Season of lost husbands and the NFL

I have been addicted to fantasy football since I was in high school. There, I admitted it. That’s part of the healing process. I can now move on.

At the worst part of the addiction I was in six or seven leagues at the same time. That was a stressful time and it made watching the games even more confusing.

Now, I know some of you out there have no idea what I’m talking about and there are others that just salivate at the idea of a keeper league. Others, like wives or girlfriends of a team owner, just cringe at the sound of phrases like “trade deadline” and “draft night.”

So after all these years of playing you might think I have an edge. I thought so once too. But just like hunting or fishing, there are no guarantees in Fantasy Football and it’s about being in the right place at the right time. So I am going to give some of my predictions. Yep, you heard me, my predictions. So take ’em or leave ’em, but here we go. Let’s start with the AFC.

The Buffalo Bills are in a rebuilding process, and normally you stay away from teams that are retooling, especially if they have not decided who to build around yet. The Bills have not made that decision, so they are looking at the number-one pick overall next year. Miami Dolphins are an intriguing team this year; they spent a whole lot of money in the off season and have a top-flight defense. Mike Wallace will be the person to watch, and if he does well in the warm climate, so will Miami.

NY Jets — well I have in the past had all the hope in the world for Mark Sanchez, and I just don’t anymore. The Jets will lose more than they win and next year they will be shopping for a new head coach and quarterback. The Patriots are busy dealing with headlines again this year and Brady is getting older and two key pieces are gone on offense. It’s finally time for the Pats’ dominance to falter. But they will make the playoffs and they are most dangerous there. Pick a Patriot and score points.

Baltimore will not return to the Super Bowl. They lost two major leaders that cannot be replaced over-night. Their offense is good, but not high scoring. Their defense will struggle. Cincinnati will be the surprise team of the year.

Finally, Marvin Lewis will lead his team deep into the playoffs. Pick Bengals and score points. Cleveland is still rebuilding and I’m not even sure where their strong points start and where the weak points begin. Trent Richardson is going to be the new Adrian Peterson. There ya go, my first steal. Pittsburg has to do it right now, if it’s going to happen at all. Ben is getting old and fragile and they are losing pieces on both sides of the ball. That being said, they will miss the playoffs. I see Big Ben being hurt most of the year.

Houston has been on the edge of greatness for some time now. Is this the year? Well, draft Texans either way because they score points. The Colts: well, Andrew Luck was good last year and took them into the playoffs in his first year. But unlike other young QBs succeeding in the NFL Luck’s supporting cast is headed the other way. Stay away from Colts.

The Jags are somewhere between winning and losing. They can’t seem to find themselves and or wins. Tennessee, look out, this is the year of Jake Locker and the Titans. Draft them often and early. Everyone is healthy and its going to be beautiful.

I hate the Broncos. Just saying. But they do score points and that’s what this game is about. So I will swallow my pride and pick a few Denver receivers. KC is on the incline and made big changes in the off season. Changes for good. Surprise Chiefs will win the division. Oakland will live and die on the legs of McFadden, and SD is on the down cline.

My pick for the Super Bowl in the AFC — Cincinnati Bengals. Next week the NFC.