They’re loud and they’re proud: They’re the AFC North.
They like to stand out.
They like to be different, hence the North location.
And they’d like to do something about the East’s dominance. Only the Noise, surprisingly enough, has gotten past the East to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Houserville and Fear, but mainly Houserville, would like to change that.
In 2012, the Ville had the best record in the JFL and after the bye week he fell flat, missing the chance to go to the Super Bowl.
Now, he returns a squad that isn’t as powerful as it was last year, but nevertheless, it should be good enough to win the AFC North.
However, the Noise and Fear aren’t in shambles. They have decent rosters and they’ll provide a challenge, not only for their division mate, but also for the rest of the JFL.
Yes, that's right, the Noise has a team that will compete, and a lot of the JFL agrees, as he landed second in the division poll.
AFC North Preseason Poll
1. Real Houserville............25 points (8 first-place votes)
2. World of Noise..............15 points
3. Fear and Loathing...........14 points (1 first-place vote)
Real Houserville
2012 Record, Finish: 10-3 (AFC West Champion, lost in AFC Championship)
Career Record : 35-26 (.574)
Playoff Record (Appearances): 2-5 (5)
Quarterbacks ★★★★½
Cam Newton was a little disappointing last season, but that didn’t stop the Ville from winning 10 regular-season games and securing the No. 1 seed.
Then, in Week 14 when he was on the bye, Newton scored a season-high 47.6 points.
He followed that up with 26.2 points the next week in a loss. Newton had four weeks where he failed to reach 20 points, and three more where he fell short of 23.
Despite the fact that he struggled, the Ville continued to win. Heading into 2013, the Ville has to believe he’ll get a little bit more out of Newton, and I would agree. He still ranked No. 6 overall in fantasy last year and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be top five. The biggest question would be: Is he going to get all his points in a handful of games or will he be able to be more consistent game to game.
If anything happens to Newton, it will be Carson Palmer, who I think could revive his career in the desert with Larry Fitzgerald.
Running Backs ★★★½☆
Doug Martin was a beast last year and that led to him finishing second among fantasy running backs last season. He only have five 100-yard rushing games but his ability to be a threat in the receiving game is why he’s an amazing weapon to have. He’s another Ray Rice and the Ville is happy to have him on board.
And with last year’s strategy of going with the explosive rookie working, the Ville decided to try it again with Montee Ball. Peyton Manning has had a lot of good things to say about Ball and he should be the top back for the Broncos.
If he can have a breakout season like Martin did a year ago, the AFC North will surely be the Ville's to rule again.
He also has a decent handcuff in Ben Tate, who will someday be a No. 1 when he’s not playing behind Arian Foster. He could finish as a top-five back if he didn’t have to worry about Foster. And with Foster's recent injury history, that could be this year.
As a fourth back, Shane Vereen could provide help on a bye week, but not much else. As a third-down back for the Pats, he cannot be relied upon to be a consistent fantasy scorer.
Wideouts ★★★½☆
Pierre Garcon was limited last season and we still don’t know what to expect out of him in Washington, so I really don’t like that pick, but it’s OK, because Houserville took care of business by drafting Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and Kenbrell Thompkins.
I think a bounce-back year is coming for Nelson and Cobb should be just as good, if not better in 2013. Honestly, we may see the Ville roll with both Nelson and Cobb weekly. It could hurt him a few weeks, but for the most part, it should get him some decent numbers.
Thompkins, or the other rookie he grabbed off the waiver wire, Cordarrelle Patterson, could throw a wrench into that if they continue to play as well as they did in the preseason.
They also could be called upon if I’m wrong and Nelson doesn’t bounce back.
Oh, and Percy Harvin is sitting on the IR. So perhaps a late-season push if it’s not too late?
Tight Ends ★★★★★
Jimmy Graham, a first round pick for the second year in a row. Taking a tight end in the first round sounds like something Craig would do. Graham ranked No. 1 among tight ends last season, averaging 10.6 points per game. If he can do it again, the Ville will own the advantage at tight end each week.
But is that really better than having a stud at wideout?
Team Outlook
I would say Houserville is not as strong as he was in 2012, but he still has to be considered a division favorite with Cam Newton and Doug Martin … and the Noise and Fear as competition.
World of Noise
2012 Record, Finish: 6-7
Career Record : 34-57 (.358)
Playoff Record (Appearances): 2-2 (2)
Quarterbacks ★★★★½
Matt Ryan gives him five stars; Jay Cutler costs him a half, and that’s only because Cutler is unreliable. He has some good weeks and the Noise will have to hope that the good week comes during the Falcons’ bye week.
Barring injury, it should be Matt Ryan the whole way, which will be good for business.
