When trying on the present state of play within the NFL in 2021, there are echoes of final season. Besides in just a few minor circumstances, prime groups and particular person performers are the identical, whereas the underside groups within the league are nonetheless within the basement.
In fact, each couple of years, there’s a worst-to-first shock crew, however this season, even these just like the LA Chargers who’re outplaying the remainder of their AFC West counterparts had the hallmarks and foundations final 12 months that made their 4-2 document not too shocking.
Whereas groups like Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Baltimore, and Inexperienced Bay are holding function a few of the prime groups of their respective conferences, within the NFC East, an obvious new champion is about to occur with the resurgence of the Dallas Cowboys.
Very similar to the aforementioned LA Chargers, the pillars for fulfillment have been already in place earlier than the season. The Cowboys had the working backs and large receiver corps that might be formidable. They only wanted the return of their quarterback Dak Prescott.
Within the first 4 weeks of the 2020 season, Dallas was one of many prime offensive models in all of the NFL. That was earlier than Dak Prescott broke his ankle in a grotesque method, and the 2020 Cowboys sank to irrelevance.
To start out the 2021 season, Dak is again, and so too is the vaunted Dallas offense, the fifth ranked complete offensive unit within the league.
The dialogue of the NFC prime groups should embrace returning Tremendous Bowl champions Tampa Bay, the at all times potent Inexperienced Bay Packers, the at present undefeated Arizona Cardinals, and the reinvigorated LA Rams led by the motivated Mathew Stafford.
What To Know About The NFC
Within the NFC, you’ve got the Arizona Cardinals as the category of the convention. Whereas it’s not shocking they might be good, it’s the extent of dominance that they’ve proven up to now within the season with otherworldly efficiency coming from quarterback Kyler Murray, who leads one of many prime 3 scoring offenses as the primary third of the season involves fruition.
The Dallas Cowboys have the highest-scoring offense within the NFC, led by the return of Dak Prescott at quarterback. Nevertheless, the strain {that a} high-scoring offense places on the opposite crew can’t be overstated, as Trevon Diggs has extra interceptions returned for touchdowns than over half of the large receivers within the NFL.
The LA Rams have proven they will win video games by the air with rejuvenated Mathew Stafford hitting Cooper Kupp or by grinding it out within the run sport with Darrel Henderson and a top-notch protection with All-Professional Jalen Ramsey at cornerback and All-World Aaron Donald, arguably one of many prime gamers within the NFL.
All that mentioned, the returning Tremendous Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers return an unheard of twenty-two starters from their championship crew. With one other 12 months to gel and study Head Coach Bruce Arian’s offense, it might be smart to control the regular, veteran professionalism of the Bucs led by the G.O.A.T., Tom Brady.
What To Know About The AFC
Within the AFC, the dialogue of prime groups squarely sits on the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Payments as the highest contenders within the convention, with the LA Chargers and KC Chiefs nipping at their heels.
What’s not shocking is the maturation and growth of the Buffalo Payments underneath the guise of Sean McDermott. The philosophy of Sean McDermott is to enhance a bit of bit week-by-week and that technique has reaped rewards because the second-best document in your complete AFC, tied with Baltimore as of week 7.
If there’s any shock to the Buffalo Payments, they’ve been successful regardless of not placing up wonderful, jaw-dropping offensive numbers. Nevertheless, their protection has been stepping up this season. In truth, the defensive unit has had three turnovers a sport for 3 video games and held two opponents scoreless within the first third of the inaugural 17-game season.
The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson have proven the flexibility to grind out shut video games even with the one fixed on their crew, accidents. For NFL fantasy functions, what Lamar Jackson is doing has been legendary.
As for the LA Chargers, Austin Ekeler has been a top-4 fantasy working again, particularly in PPR codecs, as has receiver Mike Williams.