houston don’t except much from Green. Green should be viewed as a low end number 3 RB this year. Chris Brown who Houston signed in the off-season will begin the season taking carries from Green and if Green does go down Brown’s value could increase. Keep tabs on second year man Darius Walker and rookie Steve Slaton who could see some time as well this season. TE Owen Daniels had a real breakout year last season with 768 receiving yards and 3 TD’s, if Andre Johnson plays the whole year watch for Daniels to close in on 1,000 yards. Kris Brown continues to be a solid fantasy kicker, he was 5-5 on 50 plus field goals last season.

        Indianapolis Colts

In 2008 expect a lot of the same from the Colts offensively as they will continue to post big points for your fantasy team. For the first time in years Peyton Manning is no longer a lock as a first round pick and he has fallen to the umber two ranked QB. But regardless of Manning being the second QB he will remain a stud for your fantasy team. From a pride standpoint I see Manning throwing over 4,000 yards again and I see his TD totals above 31 this year, look for Manning to throw for 35 TD’s. In his first full season as a starter Joseph Addai had his ups and downs. He failed to run for 100 yards in his teams last eight games as he showed some wear. Addai scored 15 TD’s though and playing in this high octane offense makes Addai a top 5 RB and a potential top 3 pick in drafts. The Colts brought back Dominic Rhodes in the off-season to help spell Addai at times which should only help Addai. Look for Addai to rush for 1,100 yards and score around 15 total TD’s again. Reggie Wayne has now officially emerged as Peyton Manning’s go to guy as he recorded 1,510 yards and 10 TD’s last season. With the decline of Marvin Harrison, look for Wayne to keep his numbers around the same level again this season. Harrison’s value right now is as low as it’s ever been and that could be a good thing if you want to draft him as a potential sleeper. See how his knee holds up in camp before you want to take a flyer on him. If Harrison does struggle look for second year man Anthony Gonzalez to step in. Gonzalez began to show signs towards the end of last season and i expect a big surge in his numbers this season. Dallas Clark helped pick up the TD totals that were left available by Harrison as he recorded 11 last season. Clark is a number 1 TE this season but 11 TD’s again this season is a little to high this year look in the range of 7-9. Adam Vinatieri had a down year last season but because of the opportunities he has with the Colts, he is a low end number 1 Kicker.

       Jacksonville Jaguars

One of the questions most fantasy owners are wondering heading into this season for the Jags is whether Maurice Jones-Drew will become the starter? The answer is that Fred Taylor is still going strong at 32 so expect a RBBC approach once again. Taylor rushed for 1202 yards last season and he finished the year on fire rushing for 494 yards in his last four games. You can view Taylor as a mid-level number 2 RB this year. Jones-Drew has become a touchdown machine the first two years of his career, and his all purpose yardage has been great for fantasy owners. Jones-Drew is a strong number 2 RB who could rush for his first 1,000 yard season this year. In his first season as a starter David Garrard had what can be described best as a “solid” season, as he threw for 18 TD’s and only 3 INT’s. The Jaguars upgraded their WR position in the offseason and i look for Garrard to throw over 20 TD’s and be a strong number 2 QB this year. The addition of Jerry Porter seems to give the Jaguars there first legitimate number 1 WR since Jimmy Smith. Porter has the potential this season to be a legitimate low end number 2 WR if he can build a rapport with Garrard. Behind Porter the Jags have a lot of mid-level players who offer mediocre fantasy value. Former first round pick Troy Williamson appears to be the number 2 WR for the Jags and maybe a change of scenery can change his career. For now Williamson should be a guy you keep tabs on while he sits on the waiver wire. Reggie Williams had 10 TD’s last year but only 38 receptions. With Porter and Williamson now in Jacksonville, Williams won’t repeat his touchdown performance. A sleeper this year at TE is Mercedes Lewis who began to show signs of his potential in the playoffs. He will enter the season low on some people’s radar but watch for him to surprise, I expect him to grab 6-7 TD’s. Kicker Josh Scobee has been a little inconsistent thus far in his career but he has a big leg, look at him as a number 2 kicker.

Tennessee Titans

The real key for the Titans Fantasy wise is to get production from QB Vince Young. Young’s TD’s went down in his second season while his INT’s went up. His rushing totals also went down, part of the blame for his low numbers can be put on the fact the Titans don’t have a true number 1 WR. With really no true improvements on offense outside of TE Alge Crumpler, I still see Young struggling this season and really view him as a low number 2 QB. In his second NFL season RB LenDale White ran for 1110 yards but that didn’t stop the Titans from drafting RB Chris Johnson. White has been rehabbing his knee during the offseason so keep an eye on that situation, if White is fine for the season he will get the bulk of the carries but Johnson will see some time as well. WR Justin Gage was able to separate himself as Young’s go to guy last season and the big target should be in line to catch more TD’s this season. Draft Gage as a number 3 WR heading into this season. Roydell Williams is slated to start opposite Gage, but he suffered a broken ankle in May they could hamper him, watch him in training camp. If Williams can continue to improve like he had last year he has a chance to be a low number 3 WR. If their is a sleeper of the bunch keep an eye on WR Brandon Jones. TE Alge Crumpler has a chance to be to Vince Young what he was to Mike Vick. Crumpler will give Young a comfortable target to dump the ball off to in the passing game. View Crumpler as a number 2 TE this season. After his breakout season last year Rob Bironas elevated himself to a number 1 kicker worthy as an every week starter.