AFC North Breakout Candidates 2015

Cincinnati Bengals

Jeremy Hill, RB: Hill had a great rookie season. He's going to establish himself as a top 5 running back next season. Hill showed every single trait of a top running back last season, and even was a very good blocker too, but he will be in a "timeshare" with Gio Bernard for the foreseeable future. I'm quoting "timeshare" because even though Gio Bernard is very good too, they will have a tough time justifying taking Hill off the field. Hill is a great blocker as I mentioned earlier, and he is also a very good receiver in the backfield. He's just a more complete runner than Bernard too, and that will show this season. Hill is the best back Andy Dalton has ever had, and even though I don't think Dalton will take any strides in development, Cincinnati has a star in the making with Jeremy Hill. I'm predicting 1300 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, which truth be told aren't that different from his 2014 numbers, but it's only because they will get in their own way with the RBBC idea. He WILL establish himself as a star RB though, and if he gets more carries, he will do a lot more damage.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ryan Shazier, MLB: Another player who barring injury, should be in for a big season. Part of me wanted to go with Martavis Bryant to breakout, but that is almost expected and I think that Shazier will actually make the bigger jump in 2015. He is an athletic freak that can physically do anything on the football field. He's also an incredible playmaker, and if he improves his technique and instincts, he can have a NaVorro Bowman type impact on this defense. He's not perfect, he's still very raw, but his ceiling is high. I have faith in Pittsburgh's defensive staff to coach up Shazier in areas where he needs it, but alongside Lawrence Timmons he will wreak havoc on opposing offenses. I'm predicting 95 total tackles for Shazier, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and quite a few jaw-dropping athletic plays.

Cleveland Browns

Barkevious Mingo, OLB: This is a risky breakout candidate. Not as risky as me predicting Johnny Manziel to break out, but nevertheless he might not shape out to what I believe he can. Mingo hasn't developed into the pass rusher the Browns were hoping for, and they also drafted Nate Orchard in the second round to add some depth on the edge. So why does Mingo get breakout candidate love? Simple, he improved a lot last season even if the stats don't necessarily show it, and he is still an athletic freak with a high ceiling. The Browns defense should be even better in 2015, and Mingo should be in line for a bigger role and more snaps too. I'm predicting 7 sacks for Mingo in 2015, which would be a huge increase from his 2 sacks in 2014. I also think he'll continue to develop a well rounded game, and improve in his technique, which is vital for his growth.

Baltimore Ravens

Jimmy Smith, CB: Jimmy Smith is a player that if he stays healthy, he will be a star. He was well on his way to stardom last season, but a foot injury prematurely ended his year. He has the size, athleticism and technique to go toe-to-toe with any wide receiver in the NFL and he's still only 26 years old. The Ravens secondary really struggled in 2014, and they should be in for a resurgence in 2015 with Smith being healthy and Webb being another year removed from his big injury. Everybody knows about the Ravens deadly front seven, and if you didn't know, now you do. They will be able to bring pressure to opposing QB's, which means Smith will have an easier time defending receivers (not that he needs it). Smith is in a position to thrive with Baltimore in 2015, and if he stays healthy, he could be a top 5 cornerback in the entire NFL. I'm predicting 3 interceptions, but what's most important is that he will constantly give opposing WR's a hard time and he will rarely be burned too.

NFC East Breakout Candidates 2015

Dallas Cowboys

Darren McFadden, RB: The obvious choice is a Cowboys running back. From what I have seen, the majority of people either think Randle is better, or he will get the bulk of the work. I disagree. I think if Run DMC is healthy, he will get the bulk of the carries and he is the better running back. I'm not ignoring the tape though, as I do believe McFadden isn't anything more than an inconsistent, but talented back. This is more about the situation he is in, as he's in the perfect offense to utilize his talents and he is behind a behemoth of an offensive line. I'm predicting 900 yards and 7 touchdowns barring injury.