Running Backs ★★★½☆
If Matt Ryan isn’t throwing touchdowns, the Noise, for the second year in a row, is hoping the running back will run for them. Last year, Michael Turner was the first-round pick, this year, it was Steven Jackson.
I like Jackson to have a decent year. I’m not sold on it being an all-star fantasy campaign, but like Turner, he should rush for a good number of TDs. The Noise hopes that he just has a better year in the yardage department (Turner had just 800 last year).
Joining Jackson is DeMarco Murray, who had five double-digit games last year played in just 10 games last season. He’s dealt with injuries during his short NFL career, so that could be a problem for the Noise.
And if it is, backups Chris Ivory and Vick Ballard are not going to provide much relief.
Wideouts ★★★½☆
I would like to believe DeSean Jackson will have a better 2013 with the new coach and new high-speed offense, but I’m an Eagles fan, so of course I’d like to think that.
Jackson was the Noise’s keeper, so he did a good job at grabbing a reliable WR in Wes Welker. He should be a favorite target of Peyton Manning.
The Noise also did a good job at getting home-run threat Tavon Austin. The irony is the Noise would seriously wonder after that statement if he accidentally drafted a baseball player because he seriously had no clue who Tavon Austin was when drafting.
He knows who Jacoby Jones is because he had him before with little success. Malcolm Floyd may be the best of the backups because I think the Chargers offense will be better than it was last year.
Tight Ends ★★½☆☆
Greg Olsen had decent targets last year and could use two or three more TDs to be a better-than-average selection at tight end. He’d get that if Cam Newton would fake the run and thrown it to him in the red zone more, but we all know Newton likes to run.
The best the Noise can hope for is in the weeks that he plays Houserville, Newton throws a bunch to Olsen.
His backup is unknown to him and most of the NFL.
Team Outlook
Overall, it was not a bad draft for the Noise. He picked up some viable backs with potential and a pair of wideouts who could score him some big points.
But when you line this team up against Houserville, it’s tough not to pick the Villains. Noise will press for the division early, but in the end, he’ll come up short.
Fear and Loathing
2012 Record, Finish: 7-7
Career Record : 46-48-1 (.489)
Playoff Record (Appearances): 0-4 (4)
Quarterbacks ★★★½☆
Luck is the theme on the entire roster, but it starts at QB where luck is a guarantee. It’s on his side.
Andrew Luck was tabbed as the franchise QB and after 4,374 yards and 23 TDs, Fear is looking for him to take the next step forward. And I think he’ll get that. Luck should throw more than 30 TDs in 2013 with similar yardage.
Backup Joe Flacco will remain a backup, even though he’ll have some good weeks that will question whether or not Luck should be starting.
Running Backs ★★★☆☆
The luck needed at the running back position deals in the health department. Fear needs to get lucky and have a healthy group of running backs. Matt Forte, Darren McFadden and Ahmad Bradshaw have all had their issues with injuries, yet Forte and Bradshaw enter 2013 after amassing more than 1,000 yards last season. McFadden missed four games in the middle of the season and finished with 707 yards.
With the depth at wideout, all the Fear needs is one of these guys to be a top-flight back. It’s just a question of who wants to step up. Talent-wise, McFadden is the best, but he’s the most likely to miss games. Forte is the more viable fantasy starter, however, with a relocation to Indy, Bradshaw may flourish with Andrew Luck at his side.
Wideouts ★★★★☆
Including Michael Crabtree who tore his Achilles and will likely not return until November, the Fear has five WRs who had 1,000-plus-yard campaign in 2012. Roddy White leads the pack with his 1,351 yards and seven TDs, while Carolina’s Steve Smith is second with 1,174 and four TDs. Lance Moore had 1,041 yards and six TDs, while Brian Hartline had 1,083 yards and a TD. Kendall Wright, who had 626 yards and four TDs, also is on the roster.
So, who gets the starting nod? White and Smith are pretty much guaranteed to start weekly, and I could easily see Moore slipping into the flex if Fear is only comfortable with one of his RBs.
And if he’s lucky, Crabtree will return in November for a late-season push.
Tight Ends ★★★★★
Five stars without a doubt. Matt Ryan targeted Tony Gonzalez at all the big moments last year, and with 93 catches for 930 yards and eight TDs, Gonzalez will be a key for the Fear competing. He’s the kind of tight end who can change a fantasy matchup with a 20-point game, which he had twice last season. Of course, that was as a member of the Jammers, and in those weeks where he hit 20 points and pushed the Jammers’ totals well into the 100s, the opponents scored 140 and 138, respectively.
