With the NFL season right around the corner our NFL expert, Mike Kaye is back as well. Today he brings you 10 under the radar players from the AFC who he expects to make noise in 2011

MIKE KAYE

Well the regular season is almost back so I thought it was time to return to Juiced. I have been hibernating my focus (my “real” job takes up all my time) during the lockout. Truth is: I felt writing about the lockout and free agency would just be redundancy to our readers. You guys don’t want to read a professed life-long Eagles fan discuss their moves or read for the eighth time that the Seahawks way overpaid for Sidney Rice and Zach Miller.

You guys deserve better and by better, I mean better lists and better countdowns (compared to the under-researched Bleacher Report countdowns that seems to spew out of that website like they are on the set of High Fidelity).

So without further ado, let’s talk about those sleeper players that only fans that study their own favorite team’s roster know about. I will warn you; this is not really fantasy advice, just a look at some potentially helpful guys on your team, teams in your division, conference and league.  We will look at ten players from each conference that I think will be major factors this season.

We begin with the AFC.

1. Reshad Jones-FS-Miami Dolphins

Jones is currently in a battle for the starting free safety spot with Chris Clemons. Jones is at least going to be the third safety (normally they  play just a little bit less than starters). He is extremely athletic and could be a great compliment for tough, rugged veteran safety Yeremiah Bell. The 23-year-old, former Georgia Bulldog is a ballhawk, so playing centerfield in the Fins 3-4 defense could lead to a lot of activity due to pressure from rushers like Cam Wake, Kao Misi, and the returning Jason Taylor.

2. Steven Ridley-RB-New England Patriots

While Shane Vereen may be the more nationally recognized rookie halfback in New England, Steven Ridley has shown that he can be a home-run hit during the preseason.  A third round pick out of LSU, Ridley rushed for 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior in 2010. He is the biggest of New England’s likely trio of RBs, weighing in at 225 lbs, so he is likely to garner carries as a third down back. With Kevin Faulk injured for the start of the year, Tom Brady could use Ridley as his most popular check-down target.

3. Ed Dickson-TE-Baltimore Ravens

Todd Heap is gone, so someone needs to take his spot, and second-year tight end Ed Dickson has been tabbed as the replacement. Dickson isn’t very big at 224 lbs at the position but he has the height to excel in the redzone (6’4). He was mildly successful as a back-up, putting up 152 yards and touchdown on 11 catches. With that said, John Harbaugh had to see something special in this Oregon Duck alum to get rid of the seasoned veteran Heap.

4. Jerome Simpson-WR-Cincinnati Bengals

The first three and a half seasons for this former 2^nd round pick amounted to one reception for 3 yards. Then something happened… Head Coach Marvin Lewis finally gave up on Chad Ochocinco and started playing Simpson regularly. The results: 20 receptions (3 went for over 20 yards), 277 yards and 3 touchdowns in five games. He is now pegged as the starter opposite rookie A.J. Green and should be poised to continue his great stretch at the end of last season (provided Andy Dalton can get the ball to him, but that’s a whole other article).

5. Usama Young-FS-Cleveland Browns

After being buried deep in the Saints’ talented secondary, Young decided to take his talents to Cleveland (take that Lebron James). For the Browns, Young will serves as the starting free safety in Dick Jauron’s secondary. Jauron, a former head coach with the Bears and Bills, is the key here. He was able to make Jarius Byrd look like Ed Reed in his rookie year in Buffalo with nine interceptions in 14 games (Jauron was fired and Byrd had just one interception the next year in 16 games). Young could have similar success with a talented group of corners handling the receivers. I think Young will be able to get at least five picks this year.

6. Antonio Brown-WR-Pittsburgh Steelers

Hines Ward, despite Steelers’ fans wishes, is slowly declining and isn’t much of a threat in the speed department. The aforementioned decline in Ward’s game, allows second-year wide-out, Antonio Brown, get some more time to show his stuff this season. The Steelers have featured Brown heavily throughout the preseason and seem to have a lot of confidence in him. He only had 16 catches last year, but his receptions could triple with the trust he is developing with Big Ben.

7. Rashad Jennings-HB-Jacksonville Jaguars

He has been the number 2 guy for two seasons behind Maurice Jones-Drew but I think the Jags will start to make the running game more of a two-back program to preserve Mojo throughout the season. We learned at the end of the season when MJD went down, that Jennings can’t carry the load by himself. However, with some extra time and MJD wearing down the opposing defense, Jennings can provide a change of pace that will keep the defense honest. Jennings is also a very good receiver out of the back field, so look for him to get some touches there and possibly some looks in the slot.

8. Jacob Lacey-CB-Indianapolis Colts

With former starter Kelvin Hayden no longer on the roster, Lacey’s role will see a definite increase. He went undrafted in 2009, but has made his bones as a nickelback (a corner that covers the slot, not a band that has hit songs that literally all sound the same) in the Colts secondary. Now he moves to the outside where I think his biggest upgrade for the team is that he is one of a few corners that can really tackle. He has 120 tackles in his two years in the league (to put that into perspective, 2009 second round pick, Darius Butler only has 58 tackles in the same amount of time). He has decent ball-skills as well with four career-interceptions.

9. Jacoby Ford-WR/Ret.-Oakland Raiders

Now I know some of you are saying, “Mike, people have heard of Jacoby Fords.” Yes, as a returner, but I think he breaks out as starting receiver in his second season. The kid is lights out as a speed-demon but what I like about him the most is that he has great body control and vision at his speed. Former “speed guys” like Troy Williamson had issues staying in the league because they couldn’t run routes or find the ball when hitting the speed-kill-switch, but Ford can. Ford is short but has strength and athleticism that separates his ability from other fast receivers, something that I think will make him the Oakland number one guy by mid-season.

10. Antwan Barnes-OLB-San Diego Chargers

With Larry English and Shaun Phillips holding the reigns at starting rush linebackers, you wouldn’t think Barnes would have the ability to put up big numbers. I say nay. As the third guy, Barnes stays fresh while English and Phillips beat up the offensive tackles. This allows Barnes vulture out some sacks while the O-line of the opposite team has been working the whole game, protecting their QB from the starters. Barnes, the only player from Florida International University entrenched in the league, has the ability to play defensive end and outside linebacker depending on what San Diego Chargers’ new defensive coordinator wants to do (I have read he wants to give some 4-3 looks throughout the games).

Photo: AP

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