Preseason NFL Power Rankings
The season is right around the corner, and once again weâll be able to see how teams stack up against one another on the field. For now, hereâs a look at our preseason NFL power rankings.
Get a risk-free bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook with our promo code >>
32) Miami Dolphins
And so the Josh Rosen experiment begins. If he plays well, the Dolphins have the QB of their future. If he doesnât, theyâll draft that person in April.
31) New York Giants
I donât expect much of a change after OBJâs departure, considering the offensive line wasnât able to protect Eli long enough to allow OBJ to be the threat he should have been. Maybe Eli can muster up some of his old magic this year and at least make the Giants competitive. If not, we will probably see Daniel Jones by mid-November.
30) Arizona Cardinals
Kliff Kingsbury will look to outscore opponents with Kyler Murray, but the college game and the NFL game arenât the same things. That is a fact both Murray and Kingsbury are going to learn together.
29) Washington Redskins
Case Keenum is starting Week 1, but how long will it be before we see Dwayne Haskins? If the season goes as poorly as expected, probably not very long.
28) Cincinnati Bengals
I donât know what to make of this team. It seems like theyâre stuck, and every season we see the same Bengals whether they win six or 10 games. Could the departure of Marvin Lewis actually be the answer?
27) Oakland Raiders
And so begins year two under Jon Gruden. Year one didnât go so well, but the team played hard for him all season. At least itâs something.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Is Jameis Winston the right guy for Bruce Ariansâ offense? If he can take care of the ball, this team can score with anybody.
25) Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen showed some promise in his first season, and he should develop even further in his second. This is a team that could sneakily hang around the Wild Card conversation into November.
24) Denver Broncos
Joe Flacco is taking over the reins, and heâll have some weapons at his disposal. The defense should be pretty good, but the main issue for Denver is that they play in the same division as the Chiefs and Chargers.
23) New York Jets
The team acquired LeâVeon Bell, but their receiving corps still makes me doubt this offense. I fear New York sports fans are going to be watching a whole lot of HB dump-offs this season.
22) Tennessee Titans
Mike Vrabelâs bunch was one game away from the playoffs last season. Just like the rest of the AFC South, theyâre licking their lips over Luckâs retirement.
21) San Francisco 49ers
It seems that people lost faith in Jimmy G after his injury last season. He didnât have a great preseason, but heâs back on the field and working out the kinks. Plus, heâs already proven that he can compete when the lights shine brightest.
20) Carolina Panthers
How will Camâs shoulder be this year? If itâs well, the Panthers are a threat in the NFC. If itâs not, weâre going to see a repeat of last year.
19) Detroit Lions
It was a disappointing first season under Matt Patricia, but there were also glimmers of hope. Kerryon Johnson ran for over 100 yards in a single game, and the Lions beat the Patriots in a nationally televised game. That said, Jarrad Davisâ injury is a huge blow to their defense.
18) Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson was a beast in his first season, but how will the run-oriented attack of the Ravens fair now that teams have a full season of tape to dissect?
17) Indianapolis Colts
In the most shocking news of the offseason, Andrew Luck retired. Jacoby Brissett will take over the reins, and though he is a solid replacement, heâs no Andrew Luck no matter how you slice it.
16) Jacksonville Jaguars
Is Nick Foles the answer? With Luck retiring, the division is wide open, and the Jags might suddenly have the most complete team.
15) Atlanta Falcons
Last year they were decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball. If they can stay healthy, there is no reason to think this team canât compete with the Saints in the NFC South.
14) Houston Texans
Even after the devastating knee injury to Lamar Miller, the Texans find themselves favored to win the AFC South with the announcement of Andrew Luckâs retirement.
13) Pittsburgh Steelers
They lost LeâVeon Bell and Antonio Brown, and yet still Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers have plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball. This is the Brownsâ toughest competition for the AFC North.
12) Dallas Cowboys
There is so much drama around this team that you have to worry about them even when all the pieces are in place. âZeke who?â You mean, your best offensive player? Yeah, that Zeke.
11) Seattle Seahawks
Thereâs always fear that the Seahawks are going to take a huge step back, and yet they always find a way to be playing meaningful games in December. With Russell Wilson at the helm, anything is possible.
10) Minnesota Vikings
If the offensive line is better, the Vikings should find themselves playing games well into January. But if itâs even close to as bad as last year, this is anything but a top 10 team.
9) Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers played all of last season injured. With a long offseason to recover and a new head coach, the Packers should be the team to beat in the NFC North.
8) Cleveland Browns
I just put the Browns in the top quarter of the league. The Browns! They have the weapons, the talent on the defensive side, and a second-year quarterback who did just about everything right in his first season.
7) Chicago Bears
Iâll keep them here for now, but I fully expect this team to be the disappointment of the season. They play in the toughest division and now have a target on their backs. The defense is great, but can the offense keep up?
6) Philadelphia Eagles
If Carson Wentz can stay healthy, there is no reason to think that this team canât run the table. However, if anything happens to Wentz, Nick Foles isnât there to save the day anymore, and the Eagles are in serious trouble.
5) New Orleans Saints
The last time we saw the Saints take the field, we saw one of the most egregious no-calls in NFL history. This season, itâs time for their revenge. As Brees inches closer to retirement, what new plans does Sean Payton have for Taysom Hill?
4) Los Angeles Chargers
With a relatively easy schedule and a veteran leader in Phillip Rivers, I expect the Chargers to not only battle the Chiefs for the AFC West but also battle the Patriots for AFC supremacy.
3) Los Angeles Rams
Todd Gurleyâs health is a serious concern for the Rams, but itâs hard to imagine an offense struggling if Jared Goff leads it and it features a receiving corps of Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods.
2) Kansas City Chiefs
For a brief moment, it looked like Patrick Mahomes was going to lose one of his favorite weapons in Tyreek Hill. However, the NFL elected not to suspend Hill, and that means the Chiefsâ offense should once again put on a show every week.
1) New England Patriots
There is no one to stand in the way of an 11th straight AFC East title for New England, so if youâre a Patriot hater, itâs probably best to not pay attention to that division this season.
Check out our Sports Betting Guide for strategy tips & advice >>
Philip Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Philip, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.