If the Fear doesn’t have the Jammers’ bad luck, Gonzalez could be the reason he gets two extra wins.
Team Outlook
A lot weighs on the further development of Andrew Luck and the health of the running backs. If the Fear gets both to go in his favor, Houserville will not be the runaway champion of this division.
They like to stand out.
They like to be different, hence the North location.
And they’d like to do something about the East’s dominance. Only the Noise, surprisingly enough, has gotten past the East to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Houserville and Fear, but mainly Houserville, would like to change that.
In 2012, the Ville had the best record in the JFL and after the bye week he fell flat, missing the chance to go to the Super Bowl.
Now, he returns a squad that isn’t as powerful as it was last year, but nevertheless, it should be good enough to win the AFC North.
However, the Noise and Fear aren’t in shambles. They have decent rosters and they’ll provide a challenge, not only for their division mate, but also for the rest of the JFL.
Yes, that's right, the Noise has a team that will compete, and a lot of the JFL agrees, as he landed second in the division poll.
AFC North Preseason Poll
1. Real Houserville............25 points (8 first-place votes)
2. World of Noise..............15 points
3. Fear and Loathing...........14 points (1 first-place vote)
Real Houserville
2012 Record, Finish: 10-3 (AFC West Champion, lost in AFC Championship)
Career Record : 35-26 (.574)
Playoff Record (Appearances): 2-5 (5)
Quarterbacks ★★★★½
Then, in Week 14 when he was on the bye, Newton scored a season-high 47.6 points.
He followed that up with 26.2 points the next week in a loss. Newton had four weeks where he failed to reach 20 points, and three more where he fell short of 23.
Despite the fact that he struggled, the Ville continued to win. Heading into 2013, the Ville has to believe he’ll get a little bit more out of Newton, and I would agree. He still ranked No. 6 overall in fantasy last year and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be top five. The biggest question would be: Is he going to get all his points in a handful of games or will he be able to be more consistent game to game.
If anything happens to Newton, it will be Carson Palmer, who I think could revive his career in the desert with Larry Fitzgerald.
Running Backs ★★★½☆
Doug Martin was a beast last year and that led to him finishing second among fantasy running backs last season. He only have five 100-yard rushing games but his ability to be a threat in the receiving game is why he’s an amazing weapon to have. He’s another Ray Rice and the Ville is happy to have him on board.
And with last year’s strategy of going with the explosive rookie working, the Ville decided to try it again with Montee Ball. Peyton Manning has had a lot of good things to say about Ball and he should be the top back for the Broncos.
If he can have a breakout season like Martin did a year ago, the AFC North will surely be the Ville's to rule again.
He also has a decent handcuff in Ben Tate, who will someday be a No. 1 when he’s not playing behind Arian Foster. He could finish as a top-five back if he didn’t have to worry about Foster. And with Foster's recent injury history, that could be this year.
As a fourth back, Shane Vereen could provide help on a bye week, but not much else. As a third-down back for the Pats, he cannot be relied upon to be a consistent fantasy scorer.
Wideouts ★★★½☆
Pierre Garcon was limited last season and we still don’t know what to expect out of him in Washington, so I really don’t like that pick, but it’s OK, because Houserville took care of business by drafting Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and Kenbrell Thompkins.
I think a bounce-back year is coming for Nelson and Cobb should be just as good, if not better in 2013. Honestly, we may see the Ville roll with both Nelson and Cobb weekly. It could hurt him a few weeks, but for the most part, it should get him some decent numbers.
Thompkins, or the other rookie he grabbed off the waiver wire, Cordarrelle Patterson, could throw a wrench into that if they continue to play as well as they did in the preseason.
They also could be called upon if I’m wrong and Nelson doesn’t bounce back.
Oh, and Percy Harvin is sitting on the IR. So perhaps a late-season push if it’s not too late?
Tight Ends ★★★★★
Jimmy Graham, a first round pick for the second year in a row. Taking a tight end in the first round sounds like something Craig would do. Graham ranked No. 1 among tight ends last season, averaging 10.6 points per game. If he can do it again, the Ville will own the advantage at tight end each week.
But is that really better than having a stud at wideout?
Team Outlook
I would say Houserville is not as strong as he was in 2012, but he still has to be considered a division favorite with Cam Newton and Doug Martin … and the Noise and Fear as competition.
World of Noise
2012 Record, Finish: 6-7
Career Record : 34-57 (.358)
Playoff Record (Appearances): 2-2 (2)
Quarterbacks ★★★★½
Barring injury, it should be Matt Ryan the whole way, which will be good for business.
