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The AFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. There are multiple legitimate playoff threats that are loaded with talent on both offense and defense. This will surely be one of the most exciting divisions to watch as the NFL season nears closer to playoff time. Without further ado, let’s get down to business.

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Up until last season the NFC East was known as one of the worst divisions in the NFL. However, the Dallas Cowboys have finally broken their ways of mediocrity and the Philadelphia Eagles have emerged as a dangerous team as well.

This may be one of the most competitive years that has been seen in a long time. It figures to be no different for the NFC East.

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Benjamin was carted off of the field earlier with an unknown injury to his knee. Unfortunately, the team’s worst fears were realized.

Last season, Benjamin ended with 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. He was expected to be quarterback Cam Newton’s go-to option this season as the Panthers look to defend their NFC South title. 

Without Benjamin, the Panthers will need to look deeper into their roster to find viable weapons for Newton. Besides Greg Olsen, Benjamin was really Newton’s sole option last year.

The good news is that in this day and age, people can recover easily from torn ACL’s. Especially considering that he’s only 24-years-old.

The bad news of course is that he will miss a full year and that could majorly hurt his development.

The Panthers though, will need to move on and try to win games without Benjamin. In the wake of his injury, second round pick Devin Funchess figures to see a lot more action. 

Olsen will most likely be Newton’s primary target, but Funchess will now be relied on much more.

Funchess is similar in size to Benjamin and therefore will likely be used in a similar way. Some may think that after Funchess’ snail-like 4.70 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine he wouldn’t be used as the deep threat that Benjamin was. 

However, at Michigan’s pro day Funchess ran a 4.48 40-yard dash according to their official website. That is a full .13 seconds faster than what Kelvin Benjamin ran last year. 

Funchess has big potential to have a rookie season comparable to Benjamin’s if he possesses the talent that most believe he does.

In addition to Olsen and Funchess, the Panthers will rely on second year receiver Philly Brown. He only had 21 receptions for 296 yards last season, but he flashed potential to be a solid secondary option, especially for a team that lacks receivers like the Panthers. 

Running back Jonathan Stewart will also be relied on to make big plays. If he is healthy, he will be a focal point of the offense to distract the defense from their lack of receivers.

Fans can only hope that Benjamin recovers quickly and gets back to being as dangerous as ever for the beginning of next season. For now though, they will need to rely on lots of unproven assets to lead their offense.

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1st Place- Carolina Panthers (9-7)

The Carolina Panthers will once again take home the NFC South crown with a less than stellar record. The NFC South just isn’t good, and the Panthers will take advantage of that. The NFC South has gotten better since last season though, and that includes Carolina.

The Panthers have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. Luke Kuechly and Star Lotulelei is leading their incredible front seven. Both are still young enough that they could even get even better this season. That is a terrifying thought.

Josh Norman and Bene Benwikere make up an incredibly underrated secondary as well. Despite being moderately unheard of, Norman and Benwikere led the Panthers to the 11th ranked spot in terms of passing yards allowed per game. As they are both still young, there is sure to be improvement.

Carolina’s offense has always been a big question mark. Their offensive line has never been able to give Cam Newton the amount of protection that he needs to reach his potential. This lack of protection has also led to Newton getting sacked more times than any quarterback should. A lack of weapons on offense has also been a problem. However, the Panthers have drafted Devin Funchess and signed Michael Oher, so their offense could see a slight improvement this season as well.

2nd Place- Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

The Falcons have so much offensive talent; they just need to put it together. Like much of the NFC South, they have some gaping problems but they figure to see some improvement this season.

The Falcons have one of the NFL’s best receivers in Julio Jones. They also have a very good quarterback in Matt Ryan. The Falcons’ biggest problem is their offensive line. Ryan isn’t given enough time to step back and launch the ball deep to Jones when pass rushers are in his face after two seconds.

The offensive line is also unable to create big enough holes to help out the Falcons’ explosive young running backs. Rookie back Tevin Coleman joins Devonta Freeman in the Falcons backfield. Both are very explosive runners with potential to do damage. Despite the offensive line’s woes, the offense figures to be decently effective due to their pure skill.

