The Tennessee Titans had a very interesting offseason. They’re in flux and looking for stability and continuity, so they invested heavily in the offensive line, signing Andy Levitre, the top free agent guard, and drafting Chance Warmack and Brian Schwenke. When they also signed running back Shonn Greene as a change-of-pace and goal-line option to take some of the pressure off of Chris Johnson, it became evident that they will be prioritizing their running game this year.

While many people expected them to take a defensive end or a safety in the second round, they actually traded up for a wide receiver, selecting Justin Hunter out of Tennessee. It was a slightly confusing decision, as he didn’t come without his flaws and wide receiver wasn’t a huge position of need. They clearly see him as more A.J. Green than Brian Robiskie, so chances are their gameplan will reflect that.

Ultimately, expect them to reign in their passing game and adopt a quarterback-friendly run-first approach, much like San Francisco, Seattle, Carolina, and Washington have done with their young, mobile quarterbacks. Locker will end up with fewer opportunities to get fantasy points, but his efficiency should improve; and while Greene’s presence will likely impact the opportunities Johnson gets, the opportunities he gets should improve, and he should be more efficient with each one of them.

Jake Locker, Quarterback

This season will make or break Locker’s career. With 11 career starts in 16 games, he’s completed 55.5% of his passes for 2,718 yards, 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 30 sacks, and four fumbles. Those are the numbers of a career backup, not a franchise cornerstone. He’s athletic and sports a strong arm, but he’s been plagued by accuracy issues and injuries. If he can’t put it together this year, behind the best offensive line he’ll ever see, with a talented corps of receivers, the Titans will be spending a high 2014 first-round pick on a quarterback.

Fortunately for him, his position coach, Dowell Loggains, is now his offensive coordinator, so their gameplan is sure to fit his strengths and weaknesses. He’ll have at least three receivers with number-one-wide-receiver skillsets, and a beastly offensive line should provide a formidable running game as an offensive framework. He’s unlikely to ever merit starter status in fantasy, but he should be a great backup who can carry your team through a bye week.

2013 Stat Projections: 57% completion, 3,400 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 18 interceptions

Chris Johnson, Running Back

After setting the NFL yards-from-scrimmage record in 2009 and receiving a large contract in 2011, Johnson’s performance has fallen off significantly. However, he hasn’t been quite the statistical embarrassment many make him out to be, particularly from a yardage standpoint. In the last three years, he’s averaged over 4.2 yards per carry over 854 total carries, with 21 touchdowns and 11 fumbles. Unfortunately, he’s disappeared in big games and had a sour attitude with his teammates.

But he’s still one of the fastest players in the NFL, and he still has all the talent that carried him to 2,509 total yards just four years ago. The Titans have more offensive talent on their team now than they’ve had in years, and he’ll be running behind the best offensive line of his career. He has nearly every reason to once again rank among the league leaders in rushing yardage. A negative factor will be the presence of Greene. The larger, bruising back will poach goal-line carries from the starter, meaning Johnson’s touchdown total will probably remain in the mid-single digits.

2013 Stat Projections: 275 carries, 1,125 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 40 receptions, 275 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown

Kenny Britt Wide Receiver

Britt has been the most talented wide receiver on the Titans’ roster for awhile now, but he’s struggled to remain active. Between suspensions and injuries he’s managed to consistently underwhelm, and with this being his contract year, he’ll need to prove he can stay healthy and keep out of trouble for 16 games if he wants to remain in Tennessee. Justin Hunter, this year’s 34th overall draft pick, has a very similar skillset with none of the baggage and only a fraction of the injury concern, so the Titans shouldn’t hesitate to cut bait on Britt if he disappoints again, relative to his potential. Consider the numbers below to be a realistic best-case scenario.

2013 Stat Projections: 60 receptions, 900 receiving yards, six touchdowns

Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver

Wright doesn’t offer quite the dynamic game-breaking talent that Britt and Hunter bring to the table, as evidenced by his 64/626/4 line in his rookie year. He’s dropped some weight entering his sophomore campaign, and Loggains has said their 2013 offense will feature an even heavier dose of the former Baylor receiver. As Robert Griffin III’s primary target during his senior year, Wright specialized as a lethal vertical threat, and if Loggains chooses to use him that way in 2013, he should dramatically improve on last year’s 9.8 yards per reception. Despite Britt’s superior experience and skillset, Wright will likely end up the de facto number-one target for Locker, and should lead the team in targets and receptions once more.

2013 Stat Projections: 75 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, seven touchdowns

Justin Hunter, Wide Receiver

Hunter was the Titans’ second-round pick this year. Early on in the draft process, he was tabbed as a potential top-15 selection, but questionable film and a lingering leg injury dropped him into the top of the second round.  He had an impressive NFL Combine in April, running an official 4.44 forty-yard dash, and adding an 11’6” broad jump and a 39.5” vertical. He’s continued to battle a hamstring injury throughout the preseason, but he should slot in as the third option after Britt and Wright. As a rookie, he’ll likely be used primarily as a deep threat and a jump-ball option in the red zone.

2013 Stat Projections: 40 receptions, 650 receiving yards, five touchdowns

Delanie Walker, Tight End

Walker will be a downgrade in talent from Jared Cook, though they should be about equivalent in terms of reliability. Where Cook had a tendency to loaf it when he wasn’t being targeted, Walker has a penchant for spontaneous gaps in focus, leading to aggravating drops. But he’s a great blocker and a good receiver who should have a career year as the first option at his position on the team.

2013 Stat Projections: 40 receptions, 500 yards, two touchdowns