Running Backs ★★★½☆
If Matt Ryan isn’t throwing touchdowns, the Noise, for the second year in a row, is hoping the running back will run for them. Last year, Michael Turner was the first-round pick, this year, it was Steven Jackson.
I like Jackson to have a decent year. I’m not sold on it being an all-star fantasy campaign, but like Turner, he should rush for a good number of TDs. The Noise hopes that he just has a better year in the yardage department (Turner had just 800 last year).
Joining Jackson is DeMarco Murray, who had five double-digit games last year played in just 10 games last season. He’s dealt with injuries during his short NFL career, so that could be a problem for the Noise.
And if it is, backups Chris Ivory and Vick Ballard are not going to provide much relief.
Wideouts ★★★½☆
I would like to believe DeSean Jackson will have a better 2013 with the new coach and new high-speed offense, but I’m an Eagles fan, so of course I’d like to think that.
Jackson was the Noise’s keeper, so he did a good job at grabbing a reliable WR in Wes Welker. He should be a favorite target of Peyton Manning.
The Noise also did a good job at getting home-run threat Tavon Austin. The irony is the Noise would seriously wonder after that statement if he accidentally drafted a baseball player because he seriously had no clue who Tavon Austin was when drafting.
He knows who Jacoby Jones is because he had him before with little success. Malcolm Floyd may be the best of the backups because I think the Chargers offense will be better than it was last year.
Tight Ends ★★½☆☆
Greg Olsen had decent targets last year and could use two or three more TDs to be a better-than-average selection at tight end. He’d get that if Cam Newton would fake the run and thrown it to him in the red zone more, but we all know Newton likes to run.
The best the Noise can hope for is in the weeks that he plays Houserville, Newton throws a bunch to Olsen.
His backup is unknown to him and most of the NFL.
Team Outlook
Overall, it was not a bad draft for the Noise. He picked up some viable backs with potential and a pair of wideouts who could score him some big points.
But when you line this team up against Houserville, it’s tough not to pick the Villains. Noise will press for the division early, but in the end, he’ll come up short.
Fear and Loathing
2012 Record, Finish: 7-7
Career Record : 46-48-1 (.489)
Playoff Record (Appearances): 0-4 (4)
Quarterbacks ★★★½☆
Andrew Luck was tabbed as the franchise QB and after 4,374 yards and 23 TDs, Fear is looking for him to take the next step forward. And I think he’ll get that. Luck should throw more than 30 TDs in 2013 with similar yardage.
Backup Joe Flacco will remain a backup, even though he’ll have some good weeks that will question whether or not Luck should be starting.
Running Backs ★★★☆☆
The luck needed at the running back position deals in the health department. Fear needs to get lucky and have a healthy group of running backs. Matt Forte, Darren McFadden and Ahmad Bradshaw have all had their issues with injuries, yet Forte and Bradshaw enter 2013 after amassing more than 1,000 yards last season. McFadden missed four games in the middle of the season and finished with 707 yards.
With the depth at wideout, all the Fear needs is one of these guys to be a top-flight back. It’s just a question of who wants to step up. Talent-wise, McFadden is the best, but he’s the most likely to miss games. Forte is the more viable fantasy starter, however, with a relocation to Indy, Bradshaw may flourish with Andrew Luck at his side.
Wideouts ★★★★☆
Including Michael Crabtree who tore his Achilles and will likely not return until November, the Fear has five WRs who had 1,000-plus-yard campaign in 2012. Roddy White leads the pack with his 1,351 yards and seven TDs, while Carolina’s Steve Smith is second with 1,174 and four TDs. Lance Moore had 1,041 yards and six TDs, while Brian Hartline had 1,083 yards and a TD. Kendall Wright, who had 626 yards and four TDs, also is on the roster.
So, who gets the starting nod? White and Smith are pretty much guaranteed to start weekly, and I could easily see Moore slipping into the flex if Fear is only comfortable with one of his RBs.
And if he’s lucky, Crabtree will return in November for a late-season push.
Tight Ends ★★★★★
Five stars without a doubt. Matt Ryan targeted Tony Gonzalez at all the big moments last year, and with 93 catches for 930 yards and eight TDs, Gonzalez will be a key for the Fear competing. He’s the kind of tight end who can change a fantasy matchup with a 20-point game, which he had twice last season. Of course, that was as a member of the Jammers, and in those weeks where he hit 20 points and pushed the Jammers’ totals well into the 100s, the opponents scored 140 and 138, respectively.
If the Fear doesn’t have the Jammers’ bad luck, Gonzalez could be the reason he gets two extra wins.
Team Outlook
A lot weighs on the further development of Andrew Luck and the health of the running backs. If the Fear gets both to go in his favor, Houserville will not be the runaway champion of this division.
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