In honor of the most overrated (Susan Boyle, talentless) and underrated (Kelly Ripa, gets skinnier with every girl) celebrities on TV, here are the Susan Boyles and Kelly Ripas from each AFC team.
AFC East:
1) New England Patriots
SB: Benjamin Watson (TE) – Just 22 catches last year for 209 yards. If it continues like this, newly acquired Chris Baker could have a better year than Watson.
KR: Fred Taylor (RB) – The former Jacksonville Jaguars running back had a career-low 556 rushing yards, but Taylor could reach 1,000 yards if Tom Brady stays healthy.
2) Miami Dolphins
SB: Jason Allen (C) – Would anyone be surprised if the former Tennessee safety got cut in training camp? One interception last year; Bill Parcells should cut it now
KR: Cameron Wake (LB) – The former CFL star ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at the 2005 NFL Combine and should be another hidden gem from Bill Parcells.
3) New York Jets
SB: Bart Scott (LB) – Let’s see what Scott can do without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed playing alongside him. He’s a good player, just overpaid.
KR: Shonn Greene (RB) This rookie rushed for 100-plus yards in each game last year for Iowa. Green is a sleeper fantasy pick who will force the Jets to ditch Thomas Jones or Leon Wahingston in 2010.
4) Buffalo Bills
SB: Chris Kelsay (DE) – This overpaid defensive end has 4.5 sacks over the past two seasons. If rookie Aaron Maybin finishes his stamina and has a good training camp, Kelsay could end up benched or cut.
KR: Reggie Corner (CB) – The former Akron cornerback is the favorite to start at nickel for the Bills. Ashton Youboty or Drayton Florence could get caught thanks to Corner (Appropriate last name, huh?)
AFC North:
1) Pittsburgh Steelers
SB: Limas Sweed (WR) – This was the toughest team to pick an overrated player, but Sweed had too many casualties as a rookie. Big Ben needs him to make up for the loss of Nate Washington.
KR: Rashard Mendenhall (RB) – The former running back from Illinois played in just four games as a rookie. If he stays healthy, the defending Super Bowl champions should have no problem repeating with Parker and Mendenhall in the backfield.
2) Baltimore Ravens
SB: Le’Ron McClain (RB) – He was a fantasy stud last year, but I expect big things from former Rutgers running back Ray Rice this season. Did I mention that McClain is close to 20 pounds overweight and that Rice added muscle in the offseason?
KR: LJ Smith (TE) – The former Philadelphia Eagles tight end hasn’t had more than 300 yards in a season since 2006. I hope this changes with Todd Heap also on the downside of his career. Look to Joe Flacco to use Smith a lot more than McNabb did last season.
3) Cincinnati Bengals
SB: Chris Henry (WR) – Carson Palmer calls him Randy Moss Jr. I think that’s an exaggeration and I expect him to have a lackluster year now that Laveranues Coles is in town.
KR: Michael Johnson (DE) — He could easily have put the entire Bengals draft class here, but Johnson might be the Bengals’ best pass-rusher in two years. Johnson was a great third-round pick.
4) Cleveland Browns
SB: Josh Cribbs (ATH) – I laugh when kick returners wait for more money. Cribbs is fun to watch, but he only had three touchdowns last season.
KR: Alex Mack (C) – He was taken in the first round, why do I consider him underrated? He’ll be one of the best centers in the NFL in three years, write it down.
AFC South:
1) Tennessee Titans
SB: Nate Washington (WR) – A lot of Titans fans loved this truck and I don’t know why. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver hasn’t reached 700 yards once in his three-year career.
KR: Jared Cook (TE) – The former South Carolina tight end is in a great position to learn from tight end Bo Scaife. Cook will be the Titans’ starting tight end in 2011.
2) Indianapolis Colts
SB: Anthony Gonzalez (WR) – This former first-round pick has yet to reach 1,000 yards. We’ll see what this year can do without Al Capone Marvin Harrison.
KR: Austin Collie (WR) – This speedy former BYU receiver will be Peyton Manning’s favorite by the end of the year. A dark horse fantasy football van.
3) Houston Texans
SB: Matt Schaub (QB) – Remember when the Atlanta Falcons got ripped off trading Schaub? He has yet to throw for 16 touchdowns in a season. If he doesn’t improve this season, the Texans should look elsewhere during the offseason.
KR: Jeremiah Johnson (RB) – The Oregon rookie should be a good backup plan for Steve Slaton. Johnson had 18 touchdowns while splitting time his senior year at Oregon.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars
SB: Derrick Harvey (DE) – The former first-round pick had 3.5 sacks as a rookie. Will the former Florida Gator get anywhere near five sacks this season?
KR: Rashad Jennings (RB) – I expect this seventh-round pick to make the team and eventually be a good backup for Maurice Jones-Drew.
AFC West:
1) San Diego Chargers
SB: Craig Davis (WR) – The former first-round pick has a total of 247 yards in his two-year career. Chargers fans will lose patience if Davis struggles again this season.
KR: Jacob Hester (RB) – The second-year running back will be a very good goal line.
2) Denver Broncos
SB: Josh McDaniels (coach) – He has to be the dumbest coach in the NFL with some of the comments he’s made. I expect him to fight like New England Patriots assistants Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis did once they dumped Bill Belichick.
KR: Corey Buckhalter (RB) – If Knowshon Moreno struggles or gets hurt, Buckhalter should take over.
3) Oakland Raiders
SB: JaMarcus Russell (QB) – How amazing is it that this guy was once the No. 1 overall pick? If I’m Tom Cable (CABLE GUYYYYYYY), I’m starting Jeff Garcia in every game.
KR: Michael Bush (RB) – If he stays healthy, Bush could reach 800 yards, eight touchdowns.
4) Kansas City Chiefs
SB: Matt Cassel (QB) – This is a bold choice, but I want to see him do it two years in a row. The cast of him is not as impressive as the one he had in New England.
KR: Zach Thomas (LB) – This veteran is exactly what the Chiefs’ defense needs. Thomas doesn’t have much left in the tank, so he hopes I’ll give him one last chance.
