2015 NFL Predictions: Bold Fantasy Projections at Start of Training Camp

Big-name players like Aaron Rodgers, Rob Gronkowski, Le'Veon Bell and Dez Bryant are established fantasy football stars who are expected to produce touchdowns and yards aplenty this season.

However, if you are playing fantasy football in 2015, you need help. You already know who the superstars are, but you need to know the players that are going to rise above their previous numbers and become the game's next generation of stars and headline-makers as well.

On the other hand, you also need to know the big names that are going to take a step back this year. 

That's why we're here. Let's take a look at some bold predictions as you prepare for your fantasy draft.

Player	Pos	Team	Projection	Skinny
Sammy Watkins	WR	BUF	90-1,231-12	Spectacular impact for Bills.
Zach Ertz	TE	PHI	75-877-7	Hard-working and gifted. Great combination.
Eli Manning	QB	NYG	38 TD passes	Confidence has returned and he takes advantage of big-play WRs.
Joique Bell	RB	DET	859 yards, 10 TDs	Productive and punishing runner.
Brandon Marshall	WR	NYJ	58-789-4	Will blow up in the locker room again.
Derek Carr	QB	OAK	26 TD passes	Dramatic improvement in the Bay Area for Carr and Raiders.
Melvin Gordon	RB	SD	1,021 yards, 10 TDs	Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Justin Forsett	RB	BAL	787 yards, 7 TDs	Can't repeat 2014 success.
Julian Edelman	WR	NE	101-1,211-9	From solid player to star.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TE	TB	55-529-6	Earns kudos for mid-range receptions.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills

The Bills made an excellent move when they selected Watkins with a first-round choice in 2014. Watkins was one of the Bills' most productive players last year as he caught 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns.

However, Watkins has a long way to go in terms of consistency. He was targeted 128 times last year, and he needs to become a bit more consistent at bringing the ball in. 

Look for that to happen with veteran Matt Cassel penciled in as Buffalo's starting quarterback. Cassel can throw the ball accurately and with fine anticipation, and that should help Watkins develop into a superstar this season. Look for Watkins to double his TD total in 2015.

"

40 minutes after practice, no one else on the field, but Sammy Watkins working on his footwork with a cone drill.

— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) August 1, 2015"

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

We have full confidence that Ertz will become a top-five tight end before the end of the 2015 season. He caught 36 passes as a rookie in 2013, and that number rose to 58 last year.

Ertz has a hunger that allows him to win the battle with opposing defensive backs and linebackers when he goes up for a 50-50 ball. We expect head coach Chip Kelly to make Ertz a go-to receiver in the Eagles' multifaceted game plan.

Ertz takes a lot of physical abuse at his position, but he has played in all 32 games of his career so far. He should stay healthy, catch at least 70 passes and find the end zone eight times this year.

"

"This is my one opportunity to be the greatest I can be." Great piece from @GeoffMosherCSN on @ZERTZ_86's offseason: http://t.co/FOwRjweWlQ

— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) July 31, 2015"

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Manning is a two-time Super Bowl MVP, but he became something of a fantasy football pariah after a disastrous 2013 season in which he threw 18 TD passes and a league-high 27 interceptions.

Manning bounced back quite nicely in 2014 with a 30-14 TD-to-interception ratio despite the fact that the Giants did not have a complementary running game. Manning was a solid fantasy quarterback in 2014, and you should expect even more from him in 2015.

In addition to the emergence of the spectacular Odell Beckham, Manning will benefit from the addition of former New England Patriot Shane Vereen as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions

This is the season that Bell gets his due in fantasy football. He is not a superstar by any stretch, but he has rushed for 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

He was clearly the Lions' best and most productive running back as he shared time with the inconsistent Reggie Bush, and now he is clearly the top man on Detroit's depth chart. Few are paying attention to Bell as he makes his way back from knee and Achilles surgery, but another productive year should be at hand.

Bell will get some competition from rookie Ameer Abdullah, but the two should complement each other well—the rookie from Nebraska is a speedster, while Bell can get the tough yards between the tackles. Look for Bell to get into the end zone 10 times this season.

"

Lions coach Jim Caldwell: Joique Bell well on his way to being healthy http://t.co/ynlNbmAemM

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 1, 2015"

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets

The 31-year-old receiver moves on to his fourth NFL team this season, and the Jets need him to provide a major upgrade to their passing game. They may not get what they are expecting from the camera-loving wideout.

While Marshall caught 100 or more passes in 2012 and 2013 with the Chicago Bears, he slumped to 61 receptions last year. Additionally, he did not provide a soothing veteran's presence in the locker room, as he was involved in a postgame tirade after a midseason loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Marshall may respond positively to rookie head coach Todd Bowles for awhile, but we expect his true colors to show before the schedule hits the halfway point. He also has Geno Smith throwing him passes, and that's going to prevent him from putting big numbers on the board.

"

Cutler on Brandon Marshall's comments: No one likes their ex after a breakup http://t.co/0qussb5AL4

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 30, 2015"

All stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.