Continuing with this preseason's bold predictions, we wrap up the AFC North with another Bengal, a Brown, and a Steeler:
(9) Jeremy Hill. #11 RB ADP. Prediction: Top 5 RB. In the past 12 months I've written more about Hill than probably any other RB. It started when I choked on my 10th or 11th round pick last August, selecting Christine Michael over my favorite backup RB. It continued into late October, when it was reported Cincinnati's starting RB, Giovani Bernard, was nicked up heading into his Week 9 contest. I urged everyone on this site to drop what they were doing and go pick up Hill--or trade for him, when at the time many of you didn't have to give up much. When Hill was announced as the starter, I wrote on this blog that he'd score more fantasy points than Gio the rest of the season. I remain as bullish today about Hill as I did last October. He's a unique talent in an underrated offense. Whereas almost no one will touch Hill in the late first round, if that's where you're drafting, you'll be lucky to land him.
(10) Isaiah Crowell. #32 RB ADP. Prediction: Not a top 45 RB. Of the three main Browns vying for significant backfield touches, Crowell is the biggest risk because expectations of him are highest. Despite decent numbers on paper, in addition to fumbling issues, he finished 2014 poorly, compiling only 161 rushing yards on 58 carries (2.8 YPC) in his last five games. By comparison, teammate Terrance West rushed for 265 yards on 59 carries (4.5 YPC) in his last five games. This doesn't mean Crowell can't build off last year's early-to-midseason success. But he's facing enough competition in West and Duke Johnson where his next ill-timed fumble could send Crowell to the sidelines for a while.
(11) Shaun Suisham. #14 K ADP. Prediction: Top 5 K. Suisham is 30-for-30 from 40-49 yards since 2012. That kind of consistency will come in handy in 2015, when the Steelers' offense will be clicking on all cylinders. The 33-year-old scored the most fantasy points of his career in 2014, and has hit 90+% of his field goal attempts in four of the past five seasons. He's generally not coming off the board until the last round, if at all. If you grab him in the second-to-last or third-to-last round, you'll have a kicker who'll score at least as many fantasy points as the 25th best WR.
(9) Jeremy Hill. #11 RB ADP. Prediction: Top 5 RB. In the past 12 months I've written more about Hill than probably any other RB. It started when I choked on my 10th or 11th round pick last August, selecting Christine Michael over my favorite backup RB. It continued into late October, when it was reported Cincinnati's starting RB, Giovani Bernard, was nicked up heading into his Week 9 contest. I urged everyone on this site to drop what they were doing and go pick up Hill--or trade for him, when at the time many of you didn't have to give up much. When Hill was announced as the starter, I wrote on this blog that he'd score more fantasy points than Gio the rest of the season. I remain as bullish today about Hill as I did last October. He's a unique talent in an underrated offense. Whereas almost no one will touch Hill in the late first round, if that's where you're drafting, you'll be lucky to land him.
(10) Isaiah Crowell. #32 RB ADP. Prediction: Not a top 45 RB. Of the three main Browns vying for significant backfield touches, Crowell is the biggest risk because expectations of him are highest. Despite decent numbers on paper, in addition to fumbling issues, he finished 2014 poorly, compiling only 161 rushing yards on 58 carries (2.8 YPC) in his last five games. By comparison, teammate Terrance West rushed for 265 yards on 59 carries (4.5 YPC) in his last five games. This doesn't mean Crowell can't build off last year's early-to-midseason success. But he's facing enough competition in West and Duke Johnson where his next ill-timed fumble could send Crowell to the sidelines for a while.
(11) Shaun Suisham. #14 K ADP. Prediction: Top 5 K. Suisham is 30-for-30 from 40-49 yards since 2012. That kind of consistency will come in handy in 2015, when the Steelers' offense will be clicking on all cylinders. The 33-year-old scored the most fantasy points of his career in 2014, and has hit 90+% of his field goal attempts in four of the past five seasons. He's generally not coming off the board until the last round, if at all. If you grab him in the second-to-last or third-to-last round, you'll have a kicker who'll score at least as many fantasy points as the 25th best WR.