Atlanta’s defense has issues in the front seven as well. They lack depth on the defensive line as well as in their linebacking corps. They lost veteran leader Sean Weatherspoon this offseason to the Arizona Cardinals and that will lead to problems with their run stopping ability.

The Falcons’ 28th ranked pass defense figures to remain below average. Though young star Desmond Trufant figures to take another step forward alongside talented rookie Jalen Collins, they still lack depth.

3rd Place- New Orleans Saints (6-10)

The New Orleans Saints are on the decline currently. Drew Brees is still one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks, but his talent alone can’t lead the Saints to a winning record. Brees lost his primary target in Jimmy Graham and lost another quality receiver in Kenny Stills. The Saints offense will be more reliant on Brandin Cooks and their running backs.

The Saints offense won’t be what hurts them the most. They have the offense to at least go 8-8 in the NFC South. Their defense will be their downfall.

Former Saint Junior Gallette was their only semblance of a pass rush and they cut him following attitude concerns.

Their secondary is starting to gain some depth following the acquisitions of Brandon Browner and Delvin Breaux, but it’s still below average at best.

The Saints just don’t excel in any areas. In the past, their offense has been high scoring enough to hide their defensive deficiencies. But now even that is a shell of it’s former self.

The Panthers defense will be able to contain the Saints’ offense and the Falcons will be able to smoke the Saints’ defense. Saints fans will need to wait a few years to return to their former glory.

4th Place- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)

The Buccaneers are a team who won’t be as upset about having a losing record as the other teams in this division. Lovie Smith and co are essentially resetting the franchise to build around Mike Evans and Jameis Winston. They won’t be a good team from the beginning, but that’s expected.

Winston and Evans form a solid offensive tandem, but some more big names must be added around them. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson is currently 32-years-old and his production has decreased each year since his first season in Tampa Bay.

He is still a quality receiver though. If Doug Martin can return to his rookie self then he could turn into a dangerous back for the Buccaneers.

The Bucs could also use some more offensive lineman. Besides rookie Ali Marpet, there’s not a whole lot of potential along that offensive line. If Winston is to develop to his full potential, he will need time to make throws in the pocket. Getting hit too often and too early has been known to stunt the growth of many young quarterbacks.

In terms of defense, the Bucs are off to a good start. Between Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David and Alterraun Verner, the Bucs have plenty of talent. If they can find some good pieces to fit with their stars, their defense could rival for the Panthers’ for the best in the NFC South.

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Cornerback is one of the most vital positions in the NFL. As the NFL continues to change it’s rules to assist offenses, elite corners become more and more important to have. Cornerbacks are becoming increasingly reliant on technique as they lose their ability to touch wide receivers. These ten cornerbacks are able to stick with and shut down the best of wide receivers.

10. Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos

Talib has consistently been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL year in and year out. Since being acquired by the New England Patriots in 2012, Talib has seemed to reach his full potential. When he was in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers his off the field issues kept him from playing his best football.

Last season in Denver Talib played in 15 games and intercepted four passes. Talib excelled in man to man coverage for the Broncos. He is someone that can be constantly counted on when placed against other team’s primary receivers.

Unfortunately, injuries have been a problem for Talib. The 15 games he played last season was the most he has played in a season since 2009. Talib tends to have nagging injuries that will hamper his play even when he’s in the game. When he’s on the field he’s a premier talent, but injuries tend to slow him down.

9. Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets

Cromartie is getting up there in years, but he remains one of the best in football. Last season for the Arizona Cardinals he intercepted three passes and consistently shut opposing receivers down.

Cromartie’s biggest problem is his physicality. A few years ago, physicality was welcomed in the NFL, but as the game evolves it becomes harder and harder to be a physical corner back. With rule changes and the quickness of today’s receivers, technique is more coveted than physicality.

Regardless, Cromartie is one of the NFL’s best man coverage cornerbacks. Although he will get burned occasionally, he is generally draped all over the opposing receiver.

8. Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings

Rhodes will probably surprise many people. He is a name that many people don’t hear on a consistent basis when talking about the best cornerbacks in the game. However, last season he consistently stayed quiet by not being thrown to.

Last season Rhodes only picked off one pass for the Vikings, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. If you’re an avid football fan than you know that sometimes lockdown coverage doesn’t lead to interceptions because you’re not being thrown to.

While starting all 16 games last season, Rhodes managed to rank 8th on Football Outsider list of “Top Leading Role Cornerbacks by Adjusted Success Rate 2014“.

7. Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins

Grimes is 32 years old and will start progressively sliding down this list. However, at this point in time he still has the man coverage skills to stay in the top 10.

Grimes is not the lockdown type of player that some of the other players on this list are, but he is still a great corner back. Last season he had five interceptions, including a spectacular one handed grab to stop a Calvin Johnson touchdown.

Grimes will continue to be one of the best man coverage corners in the NFL. He also figures to nab quite a few interceptions this season.

6. Chris Harris, Denver Broncos

Harris has long been under the radar, mostly due to little nagging injuries that have hampered his play. Last year was his first season where he played and started all 16 games of the season. He was fully healthy and for that reason was able to finally play at a very high level.

Last season he was also coming off an an ACL tear. This offseason he was able to participate in all team activities and is now in training camp with the Broncos. Harris will be fully prepared when his name is called to lock down the best NFL receivers this season.

Harris isn’t as much of a man corner as he is a zone corner. He is the first zone corner on this list. Typically, man coverage cornerbacks tend to be valued higher than zone coverage cornerbacks. However, when they’re as good as Harris is, zone corners are very welcome on any team. At 26, Harris is just entering his prime. Expect him to have his best season as a pro opposite Aqib Talib in the Broncos secondary.

5. Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ have a below average defense. Last season they ranked 19th in the NFL in points allowed per game. However, one area of their defense that is actually above average, is their passing yards allowed per game. Last season, they actually ranked 12th. Vontae Davis is mostly if not wholly responsible for that ranking.

Davis is the first truly elite cornerback on this list. Last season he recorded four interceptions while also successfully locking down opposing receivers. Davis has flown under the radar for the majority of his career, but at 27 years old the Colts star is starting to blossom.

Davis’ greatest asset may be his versatility. He is one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the NFL and can cover the deep ball as well as anyone out there. He can be used all over the field for that reason. In today’s NFL, versatility is key for many players.

4. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Peterson had a down year last season, due to health issues but he remains one of the best corners in all of football. Peterson’s appeal comes less from his technique and more from his freakish athleticism. Obviously being the fourth best cornerback in football requires a good amount of technique, but he uses his athleticism more than others. He is fast and quick enough to stay with most wide receivers.

Even in an off year for Peterson he still picked off three passes. He figures to return to his true and even up his game as he begins to enter his prime. He has been consistently improving his technique over his five year NFL career and that should take another step forward this season.

3. Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns

Haden is a man coverage cornerback, plain and simple. He is one of the best at what he does too. There’s not a whole lot to say about Haden’s game.

Haden is in his prime at 26 years old and will continue to dominate every receiver that lines up across from him. He had three interceptions last season, which more than anything is a testament to his hands. He rarely ever let’s receivers get open enough that the quarterback would be advised to throw it his way.

Haden is an elite player in every way, but the top two players on this list are once in a lifetime talents.

2. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

This pick will surely be controversial. Many if not most NFL fans will consider Sherman the best cornerback in the NFL. Once again, Sherman is a once in a lifetime talent. It is incredibly hard to critique his game.

The biggest knocks on Sherman are that he doesn’t move around on the field. He generally stays on one side of the field and as a result, opposing offenses don’t need to put their best receivers up against him. Though with 24 interceptions in his four year career, I’m sure the Seahawks aren’t worried.

