Predictions: Studs and Duds of 2008

'Tis the day before kickoff, I can hardly wait to begin another seaon. Time for some thoughts on who we think will shine or struggle in the NFL in 08.

FWIW: Here are my picks (all biased and partial)

QB
Studley
Donovan McNabb (back healthy, seems focused... DeSean/Don connection will be deadly)
Brett Favre (by season's end he'll turn Cotchery and Keller into household names)
Jake Delhomme (back from injury and deeper talent at wideout will mean a return to form for Jake)
Tavaris Jackson (he's not ready for the Pro Bowl yet, but I think many will be shocked at how well TJ performs in 08)

Dudley
(this is all relative... but compared to lofty expectations these guys will struggle)
Peyton Manning (starting center gone, starting guard gone... no training camp)
Tom Brady (ask Daunte Culpepper or 07 Don McNabb how much fun it is to play on one leg... Brady will take a beat down in08)
Tony Romo (Super Bowl or bust for Romo... I'm not feeling it)
Matt Schaub (Texans continue to pay the price for treating a someone else's sexy back-up QB like a first round pick... they'd be better off with Billy Volek... marginally)

RB
Studley
Frank Gore (I don't think Martz will turn him into the second coming of Faulk, but I think he's in for a big year)
Larry Johnson (the Chiefs have no QB. LJ will get a ton of carries this year. I think it will be Johnson's last truly good season)
LenDale (after playing all of last season on a torn miniscus... the big man will rush for 1300 plus in 08 despite the addition of Mr. 4.24)
Leon Washington (this is relative, but I think Leon will put up some impressive numbers in what will evolve into a co-starters role)

Dudley
Thomas Jones (never really a top tier back... now he's lost a step)
Clint Portis (I really like this guy, but as he gets older injuries will continue to hamper him)
Ronnie Brown (one time stud backs up revitalized Ricky Williams)
Jam Lewis (time's up dude... you're done)


WR
Studley
Jericho Cotchery (a reception machine... Cotch will out-perform teammate Coles to establish himself fully as the Jets #1 wideout)
Desean Jackson (McNabb finally gets a playmaker at wideout... he'll get him the ball early and often)
Dwayne Jarrett (after a sleepy rookie campaign Jarrett will start to pay dividends for the Panthers)
Santonio Holmes (damn I hate the Steelers, but I think Holmes will become one of the truly elite wideouts in the AFC in 08)

Dudley
Donte Stallworth (when will people stop forking out big $ to this guy... less than 700 yards and a couple tuds... meh)
Devin Hester (not a wideout.)
DJ Hackett (classic case of someone paying for a guy who on occasion looks brilliant, but has never put it together for a whole season... see Donte Stallworth)

TE
Studley
Dallas Clark (this guy seems to get better every year... as much as it pains me, I see Clark being the number one TE in football in 08)
Heath Miller (makes the step up from simply being a solid tight end to All Pro as the Steelers offence continues to open it up)
Dustin Keller (I see this guy as a redzone scoring machine... double digit tuds a real possibilty)
Shockey (I hate this dufus, but he'll rip it up with the Saints)

Dudley
Antonio Gates (injuries continue to slow Gates and the better options at WR will allow Rivers to spread the ball around)
Alge Crumpler (I hate this pick... but I can see Crump having a rather unspectacular injury filled campaign as a Titan)
Vernon Davis (the guy is an athlete not a football player... he'll make the occassional great play, but he'll never be big time)
Kevin Boss (it's easier being the back-up than it is the starter... Boss will struggle in the starter's role)