The AFC North always produces some of the nastiest, toughest battles in any NFL season. The games between the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have toughness, grit, cheap shots and drama. These attributes were on full display January 9th, 2016 during the Steelers/Bengals Wild Card round playoff game. We saw injuries, nasty hits, fumbles, driving rain and coaches running on the field (Joey Porter). Some of the faces change, but the pure disdain that all these teams have for each other never wavers. Let’s look at the AFC’s tough guy division and see who will be left standing when the smoke clears!
BALTIMORE RAVENS
2016 Prediction 7-9 (3rd AFC North)
The 20th NFL season for the team from Baltimore was one players, coaches and fans would like the forget. Coach John Harbaugh’s squad were a preseason pick of many to go to Super Bowl 50 but injuries derailed any hopes of a successful season. Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco, All-Pro linebacker Terrell Suggs and 5x Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. were all lost to injury. All are healthy now and despite those injuries the Ravens never quit, 14 of their games were decided by 8 points or less and were a bounce or two away in a few games from being in the hunt. In 2015 the Ravens were 28th against opposing wide receivers and in a division with Antonio Brown, A.J. Green and the returning Josh Gordon this could be a problem in 2016.
Fantasy Impact
Bust: Justin Forsett RB– Forsett had an injury plagued 2015 after his breakout in 2014. The running back is the lead back in a very crowded backfield (Javorius Allen, Terrence West and Kenneth Dixon). Draft solely as a RB4 late in fantasy drafts.
Sleeper: Kamar Aiken WR– Aiken more than tripled his output from his rookie season in 2015. He established himself as a top threat in the air for the Ravens with 126 targets and five touchdowns. Draft as a WR4/5 with WR3 potential.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
2016 Prediction 9-7 (2nd AFC North)
2015 ended in the worst possible way for the Cincinnati Bengals. In a game marred with controversy, ugly hits, nasty injuries the Bengals watched as Chris Boswell kicked the hated Pittsburgh Steelers into the next round with 14 seconds left wildcard weekend. For the 5th year in a row and 7th during the 13-year tenure (including four division titles) of Head Coach Marvin Lewis the Bengals failed to get out of the first round. The talent is here but for some reason the Bengals have struggled to get over the hump when it counts.
Fantasy Impact
Stud: A.J. Green WR– Green has put together five straight 1000-yard seasons to start his career. The star wide receiver is a guaranteed top 12 pick in all draft formats. According to playerprofiler.com Green ranked 5th in contested catch rate last season, so you know he will go up and fight for the ball. He is notch below Antonio Brown, Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr, however he is a no doubt WR1.
Bust: Jeremy Hill RB– Hill underwhelmed in 2015 being drafted by most as a fringe RB1. His touchdown total increased from his rookie year (five in 2014, 11 in 2015), however his yards and yards per carry (YPC) fell from 1,124 and 5.1 in 2014 to 794 and 3.6 in 2015. Hill will continue to share the backfield with Giovani Bernard making Bernard the more attractive option especially in PPR leagues.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
2016 Prediction 5-11 (4th AFC North)
There is optimism around the Cleveland Browns, but they may be a year or two away from making people around the NFL believers. While the Browns have made some significant changes and improvements, they are still a few steps below the competition in the AFC North. Robert Griffin III was brought in to be the team’s new starting quarterback and he has looked good throughout the preseason. Josh Gordon will be back from suspension week 5, the team drafted Corey Coleman and Duke Johnson has the talent to become a dual threat out of the backfield. These changes should make the Browns more competitive on offense, but the 27th overall defense in 2015 will have them playing from behind more often than not.
Fantasy Impact
Stud: Gary Barnidge TE– Barnidge broke out in 2015. Barnidge was number two in targets and number three in receptions for a tight end last season. Griffin III is going to need someone he can trust right away and Barnidge will be his guy. Barnidge will be a top five tight end in 2016.
Sleeper: Duke Johnson RB– The Browns young running back is being drafted on average as the #28 fantasy RB. Johnson had 62 receptions out of the backfield and a combined 914 yards rushing and receiving in 2015. With Griffin III at the helm, Johnsons dual threat ability makes him an intriguing late RB2 option.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
2016 Prediction 12-4 (1st AFC North)
The Pittsburgh Steelers were a 4th quarter fumble away from possibly beating the Denver Broncos in the Divisional round last season. Playing without Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams the Steelers were trailing 13-12 with less than 10 minutes to go in the game. Third string running back Fitzgerald Toussaint had the ball stripped in Denver territory leading to the Broncos eventual game winning touchdown drive. Pittsburgh is loaded on Offense. Ben Roethlisberger, Brown, Bell and Williams when on the field provide immense excitement for Steelers fans. The Team will be without Bell for three games and troubled wide-out Martavias Bryant for the season due to suspension. There is plenty of depth on this roster to fill those voids. The Defense will need to improve, but the ability on offense will allow them to run with anybody each week.
Fantasy Impact
Stud: Antonio Brown WR– This is the number one player in fantasy football. If you are drafting first overall, draft him and enjoy the stat line of 120/1800/12 all season long.
Please Note: Le’Veon Bell not listed due to three game suspension.
Bust: Ladarius Green TE– Ladarius Green was brought in to replace fan favorite Heath Miller. Miller for years was Roethlisberger’s safety blanket. Green has been battling injuries all preseason and has had little time to build a rapport with his new QB. The Steelers like 2nd year pro Jesse James at tight end. Look for James to take some of the targets meant for Green.
Scott Burke- SuperTwoSports.com Writer, DFS Player, Football Enthusiast and All-Around Sports Junkie.
