In my first look at the NFC North I called it one of the toughest in the NFL to make a prediction on. I’ll stand by that, as I’m still having trouble with it.

But let’s see how things stand today…


chi_logo-50x50
There are still questions about the receivers in Chicago, with Devin Hester being the apparent #1. Earl Bennett may well be one to watch: Although he had a very quiet 2008, the former All-SEC receiver played a year with Jay Cutler at Vanderbilt and enjoyed a very successful season when doing so. If the old chemistry is still there, and if any of the three draft picks at receiver can contribute, then perhaps the questions will go away. Either that, or we’ll being seeing a lot of Tight Ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.

On the D, things are still shaping up with competition at Linebacker and improvement needed from the Ends, but no real news of note.

min_logo-50x50
The Vikings are apparently still dallying with Brett Favre. I’m not alone in being completely sick of his games and general behaviour, but with Tarvaris Jackson battling Sage Rosenfels as the alternative you can understand why the Vikes are interested. Personally I think he’ll stay retired and we’ll get an announcement near the 30th talking about how his love for Green Bay means he can’t become a Viking. I’m going to say that T-Jack will start against the Browns on the 13th of September.

Petersen needs to stop doing this

Petersen needs to stop doing this


Pat and Kevin Williams – the Williams Wall – may still have to serve a 4 game suspension. The StarCaps saga rolls on and on, but should be settled before the season starts. If they do, and that’s by no means a certainty at this point – that’s a massive loss for them.

And we all love Adrian Peterson. We’d love him even more if he can stop fumbling the ball.

gb_logo-50x50
I still want Aaron Rodgers to be successful. His debut at Lambeau Field last year was a real boys’ own tale, and he was clearly having a blast. With Greg Jennings evolving as a genuine elite receiver and Driver as dependable as ever, combined with a solid depth of receivers he should be up for another good year. Ryan Grant (or “**** You! Ryan Grant! as he became known in our fantasy league last season) was a tad erratic last year, and overall not as successful as he would have hoped. He wasn’t bad by any means, but needs to be more consistent this year and to be adequately spelled too.
The Pack are moving to a 3-4 defense this year, and the line looks great. BJ Raji will be used as an End and the 9th pick is in scary physical shape. If he can make the adjustment, he could be one to watch. There are a lot of players I enjoy in this unit, and I always enjoy a Packers game.

det_logo-50x50
Where you might have thought Daunte Culpepper was the starting QB at the Lions, Matthew Stafford has had a strong showing so far. To swing things back the other way, Culpepper is fighting fit and in the sort of physical shape that he hasn’t been for years (since he took me to Fantasy League glory back in 2004). It seems obvious that Stafford will be starting at some point this year, but how and when is still up for grabs. This is something I covered in more detail here.

Northcutt has come in from the Jaguars, and has supplemented the other picks and free agents to bulk up a receiving core that already has Calvin Johnson to scare safeties. I’m also looking to see if Jon Jansen can make the starting offensive line. Elsewhere, Larry Foote and Julian Petersen should really shake up the Linebackers.

Overall there are a lot of positives here.

Summary
I said before that this is a tough division to call, and so it remains. I’m bumping the Lions over the Vikings for now based on the uncertainty going on there at the moment. I’m also going to bump Chicago down and place Green Bay at the top of the pile.

For now.

[table id=3 /]