1 | TENNESSEE

2017 | 9-7, second in South

Last year in playoffs | 2017

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Marcus Mariota: Had 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions two years ago, but took a big dip last season (13 and 15). Now we’ll see whether he flourishes under new coordinator Matt LaFleur, who helped turn around the Rams last season.

WR Corey Davis: The No. 5 pick in 2017, Davis was limited by injuries last year. But he can change the offense if he stays healthy. He’s big and physical, can catch balls across the middle and get deep.

CB Malcolm Butler: A big offseason acquisition from New England, Butler was brought in to shore up the secondary and step in as a shutdown corner.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB Derrick Henry: After playing in the shadow of DeMarco Murray, he finally gets his opportunity as a lead back. The addition of Dion Lewis will be a factor, however.

OLB Harold Landry: His future is bright. He figures to make a big impact as a rookie and can learn from Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, but should be right in the mix.

WR Taywan Taylor: In his second season, he has a chance to be a significant factor. He’s fast enough to beat defenders deep and is making good on the potential he showed at Western Kentucky.

2 | JACKSONVILLE

2017 | 10-6, first in South

Last year in playoffs | 2017

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

RB Leonard Fournette: The fourth overall pick in 2017 made a splash as a rookie despite lingering ankle problems. He ran for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season and 242 yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs.

QB Blake Bortles: He got increasingly comfortable with the offense last season, and it showed. Now in his second season in coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s system, he is pain-free after offseason wrist surgery.

CB Jalen Ramsey: He’s outstanding, no question, but also provides solid bulletin board material, candidly assessing quarterbacks for a GQ story. He didn’t pull punches on Buffalo rookie Josh Allen (“He’s trash”), the Ravens’ Joe Flacco (“He sucks”) and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (“Decent at best”). At least he likes Tom Brady.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

DE Yannick Ngakoue: Ex-Terp has added a power-rip move to pass-rushing arsenal, and that should concern opponents. He had 13 sacks last season, counting the playoffs, and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles.

LB Leon Jacobs: A seventh-round pick from Wisconsin, he is proving to be a major find. He has been terrific on the strong side, looking and sounding nothing like a rookie.

WR DJ Chark: A second-round pick from Louisiana State, the 6-foot-4, wiry Chark got rave reviews at training camp as a receiver and as a gunner on the coverage teams.

3 | INDIANAPOLIS

2017 | 4-12, third in South

Last year in playoffs | 2014

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Andrew Luck: A healthy Luck gives the Colts a chance every week, and his injured year away has given him a new appreciation of the game. Even when he was banged up in 2016, he threw for 4,240 yards and 31 touchdowns in 15 games.

TE Eric Ebron: A stalwart in Detroit, Ebron is primed for a big year in a tight end-heavy offense. He’s got size (6 feet 4) and speed, and should do a better job of stretching the field than Jack Doyle.

S Malik Hooker: The 2017 first-round pick is coming back from a knee ligament injury and is one of a few playmakers on a blue-collar defense. When he suffered the knee injury in October, he already had three interceptions at that point.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

LB Darius Leonard: Leonard has looked good in camp and can provide some pass rush. This is essentially Tony Dungy’s Tampa 2 defense, which worked so well in the Colts’ heyday, in large part because the team had Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis coming off the edge. It’s difficult to replicate.

RB Marlon Mack: In a mere 93 carries last year, Mack had seven runs of 20 yards or longer. But he also had 33 runs of zero yards or less, so he’s a bit of an all-or-nothing back. He played last season with a nagging shoulder injury.

WR Ryan Grant: A failed physical cost him a spot on the Ravens, but he’s still coming off a strong season in Washington (45 catches, 573 yards, four touchdowns).

4 | HOUSTON

2017 | 4-12, third in South

Last year in playoffs | 2016

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

LT Julie’n Davenport: Standing 6 feet 7, 320 pounds, Davenport protects the blind side of Deshaun Watson, who’s returning from a torn ACL. Davenport, who played at Bucknell, is raw but has massive potential. Small school, big responsibility.

WR Will Fuller: In his third season, Fuller has yet to prove he’s durable enough for 16-game seasons. The talented speedster has packed on 15 pounds to help survive the rigors of the season.

S Kareem Jackson: He needs to make a smooth transition from cornerback to safety with Andre Hal, the normal starter, sidelined after a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

S Tyrann Mathieu: The “Honey Badger” is on a one-year prove-it deal after refusing to take a pay cut from the Arizona Cardinals. Now he’s determined to show he’s still among the best defensive playmakers in the game.

DE J.J. Watt: The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is healthy again after two years of injuries. When he’s not injured, he dominates.

DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney: This a pivotal juncture for the former No. 1 overall pick. Should the Texans make another long-term investment in him or just rent him as their franchise player next season? This season will go a long way to determining that decision.

— Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times