NFL Predictions: 10 NFL Players Who Could Put Teams over the Top

While it's very true that football is a team sport, there are some players that stick out and wind up being the team's heart.

Examples:  Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, etc.

Being one week into the season, we still have a lot of questions that are unanswered.  However, it is clear how some teams will be affected by certain players on their teams.

These ten men will be the hearts of their respective teams.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

The Bills have a lot of talent on their team, so there are a lot of capabilities.  Some of them were shown in an impressive 41-7 victory in Kansas City this past Sunday.

Unfortunately, there are also many holes.

If anyone is going to give the Bills a sign of life this season, it will be veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.  He's been a career backup quarterback in a sense, but he's played in at least ten games in each of the last three seasons.

Now, Buffalo has stated that Fitzpatrick is their starter and will be for the year.  It started off well, as Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 68 percent of his passes and threw four touchdowns. 

No one expects much from the Bills.  However, there are possibilities here and they lie within an underrated Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

It would be a bit of a mistake to omit that the Ravens are already a good team.

However, there in-lies the point of the article—they only have the capability of being great.

That capability lies within Ray Rice.  The small running back from Rutgers has improved over the last couple seasons, and with Willis McGahee out the door, the Ravens are Rice's team.

Joe Flacco is established as a decent quarterback, and Lee Evans and Anquan Boldin lead a very good receiving corps.  Their defense is certainly well known.

Something they've been missing since Jamal Lewis left town is an explosive running game.  Ray Rice brings such a package of speed and agility that he's got to be the focal point in Baltimore.

Rice will rush for at least 1,500 yards en route to a rushing title and putting Baltimore over.

Jay Cutler

All of his criticisms aside, the truth is that Jay Cutler is a pretty good quarterback.

Top five?  Not quite that good. 

Top ten?  Definitely in contention.

He threw for over 300 yards on opening weekend against an Atlanta defense that isn't all that bad themselves.

Cutler has great pocket presence and has a true cannon hanging from his shoulder.  He has a career completion percentage of 61.7 percent.

The Bears showed that they can hang with—and beat—the NFC's best.  Jay Cutler teamed up with Matt Forte on offense can help the Bears get back to the NFC Championship.

Jammal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

Jamaal Charles showed a lot of ability in 2010 during the Chiefs' shocking run towards a division title.  He ran for close to 1,500 yards.

After this weekend's poor performance, I may catch some heat for suggesting the Chiefs have any hope at all.  However, Denver will continue to lose, Oakland is up in the air and San Diego is a team that no one can ever judge. 

It's possible.

A lot of the possibility lies on the shoulders of Jamaal Charles and his quick feet.  The defense just lost Eric Berry for the year and Matt Cassel remains a bit of a question mark.

If Charles can tear up the field all year, the Chiefs could prove to be a good contender come January.

Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

This may be the one prediction that I get criticized the most about.  On paper, the Redskins are a train wreck, and here I am suggesting that a guy like Tim Hightower will assist them in making a surprising playoff run.

Tim Hightower's career hasn't panned out.

Yet.

Here in-lies the reason he's going to be the backbone to the 'Skins offense in 2011.  Getting out of Arizona was key for him, as he was just not performing well.  His game this past week against New York was not great, but he had a touchdown and was beneficial to have on the ground.

Rex Grossman and a lackluster receiving corps will have up-and-down games.

If Tim Hightower can finally bust out like I know he can, the Redskins are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Taking a team from 2-14 to a playoff contender the next year—as a rookie? 

Allow me to make myself clear:  despite the incredible performance Cam Newton put on in his debut, I hold to my prediction that he'll be "Vince Young-ed" in a couple years.

Still, I also know there's possibility.  Newton showed a lot of it in a shootout with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, throwing for over 400 yards and two touchdowns (he also ran for another).

Newton still showed some of his Auburn skills, scrambling eight times.

In any case, Newton can be exactly what this young Carolina team needs.  He complements a good running game and if he keeps throwing like he did Sunday, Carolina will win quite a few games.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton came out firing on all cylinders in his rookie debut and things were looking up for a change for Cincinnati Bengal fans.

Then he got hurt and saw the "seasoned veteran" Bruce Gradkowski.

Either we get that, or Dalton, and my concern with him is that he may be one of those guys who play his whole career prone to injury.

Here's where we insert Cedric Benson.  His first game came only a week after being released from a Texas jail, and it went very well.  Benson rushed for 121 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown.

For a team that has very little promise and a young passing (and receiving) game, an experienced rusher will be the main focus.  If Benson can have a career year to complement what could be a very good rookie season by Andy Dalton, the Bengals may be in contention. 

LeGarrete Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josh Freeman established himself last year as a decent quarterback.

LeGarrette Blount brings a combination of speed and power coming out of the running back position.  In 13 games with Tampa Bay in 2010, Blount amassed over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.

With a bumpy defense, it will be tough for the offense to keep up.  Blount will be the guy to find the holes and expose them.

If Freeman continues to be a good quarterback, LeGarrette Blount's ability as a runner can take Tampa Bay to the top of the NFC South.

Mike Tolbert, San Diego Chargers

Mike Tolbert emerged as a surprise power back in 2010.  With a season marred with injury and mediocrity by Ryan Matthews, Tolbert was able to carry for over 700 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Keep in mind, he's a fullback!

Now that Darren Sproles is out of San Diego, Ryan Matthews is the primary back.  We also know how good Phil Rivers is, but last season and in previous ones, the Chargers were simply a step behind.

Tolbert is going to be the guy to slam those red zone touchdowns into the end zone when smaller guys like Ryan Matthews or Darren Sproles may not have been able to.

Those extra points and carries by Tolbert will prove useful in San Diego. 

Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals

Oh how silly having Kolb on this list makes me feel.  I've been extremely vocal throughout the offseason about how bad Kolb is and will be. 

His performance this past weekend against Carolina doesn't lie.  However, keep in mind that he was playing the Carolina Panthers.

Despite the test that really wasn't a top-notch one, Kolb ends some controversy in Arizona which involved a quarterback carousel.  Since Kurt Warner retired, the teams been in lingo.

Insert Kevin Kolb.

Now there is someone to throw the ball to Larry Fitzgerald and an offense with a lot of talent.  The division is weak.  Kolb can get the red birds back to the promise land if he can stay on the field and be consistent.