The start of the NFL season is just a few weeks away, and fans are eagerly waiting to see how their favorite teams will perform this year. As always, there are players who are expected to excel beyond expectations and those who may fall short of expectations. In this article, we’ll take a look at some potential sleepers and busts for the upcoming season.
First off, let’s talk about sleepers – players who may fly under the radar but have the potential to make a big impact on their team’s success. One player to keep an eye on is quarterback Jalen Hurts from the Philadelphia Eagles. With Carson Wentz traded away in the offseason, Hurts has been named as the starting QB for Philly. He showed flashes of brilliance last year when he took over for Wentz towards the end of the season, throwing six touchdowns in his four starts. If he can continue that level of play throughout this season, he could be a huge asset to his team.
Another sleeper pick is wide receiver Darnell Mooney from Chicago Bears. He had an impressive rookie campaign last year with 631 receiving yards and four touchdowns despite inconsistent quarterback play. With Andy Dalton now leading the offense and Allen Robinson drawing most of the attention from defenses, Mooney could see even more opportunities to shine.
On the other side of things, there are always players who fail to live up to expectations or struggle due to injury or other factors – these are known as busts. One player who could potentially disappoint fantasy owners this year is running back Josh Jacobs from Las Vegas Raiders. While he had a strong rookie season two years ago with 1,150 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, he saw a drop in production last year with only 12 touchdowns total (10 rushing). The addition of Kenyan Drake could also eat into Jacobs’ workload.
Another potential bust candidate is tight end Kyle Pitts from Atlanta Falcons – not because he lacks talent, but because of the hype surrounding him. Pitts was selected fourth overall in this year’s draft, and expectations are high for him to be an immediate impact player for the Falcons. However, tight ends typically have a steep learning curve when transitioning from college to the NFL, and it may take some time for him to develop chemistry with quarterback Matt Ryan.
In conclusion, while these players may not make or break their teams’ success entirely, they are certainly worth keeping an eye on throughout the upcoming season. Who knows – they could end up being major contributors or disappointments depending on how things shake out.