Brian Westbrook MACUNGIE O'S strength STARTING LINEUP. The O's have a strong starting eight in either format (2 rbs or 3 wr's). Peyton Manning and Brian Westbrook have been two of the most consistent players in the league for several years and as a result the O's are seeking a 6th straight Prestige Playoff appearance. weakness TE. Jeremy Shockey and Ben Watson are both talented players but they failed to produce as every week starters last season and as a result it was one of only two positions that the O's ranked outside the top 5. summary As long as most of their starting lineup stay healthy, the O's should easily be in the postseason again. The question now becomes if they can find a way to starting winning in December like they did in 2001, 2000, and 1999. 2008 prediction 10-4 Jason Witten PHILADELPHIA H strength FLEX. Since it was approved two years ago, no team has built a stronger roster around the flex rule then H. Asuming Steven Jackson, Steve Smith, and Braylon Edwards are the starters they have a lot of options at the flex position: Ronnie Brown, Ryan Grant, Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Javon Walker, Thomas Jones. weakness QB. They have a lot of talent at this position, but it is still unproven. Jon Kitna remains the most reliable option entering the year, but H is hoping one of their younger players can emerge into the full-time starter (be it Matt Schaub, Jason Campbell, or Matt Leinart). summary This is probably the most well rounded team in the entire league. Certainly in depth, as they will have some VERY difficult decisions to make each week with the new flex rule. They have a ton of options, but sometimes that can cause inconsistency. If they make the right decisions each week, there is not a better team in the league. 2008 prediction 9-5 Joseph Addai LOS ANGELES LAKE SHOW strength QB. It is easy to say this is their strength solely on Tom Brady, but Lake Show also has strong backup options in David Garrard and Jeff Garcia. weakness WR. Lake Show will most likely start the season using the standard 2 rb-2 wr lineup simply because outside of Randy Moss they have some questions at the wr position. summary Lake Show might need to improve their depth in certain areas, but few teams (if any) possesses a more dangerous triple threat of qb/rb/wr with Brady, Addai, and Moss. They will rely heavily on this trio but to repeat last years success they will need someone else to materialize as an every week starter. 2008 prediction 8-6 Andre Johnson LAS VEGAS 69ERS strength WR. Andre Johnson gives them an elite superstar and Wes Welker, Lee Evans, Bryant Johnson, DJ Hackett, Anthony Gonzalez, James Jones, and Robert Meachem provide a strong mix of consistency and developing youth. weakness QB. This position has always been a weakness entering the year for the 69ers, yet somehow they manage to win. If a player like Trent Edwards or Vince Young emerge this year, the 69ers might be looking at a great chance to repeat. Summary If the 69ers can produce decent scoring from the qb position they have the talent to once again stay in the mix and hope for a late season hot streak to make another Prestige Championship run. 2008 prediction 7-7 Larry Fitzgerald TUCSON A II P strength QB. Their dominance at the wr position has slightly diminished over the years as this team has relied heavily on qb scoring. The loss of Brett Favre seriously impacts the depth, but Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger form a great qb combination. Weakness D/ST. This position has been a killer for A II P the past two season, as they have finished last in d/st scoring two years in a row. This position is often overlooked, but it is the probable reason for what was an inconsistent year for this team who finished the year 6-8 despite being the 3rd highest scoring team overall. Summary Because of salary issues this team has left some vulnerable depth issues at the qb, k and d/st positions. They have the elite superstar talent on the roster but injuries could be the deciding fate of their season and salary could hurt their chances of acquiring key free agents during the season. 2008 prediction 7-7 Adrian Peterson TOLEDO TORMENTA strength RB. Tormenta has a nice mix of qb's, but their success this year will rely on the rb core. Last years draft proved to be golden for Tormenta who now possesses perhaps the best young starting rb combination in the league. Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch could be a deadly combo for a long time and they also have veterans Willie Parker and Chester Taylor to add depth. Weakness WR. Roddy White is looking like a superstar on the rise, but Donald Driver, Santana Moss, and Darrell Jackson are former superstars on the decline. summary If Tormenta can find consistent wr scoring as well as the right mix of Derek Anderson and Matt Hasselbeck this could very well be one of the best teams in the league. Correct lineup decision making on a weekly basis might determine how far they can go. 2008 prediction 7-7 Terrell Owens MYRTLE BEACH 328'S strength WR. The trio of Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress, and TJ Houshmandzadeh might be the best in the league. Chris Chambers gives them a nice 4th option and Ted Ginn and Devin Hester secure the developmental youth at the position. Weakness QB. This will be the position that determines how far they go. If Jay Cutler or Jake Delhomme are consistent enough to start every week, 328's has the talent to be a playoff or even a championship team. Summary When you look at this team on paper you think they should be a playoff team, yet the franchise has not been in the Prestige Playoffs since 2003. This could be the year but it will come down to the qb position. They need a qb to stay healthy and more importantly stay consistent. 2008 prediction 6-8 Eli Manning OUTER BANKS LIGHTNING strength WR. The trio of Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston, and Santonio Holmes will be one of the leagues best and Joey Galloway and Michael Jenkins give them some decent depth at the position. Weakness RB. Edgerrin James, Maurice Jones Drew, Earnest Graham, or Ricky Williams are not that bad as rb options, but they are all decent 2nd or 3rd rb options at this point in their careers. They do have two first round picks in which they could address this position. Summary Lightning has strong potential to be the most improved team of the year. The flex rule should help as it will leave them with the option of choosing 1 rb and 3 wrs. The big factor for them will be the consistency of Eli Manning or Philip Rivers (both who struggled last year), and finishing the right lineup each week (be it at qb or at the rb positions). The right decisions (or possible a free agent or draft gem) would put this team back into the postseason after a two-year drought. 2008 prediction 6-8 Ladainian Tomlinson FLIPPIN UNITED strength QB. The qb position actually hurt this team last year, but they probably have the best group of qb's in the entire league with Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, and Drew Brees. Weakness WR. Marvin Harrison is coming off a forgettable year and Roy Williams was extremely up and down. They both have the talent to be every week starters, but they enter the year with questions. Sidney Rice showed flashes, but otherwise United's wr depth is lacking (especially with Chris Henry still looking for a team). Summary With the superstar talent they have it is difficult to rank this team so low, but they did win only two games last season with the same talent. Last year the lack of depth really hurt and they seemed to unluckily make the incorrect decisions at qb on a weekly basis. Easier said then done, but maybe this teams best option would be to trade away one of the qb's in exchange for some rb or wr depth. This might eliminate their difficult qb decisions each week and also improve some depth issues. 2008 prediction 6-8 Jamal Lewis DENVER TOMCATS strength TE. Owen Daniels was one of the most underrated players last season and outside of Jamal Lewis was probably the most valuable player for the Tomcats. Outside of Daniels they also have Todd Heap, who might have been the better TE had he not been injured almost all year. weakness YOUTH. Of their "projected" 2008 starting lineup only one player is under the age of 30 (te Todd Heap) and outside of qb Tarvaris Jackson or te Owen Daniels they don't really have any young players in their depth. The Tomcats have had only one first round pick in the last 4 years (they took Troy Williamson #6 in 2005). This could be a pivotal draft for the future of this franchise. summary It is difficult to doubt the postseason chances of a team that has made the Prestige Playoffs four of the past five years. The Tomcats do have a strong enough starting lineup to make it again this year, but the age of their roster might start to catch up with them this year. They made some great trades to get into the postseason last year, but in return they added even more veteran players. The problems with veterans is they are prone to injuries as the season progresses, and it might explain why this franchise has lost 6 straight Prestige Playoff games. 2008 prediction 5-9