The reason that Sherman can’t be ranked first on the list is that he is a zone coverage cornerback. He plays in a comfortable, familiar cover three in Seattle. Sherman is by far the best zone corner in the game and is supremely talented, but man coverage corners are forced to do more work. Once again, Sherman is an absolutely amazing zone corner, he is the best in the league at what he does.

1. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

Revis is the best cornerback in the game. He plays man to man coverage all over the field for the whole game and does it better than anyone else. He is rarely thrown to, because everyone is terrified to do so. Some have even said that it’s like he runs the routes for the receivers.

Revis is getting up there in age, but he still has at least one year left at the top of the NFL. His ACL injury should no longer be an issue after a full healthy, superbowl winning season with the New England Patriots.

In the Jets’ defense this season, Revis will be assisted by Antonio Cromartie and their amazing front seven this season. Quarterbacks won’t have time to think this season when facing the Jets defense and when they look to pass quickly they will see Antonio Cromartie opposite Revis. Needless to say, Revis could see more passes coming his way this season, which could mean an uptick in interceptions.

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The Utah Jazz are loaded with young talent. It’s only a matter of time before their talent develops to the point where the Jazz will be a legitimate playoff contender. However, at the moment, the Jazz are still trying to sort through their talent and find the best fits at each position. Let’s take a look at the lineup that the Jazz will most likely bring out on day one of the NBA season.

Point Guard- Trey Burke: Burke hasn’t showed the talent the Utah Jazz surely hoped he would when they drafted traded for him after he was drafted ninth in the first round of the NBA Draft. Last season he averaged 12.8 points per game and 4.3 assists per game while only shooting 36.8% from the field. Granted, he is only 22 and still has lots of room to develop. Regardless, the Jazz don’t have a better option at the moment. It can’t hurt the Jazz to continue to develop Burke as they build up their young talent.

Dante Exum is also a starting option at point guard, but he is still incredibly raw. If Burke doesn’t begin to up his numbers in the next two years then Exum could be his likely replacement at point guard. For now though, Burke has the job.

Shooting Guard- Alec Burks: Burks is the Jazz most talented shooting guard at the moment. Last season Burks shot 40% while scoring 13.9 points per game. Burks biggest asset though, is his defense. Burke is an offensive minded point guard, so Burks’ defense is welcome in Utah’s backcourt.

Dante Exum will be Utah’s primary backup shooting guard this season. However, at only 20 years old he is still too raw to get a starting job right off the bat. He showed flashes of potential against the competition at the Utah Summer League; but the competition there isn’t stiff enough to earn him a starting job. Right now, while Exum continues to figure out the NBA, backup shooting guard is the right spot for him.

Small Forward- Gordon Hayward: This may be the easiest position to project on the entire roster. Hayward’s talent mixed with the lack of talent behind him makes him the natural choice here. Hayward averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 44.5%. He is also an above average wing defender, which only adds to his appeal. Hayward is just entering his prime at 25 years old and is set to be the leader of this team as they look to transition from a lottery team to a contender.

Power Forward- Derrick Favors: Favors is another absolute lock to get a starting job. The 6’10” power forward averaged 16 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season at only 24 years old. He is a blossoming low post scorer that is just starting to show his true potential. He is going to be a vital piece of this Utah team for years to come.

Trevor Booker will most likely be Favors’ primary backup on day one. Booker is a solid bench scorer that will be able to come in and give a big boost to the Jazz’s second unit. However, Booker could be challenged for minutes by the rookie Trey Lyles out of Kentucky as the season wears on. Lyles has potential to become a very good NBA player at the starting level. However, he will need a year or so on the bench to develop his game. Lyles will be used off of the bench to provide some mid range scoring in the front court; something that Favors and Rudy Gobert lack.

Center- Rudy Gobert: Gobert is a defensive and rebounding machine. He is not much of a scorer but Favors and Lyles will be able to provide that. At only 23 Gobert only figures to improve. He will be the defensive anchor that every team needs.

The only person that could possibly challenge Gobert for minutes is Lyles. Though Lyles figures to be a bench player for the season atleast. Favors, Gobert and Lyles should act as a sort of three man rotation, all seeing nearly equal minutes with Lyles most likely seeing the least.

