Today we are finishing up the AFC with the west so we get to look at four guys that are going to break out big time.
Denver Broncos Tight End Noah Fant: Denver has a lot of weapons, and I mean A LOT. Patrick, Sutton, Jeudy, and Hamler round out the receivers but the biggest weapon for whoever is playing quarterback in Denver will be Noah Fant.
Fant is the clear cut number one tight end in the Mile High City and had a very stellar season last year. He reeled in 62 balls on 93 targets that went for 673 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fant has progressed so in his two seasons in the league and I think this upcoming one will turn him into a Pro Bowler.
My prediction is that Fant catches 73 passes and turns that into 875 yards for 6 touchdowns. He’ll have a great season but still will be the third best tight end in the division behind Kelce and Waller.
Kansas City Chiefs Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed: Last season Sneed made the All Rookie team while only playing in 9 regular season games. He had a good season last year so get ready for Sneed to play like a top ten corner.
In the 9 regular season games he played last season, Sneed racked up 3 interceptions, 2 sacks, 41 tackles, and 7 pass breakups. Sneed will most likely be tasked with manning up the number one receivers that the Chiefs play this year like Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Davante Adams.
If he plays all 17 games this year then I think that Sneed will have 76 tackles, 14 pas breakups, 5 interceptions, and 2 sacks. These numbers will land him in his first Pro Bowl.
Las Vegas Raiders Defensive End Maxx Crosby: Mad Maxx Crosby was drafted in the same class as Clelin Ferrell and has been far better than him but this upcoming season will be a huge one for the Eastern Michigan alumni.
Since entering the league, Crosby has played in 32 regular season games going for 17 sacks and 86 tackles. This past season he took a bit of a step back going from 10 sacks to 7 but this season will be a big one because he’ll be working against below average and unexperienced offensive tackles in Rashawn Slater, Mike Remmers, and Bobby Massie.
My prediction is that Crosby will go for 14 sacks, 52 tackles, and 2 pass breakups. He’ll rank top five in sacks next year as well.
Los Angeles Chargers Defensive End Jerry Tillery: Tillery is heading into his third season with the Chargers and has put up mediocre numbers the past two years but I think 2021-2022 could be a breakout season for the Notre Dame alum.
The past two years, Tillery has played more of a three tech position because the Chargers have had Bosa and Ingram off the edge but with Ingram out of L.A., Tillery will become more of an edge rusher which will benefit him. He also faces off against poor and unexperienced offensive tackles in Mike Remmers, Bobby Massie, and Alex Leatherwood.
Last season, Tillery posted 3 sacks, 29 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles. With his role on defense being increased, I think that he’ll go for 7 sacks, 44 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 pass deflections.