5 NFL Players Assured to Have a Disaster Season

Every year it seems as though there are players that don't live up to expectations. Whether it be due to injury or just bad team play, they frustrate the fans to no end. Sometimes you can place the blame squarely on their shoulders, while other times it may not be their fault at all.

This year will be no different, and I have analyzed all 32 teams and tried to pick out the five players that I think are headed for a forgettable season. Most of the predictions are based off of the team they are playing for, how they are projected to play, and the division that they play in.

Picking these five players was much harder than it seems. First, you have to decide which players are "supposed" to have a good season, then you have to find legitimate reasons for why you think they will falter. Here is my list of five players, who is on your list?

Sidney Rice, Seahawks

Sidney Rice could have transitioned from Brett Favre to Donovan McNabb this year in Minnesota, but he decided to follow former fellow Viking Tarvaris Jackson to Seattle. Nobody really knows what to expect from Jackson, but head coach Pete Carroll has people believing in his system out there.

I think it will be rough for him and Jackson to get on the same page in Seattle, with the tough weather, and the defenses they will have to face in the NFC West. They aren't juggernauts like Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but the 49ers, Cardinals and Rams have all improved their defenses from a year ago. He will still leave his mark, but he might have a few games that make you frustrated as a fan.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills

If only the Bills didn't belong in the AFC East, they could probably have a good season. They have had a decent defense over the past couple of years that keeps improving. They now have reliable receivers in Steve Johnson and Lee Evans. Fred Jackson is an underrated running back, so all that is left is the quarterback position. No pressure.

I don't know if the pressure is going to get to him or not, but the defenses sure will. The Patriots made significant upgrades to their defense, and the Jets will of course be one of the best as well. Even the Dolphins found a way to bolster their defense. If Fitzpatrick can't step up this year, they might start looking at winning the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

Reggie Wayne, Colts

Reggie has always been a great receiver, even when he was under Marvin Harrison's wing. The outstanding wide out from Miami has been one of the most consistent and productive receivers over the last decade. He is just one of Peyton Manning's weapons, but he is the best of them all. The problem is, Peyton hasn't been throwing him any balls since last year.

With Manning continuing to miss camp and possibly the whole preseason, it could really hurt Wayne's production. This offense is all about timing and rhythm, something that is going to be hard to capture when No. 18 finally does come back. They will have it figured out by the end of the year, but the first few weeks could be challenging for Wayne.

Peyton Hillis, Browns

This is not due to the "Madden Curse" by any means. I think Hillis is a dynamic runner in the NFL, that goes without saying. His punishing style of running seemed to catch up with him in the last four or five games of the season last year. His production went way down, and the offense sputtered even more. People were starting to wonder if defensive coordinators had finally figured this kid out.

While that remains to be seen, what we do know is that the pass offense is nothing to admire in Cleveland. There are those that think Colt McCoy is going to have a great season this year, but I still have my doubts. He doesn't really have any big weapons to throw to, and he has to face the Ravens and Steelers defense a total of four times during the regular season. Just don't blame Madden for his lack of production.

Eli Manning, Giants

Eli has always been viewed as an up-and-down quarterback in the NFL. It's not easy of course, always being compared to your brother, that just so happens to be one of the best players in NFL history. The problems have already started mounting for the Giants. They are still dealing with Osi Umenyiora and his "knee" and they just lost their first round pick, cornerback Prince Amukamara for a couple of months to a broken foot.

The latest punch in the gut came yesterday, when Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith left the Giants for the rival Eagles on a one-year contract. Not only does Eli lose another target down field, but he will be facing improved defenses in division opponents Dallas, Philadelphia and even Washington. It could be a rough year for both Manning brothers. Only time will tell and the season is just getting ready to begin.