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The Los Angeles Lakers are a storied franchise. Throughout their history they have displayed some of the greatest players to ever play the game. As they look to transition into a new era they will need to develop their young talent. Could one of their young pieces turn into the next NBA all-time great? Let’s take a look at their most likely 2015 opening day starting lineup and find out.

Point Guard- Jordan Clarkson: Jordan Clarkson showed more potential last season than anyone thought he would as a second round pick, averaging 11.9 points per game. In the NBA Summer League this summer he showed that he is ready to take the next step towards NBA stardom. Many may argue that rookie D’Angelo Russell should start at the point, but as you will read, Clarkson fits better at the point. Atleast on day one. Russell may be the NBA’s next big thing, but the Lakers can’t forget about his supporting cast.

Shooting Guard- D’Angelo Russell: Russell absolutely must be in the starting lineup this season. However, in the NBA Summer League, Russell showed some issues with turnovers. In the shooting guard role he will be able to showcase his scoring ability while not being forced to distribute the ball. With Clarkson at point and Russell at shooting guard, it gives both of them flexibility to develop without exiting their comfort zone.

Russell will most likely move to point guard in the fute, but he must first get a better feel for the NBA. He may even move there part way through this season as Scott has expressed a desire for Russell to play there. He just must become accustomed to the NBA first. Kobe Bryant has played shooting guard for his entire career but he must move over to make room for the Lakers to develop their younger talent as they look to transition from generation to generation.

Small Forward- Kobe Bryant: Kobe needs to be in the starting lineup. He is a Lakers’ great and will start for that reason alone if need be. He is still owed over $20 million next season and the Lakers need to get some points out of him while they still can. Bryant has shown that he can still put up 15-20 points per game if need be. He will be slightly undersized as a small forward but considering head coach Byron Scott said that he may play a lot of power forward, this idea isn’t too outlandish.

Nick Young will most likely be Kobe’s primary backup. Young is better suited for a bench role. He is purely a scorer and not a very efficient one. He will be a perfect sixth man to come off of the bench when the Lakers need help with scoring.

Power Forward- Julius Randle: Randle is another piece who the Lakers will want to be a part of their future. He has potential to be an elite scorer in the NBA and giving him a chance to start from day one will help him reach that goal. Randle missed last season with a broken leg but he seemed to have regained his quickness and athleticism at the NBA Summer League. At the Summer League Randle also displayed some trouble scoring around the basket, but it’s a feeling process for him. The Lakers don’t have the tools to compete right away, so it makes no sense to sit Randle in place of someone else for the sake of winning now. Developing young assets is key for the Lakers.

Brandon Bass will come off the bench for the Lakers. Bass has starting experience and will serve as a great mentor for Randle. Bass is a great scorer in the mid range and will surely look to assist Randle in getting that nice touch on his jumper. Like I said though, considering the Lakers just can’t win now, developing Randle is more important than starting Bass.

Center- Roy Hibbert: The Lakers traded for Hibbert with the intent of starting him. The Lakers’ best option behind him is either Robert Sacre or Tarik Black, but neither is even close to Hibbert in terms of skill level. Up to this point, the Lakers’ lineup has lacked defense. Hibbert will be used at the rim to make sure any players who blow by the Lakers poor perimeter defense are met by a monstrous block. With Randle handling the scoring duties in the low post, Hibbert can be left to do what he does best which is defend.

Tarik Black will most likely earn the primary backup job. Sacre has been nothing more than mediocre as a bench player in his NBA career and Black showed some potential in the NBA Summer League. Black is a hustle player that will be a perfect catalyst for the Lakers’ bench unit should they become lethargic.

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Whether it be during the College Football season, draft talks or even draft night, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston have always been compared. As they enter their first seasons in the NFL, that isn’t going to change. Winton and Mariota were the first and second overall selections in the NFL draft respectively. Neither figures to have much success in their first NFL season in terms of leading their team to an improved record, but which one will have the better season?

