Odd Men Out (AFC North): NFL Veterans Most De-Valued by New Rookie Picks 
Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert, Rosterwatch.com

Baltimore Ravens

Ray Rice is already bracing for a multi-game suspension for assault, so that opens the door for the likes of rookie RB Lorenzo Taliaferro and others to start the season as lead back. We don’t expect Taliaferro or Bernard Pierce to keep Rice off the field once he’s back from suspension, but there are no certainties in this Baltimore backfield. They can’t afford to have another abysmal run game this season, and if that means bringing in some new blood, then so be it. On the receiver front, WR Steve Smith has a doppelganger in Michael Campanaro as far as size and playing style goes, and Campanaro is over a decade younger than Smitty. The Ravens’ depth is shallow at the position though, so there could be room for both. TE Crockett Gilmore is a fine blocking end, but I don’t see him upending either Dennis Pitta or Owen Daniels this season.

Cincinnati Bengals

RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis has been a serviceable FFL back for years, but it looks like he’s finally going to give way to new legs in Jeremy Hill. Hill is already working with the number 2 squad, behind Gio Bernard, and he should stick. Andy Dalton is a head scratcher every year it seems, but as frustrating a QB as he often is, A.J. McCarron is not going to supplant him this year or the next.

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is a land of opportunity at the receiver position right now.Andrew Hawkins‘ normal position though, and seeing as hes probably the Browns’ best receiver with Josh Gordon gone, we don’t see him losing snaps. At QB, Johnny Manziel is going to be nipping at Brian Hoyer‘s heels all season, but Hoyer is the real deal. He could hold off Johnny Football for awhile, but I think Cleveland’s lask of weapons at receiver may force their hand to put in a QB who can work magic on his own. Ben Tate was brought in as the new “workhorse” RB, but we don’t fully believe in him at RosterWatch and will be keeping a close eye on rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Talented second-year WR Markus Wheaton is going to have to step his game up this season to hold off Martavis Bryant on the outside, and Bryant’s red-zone capabilities may prove too much for Wheaton in the long run. RB Dri Archer projects to be more of a special teams player than threat to Le’Veon Bell or even newly acquired LeGarrette Blount.