2020 NFL Bold Predictions
By Pat Pitts
Are you ready for some football? The NFL is back and below are bold predictions for all 32 teams for the 2020 season. Let's ride!
Arizona Cardinals: Historic Offense In The Desert
Kyler Murray, Kenyan Drake, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and Larry Fitzgerald all walk on to a field... Kliff Kingsbury is living a Madden franchise dream, but in real life. Arizona is going to put up insane numbers week after week. The Cardinals are going to be a fast team this season, looking to get the ball in the end zone early and often. This team will join the 500-point club by the season’s end.
Atlanta Falcons: Target Gets Renamed “Ridley”
2020 marks Calvin Ridley’s third year in the NFL, which has been historically known as a WR’s breakout season. If this is foreshadowing anything, it’s that Ridley’s breakout could be on the horizon and he could see anywhere from 100 to 115 targets this year. Jones will still finish with more yards, but the target leader will be different in Atlanta.
Baltimore Ravens: J.K. Dobbins Rushes For 1100 Yards
The Ravens were extremely impressed with Dobbins production in training camp, which means he’s going to see time in Harbaugh’s offense. Althought Mark Ingram is still in Baltimore and will be the RB1, the Ravens love options and what’s a better option than having a rookie rush for over 1000 yards and be in line for a Top-10 rookie season of all time? Not much.
Buffalo Bills: Stefon Diggs Doesn’t Crack 1000 Receiving Yards
Buffalo traded for Stefon Diggs during the offseason to give Josh Allen a star Wide Receiver to throw to. Diggs will be a great addition to the offense, but Allen is a Quarterback who spreads the ball around. Allen is going to have more mouths to feed this season, and Diggs’ numbers will take a hit because of it.
Carolina Panthers: Ronnie 2K Calls CMC For Ownership Stake
He’s already done everything you could possibly ask for in a franchise Running Back. He is a video game character come to life, so don’t be shocked when Christian McCaffrey rushes for 2000 yards this season, you’ll see his name next to Ronnie 2K on video game licensing.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow Dethrones Baker Mayfield
Burrow walks into a situation with talent all around him in Joe Mixon, AJ Green, and Tyler Boyd. The Bengals also improved their putrid offensive line from last season to help the rookie sensation be as comfortable as possible manning the offense. In 2018, Baker Mayfield broke the rookie record for touchdown passes with 27. Burrow has a better supporting cast that should help him reset the record book.
Chicago Bears: Anthony Miller Finishes As A Top-25 WR
Anthony Miller has had a lot of hype throughout the Bears training camp and looks to have an increased role in the offense opposite Allen Robinson. Miller only got seven starts last year for a Bears team that was craving receiver production. But, Miller saw an increase in targets, receptions, and yards from 2018 to 2019 and if the Year Three rule applies to Calvin Ridley, it will to Miller as well.
Cleveland Browns: The Dog Pound Win The Division
Speaking of Baker Mayfield, he and the Browns are looking to flip the switch and put some respect on Cleveland’s name. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected. The Browns winning the division would be in the realm of unexpected. Book it.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott Wins MVP
Prescott is looking to get paid like the rest of the young QBs in the league. How does he secure the bag and stay in Jerry World? He needs to have an MVP season. With a supporting cast of Zeke, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Ceedee Lamb and a Top-3 offensive line, it’s highly possible we’re talking about Dak-V-P.
Denver Broncos: Courtland Sutton Becomes A Household Name
Courtland Sutton was a Fantasy Football darling in 2019, finishing the year with 72 catches, over 1100 yards, and six trips to the end zone. The Broncos have injected their offense with speed and all the tools for QB Drew Lock to succeed. Like Jones and Slayton, Lock loves Sutton and that connection will have fans across the globe talking about Courtland Sutton.
Detroit Lions: The Lions Have A Super Season
The Lions are going to the Super Bowl this season.
Matthew Stafford was playing his best football at the beginning of 2019 before breaking his back (literally) carrying the team. I love Matt Patricia and love the Lions to steal the NFC North. Patricia might want to call Tom Brady to rent a room in February down in Tampa.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers Miss The Postseason
The Packers continue to not give Aaron Rodgers ANY weapons to throw to outside of superstar WR Davante Adams. Green Bay took the “Heir apparent” to Rodgers in the first round of the NFL Draft in Jordan Love instead of a number of WRs that could have helped a team that was one game away from the Super Bowl in 2019. The dynamic in Green Bay is just incredibly sketchy and it’ll result in turmoil and the Pack not playing meaningful football in January.
Houston Texans: David Johnson Comes Alive In H-Town
After being left for dead in Arizona, David Johnson was about to enter running back purgatory. He could not be in a better position than he is with the Texans. David Johnson can handle the workload that the Texans offense will toss his way in both the running game and the passing game.
Johnson is only going to be 29 this season and he still has a lot left in the tank that the Cardinals might have overlooked. Get on board before the train leaves the station.
Indianapolis Colts: Dual Threat Backfield
The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in football; just ask Marlon Mack who rushed for 1091 yards in 2019. Enter Jonathan Taylor via the NFL Draft and the Colts now have an elite 1-2 punch in their backfield. Behind this offensive line and Philip Rivers getting familiar with his WRs, the Colts backfield will have TWO 1000-yard rushers in 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs: CEH = ROTY
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was taken with the final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and immediately, Head Coach Andy Reid compared him to Brian Westbrook. You know what? I’m all in on CHE being the Offensive Rookie Of The Year. He does not have to compete for the RB1 job with Damien Williams (opted out) and he becomes the starting RB of a Top-3 offense in the entire league. With Patrick Mahomes at QB and the speed on the outside, CHE is running his way to ROTY.
