It’s always fun to look forward and make BOLD predictions for the upcoming season. We dove into some solid bold predictions in this fantasy football podcast episode:
1. Derek Carr and the Saints win the NFC South
Despite what you think about Derek Carr, he has massively improved his situation for the upcoming season. He has gone from a division where he has to play Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Russell Wilson to now having to play Baker Mayfield, Desmond Ridder, and a rookie! Also, everyone can agree that Derek Carr is an upgrade to Andy Dalton for this offense. Carr can support an elite WR production as we saw him target Davante Adams 180 times and produce a 100-1,516-14 line. This makes me love Chris Olave for a second-year breakout (I’m not worried at all about Michael Thomas, who is done) as well. Despite what I expect to be a successful year, I do expect the Saints to lose in the first round of the playoffs, which is what Derek Carr does. Still, he’ll be a good QB2 if you’re looking for one during the fantasy season.
2. Christian McCaffrey will get hurt and finish outside the top 30 RBs
It was great to see CMC come back and play a full 17 games after only playing a total of 10 in 2020 and 2021. However, the guy is now 27 years old, and whatever load he had, he blew it out last season. San Francisco has a very difficult time keeping their RBs healthy, and we have a huge unknown with what QBs on this team will be fit enough to play going into this year. I’m not excited about seeing Sam Darnold being the starting QB at the beginning of 2023. There is a lot of risk with the consheepsus #1 player, so beware.
Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)
3. The Jags are going to the Super Bowl
We know the formula for how the NFL builds Super Bowl-caliber teams. Step 1: Draft a franchise, Quarterback. Step 2: Surround that player with talent by using high draft capital and free agency. Step 3: Fill the offense and defense with elite talent while the QB is still on his inexpensive rookie deal. Last season Philly did this and went to the Super Bowl, the season before, Cincinnati did this and went to the Super Bowl. Kansas City has built a dynasty behind what they did with Patrick Mahomes. Now it’s going to be Trevor Lawrence and the Jag’s turn. I love that they brought in Calvin Ridley, and I think that Ridley has a real shot to be the #1 receiver in the league. I love the upside the Lawrence has this season and think he’s a top 5 player with upside this season. Head Coach Doug Pederson has a Super Bowl Pedigree, and the past two Quarterbacks he’s drafted (Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts) have gone to the Super Bowl so he’s going to do it one more time.
4. Cooper Kupp is going to finish behind second-year Wide Receivers Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Drake London
The Counselor and I diverged on this prediction as he says Kupp is a bust, whereas I think he will have a bounce-back season. The Counselor thinks that Kupp is a huge injury risk and has had his last hurrah. We’re both worried about Matthew Stafford’s status and neck injury. I am more optimistic, but the Counselor thinks he’s done as well. Right now, there are no other receivers on the Rams worth anything, so defenses will be able to key in on Cooper Kupp. Watch out here!
5. Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson will finish ahead of Austin Ekeler
We’ve previously talked about how Austin Ekeler is now age 28 and has an extremely high risk of hitting that terminal decline this season. I can see these young guys coming in and showing us that the old guard has passed the torch to these young guys.
Bijan Robinson (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire)
6. Half of the older Veteran Running Backs will be out of the league next year
If you haven’t done so already, watch our video on aging players. Who would have predicted last year that Zeke Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Kareem Hunt would be out of the league today? Football is a young man’s game, and nowhere is that more true than at the Running Back position! Here’s the list of aging Running Backs:
- Christian McCaffrey, 27
- Nick Chubb, 27
- Joe Mixon, 27
- Austin Ekeler, 28
- Dalvin Cook, 28
- Alvin Kamara, 28
- Aaron Jones, 28
- James Conner, 28
- Gus Edwards, 28
- Jamaal Williams, 28
- Derrick Henry, 29
- Raheem Mostert, 31
- Cordarelle Patterson, 32
That’s a pretty extensive list of players that have dominated the league for years, but a sea change is coming, and a majority of the players on this list will be washed out of the league by this time next year. Although there are a few names on this list that I like, if you want upside, you are best to go with younger players and avoid these guys altogether!
Written by: Jim the Maverick
