NFC North Predictions: Vikings Lead with Defense

is a big injury risk. Naturally, Brohm should get some chances to show his mettle. The team around him is so good, and he makes such smart, efficient decisions, that the Packers will succeed when Brohm is under center. The projections have him making four starts and throwing for 898 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Plus, a Brandon Chillar write-up would not have been too exciting.

Biggest Strength: Defense - The strengths and weaknesses may look like the Vikings, but the defense is not quite at that level. The Packers do not do anything poorly on defense. They can stop the run, defend the pass, force turnovers and get to the quarterback. Charles Woodson, Al Harris, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, Aaron Kampman and Atari Bigby all excel in every facet of that side of the ball and each could be a Pro Bowl player this year. One concern is the loss of promising DT Corey Williams, but the team hopes someone will emerge as a playmaker from a group that includes Johnny Jolly, Colin Cole and last year's top pick, Justin Harrell.

Most Exploitable Weakness: Pass Offense - The Packers had one of the strongest passing attacks in the league. The receiving corps did not lose anybody. In fact, it added Jordy Nelson in the draft. And some would say that letting Bubba Franks go was addition by subtraction. So what happened? Oh yeah, Favre. The passing offense has to be considered a weakness because we have so little on which to base its projections (and Jeff Tedford products like Kyle Boller, Akili Smith and Joey Harrington don't get us too excited about Aaron Rodgers).

Possible Fantasy Sleeper: Atari Bigby - Brian Brohm is an option, but we already talked enough about him above. And, whether the players succeed in them or not, the roles of the rest of the offense look pretty clear. So we went defense and found the hard-hitting safety with a name close to our hearts. Bigby was everywhere late in the season and in the playoffs. The projections give him 97 tackles, 3 interceptions and a sack.

Closest Game: @ Seattle (Week 6) - Matt Hasselbeck may take the ball and think he is going to score, but it does not look like either team does much of that. With strong defenses and offenses with new parts that are still working out the kinks in Week Six, a close, low-scoring game should be expected.

Fantasy Notables: Aaron Rodgers (23) 2,523 yards, 17 TDs, 11 INTs; Ryan Grant (10) 1,551 total yards, 13 TDs; Greg Jennings (22) 58 receptions, 969 yards, 7 TDs; Donald Driver (31) 70 receptions, 858 yards, 6 TDs; Donald Lee (13) 47 receptions, 517 yards, 4 TDs; Mason Crosby (4) 41/41 XPs, 31/38 FGs

Projected 2008 Results:

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