Las Vegas Raiders: Waller Will Be TE1
Darren Waller is going to be THE Tight End to own in Fantasy Football this season. Waller has the ability and opportunity of reeling in 15 touchdowns. Who else are they going to throw it to in the red zone? Agholor?
Los Angeles Chargers: Herbert Starts Sooner Than You Think
We’ve seen this story before with Tyrod Taylor. He signs with a team, they draft a rookie QB that season, but Taylor is named the starter. It’s rare that we’ve seen rookie QBs sit for an entire season, especially ones drafted in the Top-10. If the Chargers struggle early, Anthony Lynn will turn to Justin Herbert.
Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff Throws 40 Touchdowns
Jared Goff is looking to prove that 2019 was a fluke. He threw 32 touchdowns in 2018 and that was without Cooper Kupp for half of the season. It is absolutely in the realm of possibility.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Gardner Minshew Finds More Success
Gardner Minshew became the darling of the NFL last season after he replaced an injured Nick Foles in Week 1. He took the league by storm with his Uncle Rico look and positive vibes personality. Minshew has the least amount of pressure out of any QB in the league due to how awful the situation is in Jacksonville. Minshew has the chance to sling the ball around this season and play like he’s in his backyard. DJ Chark, Chris Conley, DeDe Westbrook, Laviska Shenault, and Keelan Cole are going to thrive in a pass-heavy offense led by Minshew.
Miami Dolphins: Tick-Tock It’s Tua Time
The Fitzmagic is about to run out in Miami. Ryan Fitzpatrick is still a serviceable NFL QB, but similarly to the Chargers, you don’t draft a QB in the Top-5 for him to just sit on the bench. When Tua Tagovailoa is full recovered from his injury, get ready for Tua Time.
Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook Leads the NFL in Touchdowns
Dalvin Cook is a sensational runner and speeds by defenders with ease. Cook ranked in the Top-3 when it came to red zone production by RBs in 2019. With Adam Thielen being the only WR Kirk Cousins has chemistry with, Cook’s production is only going to grow in 2020.
New England Patriots: Comeback Cam
This one writes itself. People casted Cam Newton off like he wasn’t shortly removed from being an MVP of the league. Newton is going to put on a show in 2020 and prove all the haters wrong.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees Breaks Another Record
The man just loves throwing touchdowns. Brees has one of the best offenses in the NFL with Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook, and Emmanuel Sanders came on board this offseason. Brees has options that will help him rewrite this history books.
New York Giants: Darius Slayton Finishes As WR1 For Big Blue
The New York Giants passing offense found something special in 2019 when Daniel Jones and Darius Slayton became a dynamic QB/WR combo. Slayton finished his rookie campaign with 48 receptions, 740 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Jones loves getting Slayton the ball. He’s the guy to roster in Fantasy Football & he’ll be one of the few bright spots for Big Blue in 2020.
New York Jets: Le’Veon Bell Rises From The Ashes
Le’Veon Bell was an absolute shell of himself last season in the Big Apple (New Jersey). He struggled to find the holes he easily hit in Pittsburgh, but thankfully the Jets answered Bell’s prayers and drafted Mekhi Becton and signed a few free agents to improve an offensive line that was AWFUL in 2019. Bell will be a phoenix rising in 2020.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Reagor Leads The Eagles In Receiving
The Eagles went and addressed their biggest need in the draft this season by taking TCU WR Jalen Reagor. While he is going to miss some time with an injury, he’s going to be Carson Wentz’s go-to WR all year long.
San Francisco 49ers: Jerrick McKinnon Makes An Impact
Remember Jerrick McKinnon? The RB who signed with the 49ers in 2018, but has yet to play a game for them? Kyle Shannahan loves to run the ball and every RB has a role in his offense. I fully expect McKinnon to have an impactful season by the Bay.
Seattle Seahawks: D.K. Eclipes 1000 Yards
Metcalf finished 2019 just 100 yards shy of a 1000-yard rookie campaign in 2019. Expect Mr. Unlimited to lob the deep ball up to D.K. in a Seahawks offense that will put up numbers all over the place.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben Ends 2020 With A Bang
Now back in action and cleanly shaved, Ben Roethlisberger ready for one more season. I don’t think the Steelers will make the playoffs, but I do believe Big Ben will play on someone’s Fantasy Football championship team. Big Ben will throw for a little over 4000 yards and around 30 touchdowns in potentially the final season of his career.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dream Team Sequel
This is just reminding me of that Vince Young led dream team Philly assembled in the 2011. All this talent collected in one spot and it’s just supposed to magically click? Miss me with that.
Tennessee Titans: The Ryan Tannehill and AJ Brown Show
Defenses know the Titans are going to use King Henry to steamroll them, but they need to not forget about Ryan Tannehill and AJ Brown. Tannehill stepped into the starter role for the Titans last year and turned their season around. AJ Brown is poised to have a breakout season in this offense. This connection is going to be smoother than Tennessee Whiskey.
Washington Football Team: Believe In Antonio Gibson
Let’s face it; Washington is not going to be all that great this season. With all of the off the field issues, figuring out a new team brand, and a brand new coaching staff, any bright spot will be good news for Washington.
Terry McLaurin, Alex Smith’s miracle return, and Antonio Gibson will be three bright spots for Washington in 2020. Gibson has garnered a lot of offseason hype in the Fantasy Football community and you can count me in. With the departure of Adrian Peterson, Gibson has a clear view of the RB1 spot in Washington and will be a building piece for Ron Rivera and company for years to come.
The 2020 NFL season is here and you ride with your takes until the end. We'll come back to this post in February to see how wrong (or right) I actually was.