The NFC South is one of the leagues most stacked divisions and we get to look at four players that will help justify my claim of them being a talented division.
Atlanta Falcons Running Back Mike Davis: Last season with the Panthers, Mike Davis filled in for an injured Christian McCaffrey and really showed why he deserves to be a starting back in the league.
He bounced around the league a bit before really breaking out. Last year he posted 642 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns to go with 373 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. Last year could be considered a breakout season for Davis but with him now becoming the main back in Atlanta, he’ll really shine.
With Atlanta adding Jalen Mayfield in the draft and Chris Lindstrom progressing, I predict that Davis will rush for 855 yards with 12 touchdowns and 400 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Carolina Panthers Quarterback Sam Darnold: A change of scenery can help a lot of people out and I think that the move south from New York to Carolina will be huge. He has a plethora of weapons around him and a solid chance to shine and breakout for Matt Rhule and the Panthers.
Last season, Darnold threw for 2,208 yards through twelve games with 9 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. What hurt Darnold was the fact that he had no weapons alongside of him in the Big Apple. Now in Carolina he has Dan Arnold and Ian Thomas at tight end, DJ Moore, David Moore, and Robbie Anderson out wide, and Christian McCaffrey in the backfield.
I think that Darnold will play all seventeen games next year and throw for 3,550 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. I don’t think he’ll take the Panthers to the playoffs because of how tough the division is but he’ll help improve their record.
New Orleans Saints Tight End Adam Trautman: Trautman didn’t post great numbers in his rookie season like Cole Kmet or Harrison Bryant but there is a case to be made that he’ll be the best, second year tight end in the league.
In fifteen games last year, Trautman caught 15 balls for 171 yards and 1 touchdown but that was behind Jared Cook and Josh Hill. Now with Cook and Hill being out of New Orleans, Trautman will be stepping into the number one tight end. He also has Jameis Winston at quarterback who likes throwing to tight ends.
With all of that being said, I believe that Trautman will catch 45 balls going for 525 yards and 6 touchdowns. The goal line area will be where he catches 4 of his 6 touchdowns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Scotty Miller: The Buccaneers receiving core is STACKED with guys like Mike Evans, Chris Goodwin, Rob Gronkowski, and Antonio Brown but the one that I think will breakout is Bowling Green alum, Scotty Miller.
Last season Miller reeled in 33 balls in sixteen regular season games and went for 501 yards and 3 touchdowns. His biggest game came against Green Bay in the playoffs when he caught a deep touchdown before the half on Kevin King.
The majority of the defenses that the Buccaneers play will not prioritize Miller and he’ll pick up coverage from mediocre safeties and slot corners so this will spring Miller for some big plays. I think he’ll reel in 47 balls for 645 yards and 6 touchdowns.