Until Mariota proves himself, Winston is going to be given the edge by the NFL experts. Winston has been labeled as the more NFL ready player and he was selected first overall. However, this could also work in Mariota’s favor. The expectations won’t be as high for him in year one, so his success will always be greeted with positive criticism. Things may not be so easy for Winston.

For Winston, expectations will be high. He’s enjoyed plenty of success at Florida State University and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will be hungry for him to bring that winning spirit to Tampa Bay. Unfortunately for those fans, Winston still has some kinks to work out; he won’t come in and throw 30 touchdowns with only ten interceptions and turn the team around right off the bat. It will take time for him to become accustomed to the pressures of playing in the NFL. However, with receivers such as Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, he is bound to see some success.

For a quarterback with a strong arm like Winston, having two tall receivers that can stretch the field can be incredibly helpful. There is no doubt that Winston will be looking to throw the ball deep to Evans a lot this season. He will inevitably succeed in some of those attempts. However, interceptions are also a concern; last season he saw his interception numbers jump from ten to 18 in one season. As with any rookie quarterback, he will need to control himself. You could expect around 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions for Winston in his rookie season while the Buccaneers go around 5-11.

As for Mariota, he will come in with slightly lower expectations. Mariota also has more areas of his game that he needs to improve before he can reach his full potential. First of all, Mariota will have to learn how to take snaps from under center. Last season at Oregon, Mariota was in the shotgun formation for all but four or five of his snaps, that’s not an exaggeration either. In the NFL, if you’re not flexible, opposing defensive coordinators will figure you out quickly. Titans’ coach Ken Whisenhunt will surely mold the offense around Mariota’s shotgun experience, but he will need to be flexible as well.

Mariota will also need to learn to put more zip on the ball. His arm is apparently looking very strong at camp and that will be vital to his success. In the NFL, if a quarterback can’t put some heat on his passes then the defenses will feast. Lofted passes will lead to more interceptions.

One positive part of Mariota’s game is probably the most vital skill for any QB in the NFL, that being decision making. Last season at Oregon, Mariota only threw two interceptions in the regular season. Those numbers will definitely rise now that he’s hit the NFL, but he will most likely throw less interceptions than Winston. However, he is also likely to throw less touchdowns than Winston simply because he’s not quite as developed as a passer.

Another big advantage that Mariota has is his athleticism. He will be able to escape pressure rather well. You can expect to see him navigate the pocket similarly to Russell Wilson. Mariota probably won’t use too many designed runs, but he will be able to scramble with the best of them.

Winston and Mariota will most likely have very different rookie seasons. Winston will probably put up bigger numbers, but that includes interceptions. Mariota’s stats will most likely be quiet, but he will make few mistakes. People will be able to criticize Winston’s decision making while people criticize Mariota’s lack of touchdowns and passing yards. In terms of QBR, Mariota will have the better season; he will also most likely pick up his production towards the end of the season as he gets more comfortable with the NFL. Winston will stuff the stats sheet more but will also struggle with his interceptions.

In the end, Marcus Mariota will have the better rookie season as he gains positive experience. Winston won’t be close behind, but he will need to reign in his interceptions before he reaches an elite level.

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The NFL is full of spectacular receivers, and it can be hard to rank them all. The rankings include impact to a team, not only statistics.

10. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears

Alshon Jeffery has always had the potential to be a top 10 receiver, but has been stuck behind Brandon Marshall. During Marshall’s time in Chicago, he was clearly Jay Cutler‘s favorite target. Jeffery was left to pick up Marshall’s scraps when he was either injured or not open.

Jeffery has had two straight seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards and has had seven and ten touchdowns in the last two seasons respectively. Now, as the primary threat in Chicago’s offense, he figures to see his numbers skyrocket. In 2013, Jeffery had 1,421 yards receiving. This came in a season where Brandon Marshall also had around 1,200 yards.

This season, even though the Bears may not win too many games, you could expect Jeffery easily repeating his 1,400 yard performance and even getting up to around 12 or 13 touchdowns.

9. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Evans is one of those receivers that is just going to be impossible to deal with. Standing at 6’5″, most cornerbacks in the NFL have difficulty covering him on deep balls. Last year, he had a fantastic rookie campaign, posting 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns. He will only build on that campaign this season.

He may not have the yards that Jeffery will, but his impact will be felt even more. Defenses will struggle to contain the explosive athlete that is Evans. Some may be worried by the fact that he will have a rookie quarterback throwing to him.

Just think though, can Winston really be any worse than the Josh McCown and Mike Glennon combination? Forgive me, Glennon was actually decent in limited time last season, but still, Winston should be as good, if not better.

8. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Jordy Nelson is an incredibly effective receiver. If this list were in terms of pure numbers, he would most likely be higher.

However, one could argue that Nelson does not have the same amount of natural talent that some of these other receivers above him have. Nelson’s technique is flawless and is an absolute monster on deep balls. Though he isn’t as big of a game changer as the other seven guys on this list. Sorry Packers fans.

7. Odell Beckham Jr, New York Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. is going to be the best wide receiver in the NFL one day if he can stay healthy. It will be difficult with the NFL’s constant influx of talent at the position, but he is one of a kind.

His athleticism, technique and work ethic are out of this world and it shows on the field. The only concerns with him are minor health issues and whether or not he’ll let the fame get to him.

Beckham’s footwork, or his insane one-handed catches, are a thing of beauty. He’s still got a ways to go before he can move higher up on this list, but it’s only because he is still young and developing.

6. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

People seem to be forgetting about A.J. Green after his season was hampered by injuries last year. They forget that he is still one of the most formidable receivers in the entire league.

One could argue that Green has the best footwork in the NFL. He can make defenders look foolish with just a couple of steps.

Andy Dalton is holding him back at this point. His frame is also a bit slight when compared to these other top five receivers. He will never be a huge red-zone threat, but he is one of the most dangerous all-around receivers in the game.

5. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

Thomas is the most dangerous open field receiver in football. He is a solid all-around receiver, but when he catches screen passes and the blocking is even mediocre, he’s guaranteed ten yards.

Perhaps Thomas would be known as more of a deep threat if he was playing with Peyton Manning in his youthful days, but alas, he must play with the post-surgery Manning. Manning is still great, he just doesn’t have the deep ball arm strength anymore. Regardless, Thomas doesn’t need to be a deep threat to be great. He’s found his niche and he excels at it.

4. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Brown has a season for the ages in 2015, many could debate that he is the best receiver in the NFL as of now. However, this isn’t ranking who will catch the most passes or even who will rack up the most yards. It’s about who will be the hardest for defenses to handle. Brown is the game’s best do-it-all receiver.

3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Last year was a down year for the Falcons and in that year, Jones had around 1,500 yards receiving. He is the game’s most dangerous deep threat and that’s why he earns this spot on the list.

Jones isn’t huge on short-to-intermediate passes, but he will catch an insane amount of deep passes that will leave you saying “did he just catch that?”

If the Falcons can pick it up even a little bit from last season, Jones could see a spike in his touchdowns – six last season- and maybe even yards. Health is a big factor for him and it may be the only thing that’s held him back so far from being at the top of this list.

2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

Calvin Johnson has long been named the league’s best receiver. This year, I believe he loses his crown.

Now, let’s be clear I think most people in the world would love to be able to “fall off” from the best receiver in the NFL to the second best. Johnson is a freak of nature, as he is nicknamed, “Megatron”; he is insanely tall and also sports an impressive 4.4 40-yard dash.

He will toss cornerbacks around like rag dolls if he pleases. He fell to second because of minor injury concerns as well as his increasing age, but don’t worry Lions fans, he’ll still be a sight to behold.

1. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

Most receivers on this list have their own niche. Dez Bryant has found his as a red-zone threat. He scores more touchdowns than any other receiver on a consistent basis despite constant double coverage.

