WASHINGTON

2017 | 7-9, 3rd in East Last year in playoffs | 2015

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Alex Smith: The Redskins traded for and signed Smith after he achieved a slew of career-high numbers at Kansas City last season. The head-to-head comparisons with Kirk Cousins are inevitable.

LT Trent Williams: The anchor of Washington’s offensive line, Williams had offseason knee surgery and will be tested right away. His first assignment: neutralize Arizona’s Chandler Jones, who led the league with 17 sacks last season.

CB Josh Norman: Norman didn’t have an interception last season, a tough reality seeing as he makes about $17 million per year. Then again, less than 10% of passes by opposing quarterbacks were thrown in his direction. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH WR Paul Richardson: The Redskins lacked a field-stretching receiver after DeSean Jackson left, so they signed Richardson, who had that role in Seattle.

LB Pete Robertson: The under-the-radar Robertson garnered a lot of praise this summer, including from coach Jay Gruden, for his explosive speed off the ball and playmaking ability. RB Samaje Perine: With the season-ending knee injury to rookie Derrius Guice, Perine (and Rob Kelley) are back in the spotlight. In eight starts last season, Perine became the first Redskins running back with consecutive 100-yard performances since Alfred Morris in 2013. FANTASY SLEEPER WR Josh Doctson: A first-round pick in 2016, Doctson is coming off a season in which he had 35 catches for 502 yards and six touchdowns.