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Miami Dolphins
Last Season: 6-10
Last place, AFC East
Preseason power ranking: 21
The AFC East is as wide-open as it has been in several years. Why? Future Hall of Famer and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will miss a quarter of the season to suspension. This an ideal time for the Dolphins to make a push from worst to first. The coaching certainly will improve under first-year coach Adam Gase, who has already shown some good things this preseason. The Dolphins should be a smarter team and a tough out week to week. The last time Brady missed a significant portion of the season was in 2008 because of a season-ending knee injury. The Dolphins capitalized and won the division that season. Will history repeat?
The Dolphins have a brutal September schedule. It begins with road trips against three 2015 playoff teams in Seattle, New England and Cincinnati. A potential 1-3 or 0-4 start could damage Miami's playoff chances right out the gate. There also are depth issues across the roster. The team is thin at cornerback, linebacker, tight end and running back. An injury or two at any of these positions could sink the Dolphins, and injuries happen every season. Miami also is learning new offensive and defensive schemes, so expect some growing pains along the way.
Dolphins' percentage chance to win each game
Sept. 11 @ Seattle: 19.9
Sept. 18 @ New England: 29.0
Sept. 25 vs. Cleveland: 72.7
Sept. 29 @ Cincinnati: 27.8
Oct. 9 vs. Tennessee: 67.3
Oct. 16 vs. Pittsburgh: 42.2
Oct. 23 vs. Buffalo: 52.8
Nov. 6 vs. N.Y. Jets: 58.8
Nov. 13 @ San Diego: 37.6
Nov. 20 @ Los Angeles: 34.8
Nov. 27 vs. San Francisco: 68.8
Dec. 4 @ Baltimore: 31.8
Dec. 11 vs. Arizona: 45.3
Dec. 17 @ N.Y. Jets: 33.9
Dec. 24 @ Buffalo: 33.4
Jan. 1 vs. New England: 39.2
James Walker's game-by-game predictions
Gase coaxed a steady, productive, drama-free year out of Jay Cutler in Chicago last season, so his confidence should be sky-high. Backup Matt Moore is fine, but it's tough for anyone to be confident in Tannehill, who failed to finish above .500 in any of his first four NFL seasons. -- Dan Graziano
Running back Arian Foster just turned 30, when players at his position often regress. However, if Foster can turn back the clock for one more season, it would be a major boon for Miami's offense. The Houston Texans released Foster in the offseason after a season-ending Achilles injury. But his track record of four 1,000-yard seasons and a 4.5-yards-per-carry average over his career warrant another shot.
Second-year receiver DeVante Parker has all the tools to develop into a No. 1 target. Parker's athleticism, strong hands and wide catch radius make him a threat to any defense. But he must make strides in Year 2 by staying healthy and leaning on his route running. Parker could be a sleeper who makes a lot of fantasy owners happy this year.
Gase has a strong reputation for improving quarterbacks. If he gets Ryan Tannehill to play at a higher level this season, that could do wonders for the Dolphins' 2016 outlook. Tannehill has the numbers but hasn't been very efficient. Gase should help Tannehill be a better and more efficient quarterback in Year 5.