It is going to be a wild ride in the AFC South. The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee are the teams to beat, as Fanduel has Indy the odds on favorite. On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans appear to be the weaker teams this season. After breaking down the NFC South last week, here is our 2021 AFC South preview.
Titans are Looking to Repeat as AFC South Champions
One of the best moves of the offseason is the Titans acquisition of Julio Jones. It gives Ryan Tannehill another passing option as he’ll line up opposite A.J. Brown. Jones appears to be fitting in so far and there is a chance he wins Comeback of the Year in 2021.
In addition, Derrick Henry is back and leading the way for the Titans. The 27-year-old is coming off a 2,000-yard season running the ball and is looking to do it again in 2021. Henry is Tennessee’s MVP and arguably the best running back in the league. Look for him to go first in your fantasy football league.
But, what concerns me with the Titans is their pass-rush. Tennessee finished 31st in pass-rush rankings according to PFF last season, and they haven’t done a lot to address it. Bud Dupree is the name to know as he’s the guy they signed this offseason to fix their issues. It’s a risky move considering he’s recovering from an ACL tear but he is going to make an immediate impact.
Indianapolis In The Thick of It?
That’s a good use for a TikTok trend. However, I’m not sold on the Colts like most people are. Quarterback, and mostly Carson Wentz, is what scares me the most when it comes to Indianapolis. The Colts traded for Wentz in March, giving up a third-round pick this year and a conditional second-round pick next year to get him. The cap hit for him is $20.4 million this season, which is more than Matt Stafford and Deshaun Watson.
My issue with Wentz is that his form hasn’t changed. His throwing mechanics are the same, if not worst, and his decision-making still concerns me. Wentz has not evolved since winning the Super Bowl and that’s why I’m hesitant he’ll change in Indianapolis. Add in his injury history and I’m just not buying what the Colts are selling.
Outside of quarterback, there are a lot of fun pieces on this team. Jonathan Taylor is turning into one of my favorite running backs after an impressive rookie season. Darius Leonard is one of the best linebackers as he enters year four in the NFL. Then, of course, there is Quenton Nelson, who is one of the best linemen in the league. Other names to know include Julian Blackmon, Michael Pittman Jr, and Ryan Kelly.
Jaguars Just Getting By in AFC South
There are parts of the Jacksonville Jaguars that I like. Trevor Lawrence is going to be a superstar in this league, even if he does struggle early on with the Jags. Adding his college running back, Travis Etienne, is a good get depending on how Head Coach Urban Meyer uses him. I also like the free-agent signing of Shaquill Griffin from Seattle as he could replace C.J. Henderson or play the slot if needed.
However, there’s a lot I don’t like. First, Urban Meyer is a major asshole. Then, there is the whole Tim Tebow playing tight end saga that seems too good to be true. Finally, Darell Bevell is the team’s offensive coordinator, and having him coach Lawrence should be considered a war crime.
To sum up, there are things to like about the Jags. However, I believe this team will flame out and struggle instead of contending for a playoff spot. Fanduel is setting their win total at 6.5, which I will gladly take the under. Just leave the good parts and remove the worst parts and I might root for them.
Texans Taking All the L’s in 2021
First, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. The Deshaun Watson situation remains unclear as I write this. If it was up to me, I would place him on the Commissioner’s Exempt List until a verdict is made in court. I don’t believe it is in the best interest of the NFL or the Texans to have Watson play right now. But, if things improve and Watson is found to be not guilty, he should be allowed to play. Whether he plays in Houston or somewhere else is another story.
Outside of Watson, the rest of Houston’s roster looks rather bleak. They have a bunch of quality running backs and that is about it. In short, there are some decent players on the team (Brandin Cooks, Zach Cunningham, Laremy Tunsil) but there is nobody elite outside of Watson. Not great!
I believe the Texans will be picking in the top five of the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. I’m also guessing that new Head Coach David Culley is gone after the season because this season will go so bad. Why you’d want to build your offense around Baltimore’s passing game (where Culley was the last coach) is extremely curious to me. Hopes are low for the Texans this season so don’t expect a lot.
Conclusion
The Titans and Colts will be battling it out at the top all season. Their matchups, in Weeks 3 and 8, are going to be highly contested. Jacksonville is going to struggle but will have flashes of brilliance. I don’t what the Texans will look like next season, even if Watson is their starting quarterback. Certainly, it’s a division you’ll want to keep your eyes on and there could be some surprises by the season’s end. Like Carson Wentz becoming a top 10 QB again!