Washington

Robert Griffin III, QB: How naive am I? I don't think Griffin is going to be a star next year, but I do think he will be a good NFL QB. His offensive line with Scherff should be substantially better, and he is another year further removed from his ACL tear. As porous as Washington's defense is, their offense still has talent. Alfred Morris, Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson are all very talented players, and can help RGIII succeed. The key for Griffin once again is health. If he is healthy, he can be very good. I'm predicting 3,400 yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions and 4 rushing touchdowns too.

New York Giants

Prince Amukamara, CB: Don't get me wrong, Prince is already a very good cornerback, but he will become a star this year. He was one his way to stardom last season, but he tore his bicep and was out for half the season. Amukamara is physical, fast, has good technique and he has the ball skills too. Alongside Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, he will thrive. The Giants defense is young, but they have talent, and he should step up big for them in 2015. I'm predicting 5 interceptions for Prince, and for him to be able to blanket good receivers.

Philadelphia Eagles

Zach Ertz, TE: Sam Bradford will "breakout" if he stays healthy too, but I went with Ertz because I still love his pass catching ability and Bradford is the best quarterback he has ever had. The Eagles offense will be explosive with Chip Kelly running it, and there will be more targets to have after the Eagles lost Maclin in free agency. Bradford has also never worked with a tight end as talented as Ertz, and he will be a perfect player for him to stretch the seam. I'm predicting 800 yards, and 7 touchdowns for Zach Ertz.

NFC West Breakout Candidates 2015

San Francisco 49ers

Aaron Lynch, OLB: A lot of people might say this is a copout, because he had a very good rookie season, but I think he will be substantially better in 2015. I'm expecting at least double digit sacks, and for him and Aldon Smith to challenge Tamba Hali and Justin Houston for the best pair of edge rushers in the NFL. Lynch is big for an outside linebacker (6'5/270 lbs), but he is surprisingly quick too, and the more pass rush moves he develops in his arsenal, the bigger a threat he will be. 

Eric Reid, FS: Usually I will only do one breakout player, but I can't choose just one player for the 49ers. Reid took a step back in 2014, but that can be partially attributed to the entire team having a rough season. He still has a lot of talent, and could be one of the elite ball hawking free safeties in the NFL. I think he will have over 5 interceptions in 2015, and establish himself as a top 10 safety.

Seattle Seahawks

Ahtyba Rubin, DT: This is the toughest team to predict a breakout candidate for. Most of their defense is playing at such a high level that I couldn't predict one of their sure fire starters to breakout because they have already broken out. Their offense doesn't have any stand out candidates either (there was no way I was picking Tyler Lockett because he's a rookie, but I do think he'll have a great year). Some would say Rubin is too old to break out, or that he has already had his breakout year because he was terrific in 2010 and 2011. He's fallen off in recent years, but he is still a very talented run stuffer, and can be a sneakily threatening pass rusher too. He's behind Brandon Mebane right now, and there is no way he will pass him on the depth chart, but in limited snaps he could be a huge difference maker for a team that struggled up the middle when Mebane went down with an injury last year. I think he'll pick up a few sacks, but he'll have a big impact against the run. The only question is how many snaps he will get.

St. Louis Rams

Brian Quick, WR: He was oh so close to breaking out last season. Barring another injury, Brian Quick passed the eye test last season and he looked like he could be the St. Louis Rams number one guy at receiver. Nick Foles has a good arm, and I expect this offense to try and stretch the field a lot so they can open up more lanes in the run game. While Quick isn't the fastest guy, he's a big (6'3/220 lbs) and strong receiver that can go up and get those 50/50 balls that Nick Foles likes to throw. Quick has the talent, and in a small sample last season he showed that he looks the part too. I'm predicting a 1000 yard 8 touchdown season for a player clearly in a run first offense. 

Arizona Cardinals

Tyrann Mathieu, FS: Part of me was thinking John Brown, but Mathieu is going to explode this season. He had a terrific rookie season, but was hampered last season by a knee injury he suffered at the end of his rookie season. His raw skills are already elite, he just needs to feel comfortable with his knee and he will be unleashed. Arizona lost Antonio Cromartie and has some questions at the second CB spot, so they will rely on Mathieu to play big this year. I'm predicting for him to lead the entire NFL in forced turnovers, and I'm confident that he will establish himself as an elite safety.