Player Expectations for 2015 Season

[slickdtc]

Taking cima's lead to get some discussion going in the dog days of summer, what are expectations for some of your favorite players this coming season?

Sammy Watkins: will take the next step and prove he was worthy as the top WR taken in his class. Also, some of the great rookies this last year will slip while Watkins will ascend.

EJ Manuel: 3 games started then benched. I have no faith in him. But I think they'll give him every benefit to start the season.

Mario Williams: career year under Rex Ryan.

Stephon Gilmore: will be recognized as one of the better CB's in the AFC.

How about your guys?

[kehlis]

I expect Cody Lattimer to have a breakout year for the Broncos playing out of the slot.

[cima]

Jeremy Hill: Building off his tremendous rookie year, I expect him to solidify himself as a top 5 RB by season's end. He had four 140+ yard games in just 8 starts.

Vontaze Burfict: I'm worried injuries may have gotten the best of him. If we ever do see the Vontaze that was looking like the next Ray Lewis, we won't know until 2016. *sigh*

Geno Atkins: Surprisingly made it back and played every game last year. You could tell he was a step slower and mentally hesitant since he was still recovering from his ACL injury. I expect that to be behind him and the return of one of the best DTs in the league.

Marvin Jones: Everyone forgot about this guy because he was injured all of 2014, but he put up 10 TDs as the Bengals #2 WR in 2013. Him and #1 TE Tyler Eifert (who also missed 2014) looked great in spring and their presence should open more opportunities for AJ Green to have a better year.

Andy Dalton: He'll still be average but I have a better feeling about him going into the year. His numbers should improve across the board but it won't be anything drastic or close to elite.

Gio Bernard: With the emergence of Hill as the #1 RB, I expect him to be more of a pass catcher and maybe even win the return game job, something he did @ UNC.

Dre Kirkpatrick/Darqueze Dennard: These two have been battling it out all spring for the #2 CB spot. Dre K has the slight edge and I think he'll maintain it, though the Bengals will have to find ways to get Dennard on the field because his talent is undeniable. This is likely Leon Hall's last year in stripes or at least as the starter, and the future is bright with Dennard and Kirkpatrick hopefully becoming everything we hoped Hall and Jonathan Joseph would've been.

[slickdtc]

I was sooo high on Bernard going in to last year, but it just never came all together. Kid is a trooper though, I remember Dalton leaving him for dead on a swing pass out of the backfield and some Colts player destroying Bernard twice on one drive. I was actually in Cincy that game, though it was played in Indy. (Mid-October)

I picked up Hill in my fantasy league immediately.

I'd like to see a balance between the two. Hill is the traditional RB, but Bernard is supremely talented and shouldn't be relegated to a fill in. A 60/65-40/35% split seems ideal to keep both fresh. Quality over quantity. But Hill deserves the higher workload, and I think he can handle it too.

[cima]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

I was sooo high on Bernard going in to last year, but it just never came all together. Kid is a trooper though, I remember Dalton leaving him for dead on a swing pass out of the backfield and some Colts player destroying Bernard twice on one drive. I was actually in Cincy that game, though it was played in Indy. (Mid-October) I picked up Hill in my fantasy league immediately. I'd like to see a balance between the two. Hill is the traditional RB, but Bernard is supremely talented and shouldn't be relegated to a fill in. A 60/65-40/35% split seems ideal to keep both fresh. Quality over quantity. But Hill deserves the higher workload, and I think he can handle it too.

Agreed, Hill should definitely get the higher workload. Bernard is GREAT but he's not built to handle a heavy workload. I expect a 60-40 split to be honest. I think we're going to run even more this year and will likely utilize Jake Fisher in unbalanced lines ala Dennis Roland back in the day. Hearing Fisher can actually catch the ball too! Should be an exciting year. Hopefully we'll see Bernard in the slot at times too ala Andrew Hawkins.

[Cyros]

Khalil Mack becomes the next feared AFC West pass rusher. Or at least I hope so for the sake of the CBs in Oakland's secondary.

[redsox4evur]

Tom Brady misses 2 games for hindering the deflategate investigation. His legacy still intact. Then goes out leads the team to a 10-4 record. And while missing 2 games is still an MVP type player with 4273 yards 46 TDs 4 INTs.

Jimmy Garoppolo starts the 2 games Brady misses. Shows he can play well in the league and becomes the heir apparent to Brady.

[SPTO]

Jerry Hughes will have 15-20 sacks this season and LeSean McCoy will be the leader in all-purpose yards.