More so than most American sports leagues, the N.F.L. makes news all year. But in the final three months of the year, it cranks up a notch. With the 2019 season getting underway this week, we’ll be checking our fantasy teams, speculating if the New England Patriots will win another Super Bowl and waiting to see which players and teams will make the wrong kinds of headlines.

Here are some of the stories, on and off the field, that may be making news during the 2019 season.

Breakout Players

No player has higher expectations this season than Baker Mayfield, who threw for 27 touchdowns as a rookie last year and helped the Cleveland Browns improve from (yikes) 0-16 to a respectable 7-8-1. Fans are excited that Coach Freddie Kitchens, who seemed to unlock Mayfield when he took over at midseason, will have a full year with the team. Plenty of people are even talking playoffs for the usually woebegone Browns. Does Mayfield have someone to throw to? How about Odell Beckham Jr., acquired by trade from the Giants?

As usual, a few quarterbacks are potentially on the hot seat, with youngsters ready to take over with any misstep. Eli Manning has been the Giants’ main man forever, but the team used its No. 6 overall draft pick, surprisingly, on Daniel Jones. If things go wrong for Manning, the quarterback of the future could be the quarterback of three weeks from now.

The Miami Dolphins have opted to start 36-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick, but the team is expected to be terrible, and newly acquired Josh Rosen, 22, could take over soon. Case Keenum has been an N.F.L. survivor and has started games for five teams in five seasons. This season brings team No. 6, the Washington Redskins. But how long before they turn to their own first-round pick, Dwayne Haskins?