He is also maturing on and off the field, which is in turn helping his play. He is becoming a more disciplined route runner and is therefore becoming a better all-around threat. He is slowly taking over Megatron’s title of the most physically imposing receiver in the game, and that is the reason I have him ranked as the most terrifying wide receiver for opposing cornerbacks to cover.

No one can figure out how to stop him and this year he will be the focal point of the offense rather than Demarco Murray. Bryant’s going to be off the charts this season.

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The New York Knicks had an absolutely horrendous season last year and the prize of it all? The fourth pick. The lottery was not very nice to the Knicks, and as a result they ended up with the fourth pick as a consolation prize. This season, they will most likely look to improve upon last year’s record. Carmelo Anthony can’t be good forever and the Knicks will definitely want to make sure that he’s worth the money they’re paying him. Let’s a take a look at who the Knicks could bring out that will give them the best chance at winning.

Point Guard- Jerian Grant: Grant was acquired in a draft night trade with the Atlanta Hawks and for now it looks like he is the Knicks’ future at the point guard position. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling as a scorer in the NBA, but when playing with Melo, that’s not entirely necessary. Grant will use his incredible basketball IQ and floor vision to run the Knicks offense. The Knicks will finally have a point guard who can help to get the ball to Melo so he doesn’t need to run isolation the whole game. Jose Calderon will serve as a veteran leader off of the bench that will help Grant develop his skills. Calderon has been serviceable in the past but as the Knicks look to transition into the future, Grant is the clear answer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Grant put up 13 points and six assists per game next season.

Shooting Guard- Arron Afflalo: The Knicks missed out on the marquee NBA free agents this offseason, but Afflalo is not a bad consolation prize. Especially since Tim Hardaway Jr. was sent away to the Hawks in exchange for the aforementioned Jerian Grant. This pick is rather obvious considering the only other shooting guard on the roster is Ricky Ledo, who has never and most likely will never start an NBA game. At 29-years-old, Afflalo is still a solid secondary scoring option. With the Trailblazers last season, he averaged 13.3 points per game shooting 42 percent in around 32 minutes per game. Those aren’t astounding numbers, but for someone who will be nothing more than a second option, they are good enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if they spiked considering the Knicks’ lack of scorers.

Small Forward- Carmelo Anthony: This one is obvious and I’m not going to spend much time explaining it. Melo is one of the best scorers in the NBA and will be the featured weapon on this 2015-2016 Knicks team. His season was cut to just 40 games after he decided to shut down for the year to preserve his body for the future. Expect him to show up healthy next season and be a guy who can put up 26 points and seven rebounds per game for the Knicks.

Power Forward- Kristaps Porzingis: This one is very debatable. The Knicks have two options here. They can play the rookie or they can play free agent signee Derrick Williams. Williams may be more NBA ready at this point considering he’s been in the league for a few years, but he’s not going to put up spectacular numbers. Last season with the Kings, he only put up 8.3 points per game. The reason that I believe the Knicks will choose Porzingis is that he is the future. In the NBA Summer League, Porzingis showed off a tremendous amount of skill. Even though his frame is not very NBA ready at this point, I think he will see a fair share of starts this season for the Knicks. After all, Williams is not a good enough option that it’s not worth developing Porzingis. Will he play 33 minutes per game? Probably not. Will he get every chance to start and show his worth this season? Of course. The Knicks will be trying to win this season, but not at the expense of their young star’s development.

Center- Robin Lopez: Since Tyson Chandler left New York, the Knicks have been searching for a new rim protector. Lopez is a very solid low paint option if you’re looking for defense and rebounding. He will not be asked to shoulder much of the scoring load as Melo, Afflalo and Porzingis will handle that job. Instead, Lopez will be used to scare away opposing teams’ players from driving to the paint. New York’s other option is Kyle O’Quinn who they picked up in free agency. Last season O’Quinn averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in only 16 minutes per game. O’Quinn has shown potential but I doubt the Knicks will pass up Lopez’s proven rim protection for O’Quinn’s potential this season. Expect Lopez to see around 30 minutes per game. His numbers won’t be flashy but he will do his job to the best of his ability.

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