Ravens running back Ray Rice.

BY ROB SHAW
sportsnet.ca

RAVENS

QB: There was no sophomore slump for Joe Flacco last season, as he threw for 21 touchdowns and 226 yards per game. Now that he has a true star in Anquan Boldin to throw to, Flacco should offer another season of improvement.

RB: Just two years ago there was a three-way split in the Ravens backfield. However, Ray Rice has since taken over while Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain have become his back-ups. Rice did have a lot of touches last season, however, he only took on 254 rushes, which accounts for most of the hard hits. As a result, Rice should remain fresh and healthy for a third straight season. He's a definite top-five pick in most fantasy leagues.

WR: The key addition for the Ravens this off-season was former Cardinals wide out Boldin. Though his toughness has resulted in a lot of hard hits and injuries, Boldin remains one of the elite receivers in the NFL. His presence alone should allow Flacco to stretch the field and take advantage of open targets such as Derrick Mason and even Donte Stallworth.

TE: Ever since Flacco took over the quarterback duties, Todd Heap has looked more and more like the fantasy star he was in his younger years when he twice surpassed 800 receiving yards in a season. He is another player who should thrive on the Boldin-effect on the Ravens offense this season.

Defense: The Ravens have always been known as a defensive team and this season should be no exception. The team ranked third in opposing points last season and once again was amongst the best at forcing turnovers. With Ray Lewis refusing to age and the same nucleus returning, the team should continue to provide the opposition with fits.

STEELERS

QB: For the first time in a long time the Steelers lack stability at the quarterback position. Ben Roethlisberger will miss the first four games of the season due to suspension, and with Byron Leftwich getting injured in the preseason, the Steelers will turn to either Charles Batch or Dennis Dixon to start. This should be a very short-term situation for the Steelers, as Roethlisberger should assume the starting position by the fifth games of the season.

RB: The Steelers have a one-man backfield and it's all in the hands of Rashard Mendenhall. The third-year veteran will likely have 300 carries this season with Mewelde Moore backing him up. Expect Mendenhall to approach 1300 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns in an increased role, since the Steelers will be playing with a second-string quarterback for a quarter of the season.

WR: The Steelers have rid themselves of star wide out Santonio Holmes and will now rely on Mike Wallace to complement Hines Ward in the receiving corps. Expect Wallace to haul in 1000 yards worth of passes, though he does not have the explosive ability of the former Super Bowl MVP Holmes. The Steelers would do well to bring in a proven talent such as TJ Houshmandzadeh.

TE: Heath Miller is one of the most underrated tight ends in the NFL. Last season, Miller established a career-high with 76 receptions and 789 yards. The loss of Holmes should keep Miller as one of the more popular targets on the Steelers. He should also remain one of the more popular red zone options, making 750 yards and six touchdowns realistic goals.

Defense: The good news for the Steelers defense is that they have Troy Polamalu healthy and he is the key to the defense. The bad news is that without Big Ben playing early in the season, the defense will likely be placed in some vulnerable positions. Expect the Steelers to be slightly better than middle of the pack this season.

BENGALS

QB: Once considered among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, Carson Palmer is coming off a disappointing season. The Bengals quarterback averaged fewer than 200 passing yards for the first time in his career last season and his completion percentage was three points lower than his career average. By bringing in Terrell Owens this off-season, the Bengals have provided Palmer with an additional playmaker in the wings. Expect a modest bounce back from Palmer this season.

RB: The Bengals will once again be a rushing attack with Cedric Benson the driving force. Though Benson was a workhorse and established a career high with 1251 rushing yards last season, he did miss three games because of injury. As a result, fantasy managers should pay attention to his backup Bernard Scott, who averaged a solid 4.3 yards per carry in his rookie campaign.

WR: Chad Ochocinco returns to the Bengals fresh off a solid season with 1047 yards and nine touchdowns. This season he'll be helped by the addition of Terrell Owens, which will take some of the defensive attention away. Owens struggled last season with 829 yards, but the transition from Trent Edwards to Palmer is a major upgrade at the quarterback position. Andre Caldwell is a third wide out who will likely have no fantasy relevance.

TE: The 21st pick of the 2010 draft, Jermaine Gresham is a major talent who can make an immediate contribution to the Bengals offense. I'm thinking 500 yards with 40 receptions.

Defense: The Bengals defence was solid last season but enters this season hampered by injuries. There are also no obvious playmakers, which makes the Bengals a tough team to depend on.

BROWNS

QB: The Browns failed to rebuild, so instead they will look for massive improvement this season with a veteran quarterback running the offense. Jack Delhomme put up ugly numbers last season in Carolina but he's a veteran quarterback who can help develop a young receiving corps.

RB: An injury to 2010 draft pick Montario Hardesty puts the rushing attack squarely on the legs of Jerome Harrison. We'll find out very soon whether his strong finish was more a result of low-level competition than a breakout performance. The team will likely add some depth to the position with just James Davis backing up Harrison.

WR: As a rookie last season Mohamed Massaquoi had two games with at least 155 yards receiving. On the other hand, he had fewer than 50 yards in all but four games. Nonetheless, now that he has a proven signal-caller throwing to him, Massaquoi can surprise us with big production. Another second-year receiver to keep an eye on is Brian Robiskie. He has won the support of Delhomme and currently fits in as the second wide out in Cleveland.

TE: Long gone are the days of Kellen Winslow, as the franchise looks to ex-Pats first-round pick Benjamin Watson to offer a safety valve for the offence. Watson is a talented red-zone threat who was under-utilized in New England. He has a chance to become a second or third option for the Browns passing game this season. That will likely lead to more receptions and yards, though the touchdowns may stay flat now that he doesn't have Tom Brady as his quarterback.

Defense: The Achilles' heel for the Browns once again will be their defense. They simply can't stop anyone these days. The team lacks pressure up front and tight coverage in the secondary. They even traded away last season's sack leader Kamerion Wimbley to the Raiders. Things could get ugly quick in most games this season.