For my NFC predictions, go here.

AFC East

1. New England Patriots 12-4

2. New York Jets 8-8

3. Buffalo Bills 6-10

4. Miami Dolphins 5-11

Comments/Fantasy Predictions: As usual, New England will benefit from a strong offensive line, terrific coaching and the softest division in football … Tom Brady has been surprisingly funny on social media and gets a nice fantasy boost with Josh Gordon’s return ... James White finished last among 56 qualified backs in elusive rating last season, while Rob Gronkowski eventually comes out of retirement but fails to make much of an impact in fantasy leagues … Sony Michel would be on the shortlist of favorites to lead the league in touchdowns if health cooperates, but the bet here is that his balky knee sidelines him, making Damien Harris one of the most important backups in football. The rookie is going to be a major difference-maker in the fantasy playoffs.

Sam Darnold was the youngest starting QB ever to open a season, and he finished by leading the NFL in QBR in December (he was also PFF’s highest-graded passer over the final month). The Jets’ franchise appears to be moving in the right direction thanks mostly to the 22 year old (adding Quinnen Williams helps as well) and despite new coach Adam Gase, whose offenses have been nothing short of a disaster whenever Peyton Manning hasn’t been his quarterback. He’s a problem ... Robby Anderson busts out and is a top-15 wide receiver, but Le’Veon Bell is a bust, resulting in Ty Montgomery providing the most fantasy value of his career.

Josh Allen finishes as a top-12 fantasy QB, while Devin Singletary wastes little time taking full control of Buffalo’s backfield ... Robert Foster rises from the dead and is a popular FAAB addition in the second half of the year.

Josh Rosen starts the most games for Miami, but that still results in the team using the first pick of the 2020 draft on Tua Tagovailoa … Kenyan Drake burned fantasy owners last year (Hate the Drake!), but that doesn’t mean you should draft Kalen Ballage this year … DeVante Parker is nearing a catatonic state of sleepiness, but I’m giving him one more chance.

AFC North

1. Cleveland Browns 10-6

2. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7 (Wild Card)

3. Baltimore Ravens 8-8

4. Cincinnati Bengals 5-11

Comments/Fantasy Predictions: Baker Mayfield will battle Patrick Mahomes for MVP awards for the next decade, and he’s good enough to have Cleveland as a legitimate Super Bowl threat in 2019 … Todd Monken just coached Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston to combine as the fantasy QB2 behind only Mahomes last season, when TB finished with the fourth-most passing yards in NFL history. He’ll now be calling plays for Mayfield, who’s about to light up the league.

No other receiver in football can match Odell Beckham Jr.’s upside now that he’s undergone a drastic upgrade at quarterback, as he finishes as the No. 1 WR (a historic season is coming at some point), while Myles Garrett wins Defensive Player of the Year … Nick Chubb just set the record for YPC after contact while leading the league in elusive rating as a rookie, and he has a ton of touchdown potential in this offense, so he’s the top overall player on my board.

Mike Tomlin’s never had a losing season and historically bounces back strong after not making the playoffs, but losing Antonio Brown won’t make life easier on the field … James Conner has a much better fantasy season than Le’Veon Bell, while Vance McDonald is a top-five tight end … Donte Moncrief laps James Washington in production, while JuJu Smith-Schuster finishes with more fantasy value than Davante Adams and Michael Thomas.

Lamar Jackson just broke the record for most fantasy points per dropback while recording the most rushing attempts by a QB in NFL history (while starting just seven games). The 22 year old has shown improvement as a passer entering Year Two, has an OC in Greg Roman who knows how to utilize dual-threat QBs and has a developing star at tight end in Mark Andrews. I have Jackson as a top-five QB on my board … After Jackson became Baltimore’s starter last season, the team’s running backs led the NFL in rushing yards and YPC. Over the last five years, Mark Ingram leads football in YPC, and he gets another solid O-line and now a mobile QB at his disposal. He’s screaming RB1 production at a much lower cost.

Story continues