Whoever started this thread last year did a really good job delineating the teams, but I'll try my hand at it. I'll pick a top 3, in no particular order.
Amherst:
-Lose Crowley, a major low stick, and Seelaus, a solid varsity runner.
-Still have Mo, who is almost certainly 1 point at NESCACs and at worst 3 points.
Top returners:
Mohamed Hussein '18: 24:43 at NESCAC, 30:03 10k this season
Raymond Meijer '18: 25:21 at NCAA's, 14:59, 31:35 this season
Craig Nelson '18: 25:48 at NCAA's. injured indoors, 14:57, 31:30 this season
Kevin Connors '17: 25:53 at NCAA's. 4:13 mile indoors, injured outdoors
Runners to look out for:
Cosmo Brossy '19: 15:02, 31:41 this season after 25:57 8k in the fall, top NESCAC frosh?
Tucker Meijer '19: top NESCAC frosh in XC, 25:55 at NCAA's
Amherst was in position to win the Little Three, NESCACs, and be the top NE school at NCAAs last year. They performed very well until NCAAs. They don't lose that many top guys, although a low stick in Crowley will hurt them. This could certainly be the year Amherst wins the NESCAC and performs to their huge ability.
Tufts:
-Lose Curley and Traester, two solid varsity runners
-Still have Nichols and O'Connor, a VERY good 1-2 punch to rival any NESCAC team
Top returners:
Tim Nichols '17: 24:46 for 19th at NCAAs, 14:34, 30:12 this season. 6th at NCAAs in the 10k in an absolutely brutal race.
Luke O'Connor '17: 24:43 for 3rd at NCAA NE Regionals, 14:28, 9:02 steeple this season, 4th at NCAAs in the steeple
Ty Enos '18: 25:21 at NCAA NE Regionals, injured for indoor and outdoor?
Runners to look out for:
Christian Swenson '19: 25:35 at NCAA NE Regionals, 3:57, 8:33 1500 and 3000.
Dylan Jones '19: 7th at ECACs in 26:59 (Williams' course), 32:21 10k at NESCACs (2nd frosh)
Tufts will probably get guys out of the woodwork, and put on a good performance, but on paper they don't look all that troublesome outside of their 1-2 punch. If they can string together 3 guys at 25:15 or so, however, in addition to Nichols and O'Connor, they're a threat to run away with NESCAC.
Williams:
-Lose Bijan Mazaheri, a top NCAA runner, as well as Todd Ford and Kyle Kistinger, two very good varsity runners
-Still have 5 of their top 8, including last year's 16th NCAA finisher Peter Hale
Top Returners:
Peter Hale '17: 24:42 at NCAAs, 8:14 3k and 14:45 5k indoors (4th in NCAA 3k), mostly injured outdoors
Ben Decker '18: 24:51 at NCAA NE Regionals, 14:52, 31:22 this season
Noah Williams '17: 25:06 at NCAAs, injured or abroad for track?
Griffin Colaizzi '18: 25:25 for 9th at NESCAC, 8:20, 14:47 this season
Runners to look out for:
Liam Simpson '18: 25:42 at Paul Short, 26:25 at ECACs (1st, Williams course), 8:28, 14:45 this season.
Austin Anderson '19: 26:30 at Paul Short, 15:01 5k this season, top NESCAC frosh in 5k
Williams loses 3 solid guys including Mazaheri, but makes up for it with a stacked team, including an ascendant Simpson. Williams generally brings in top recruits, although last year was a little lackluster for XC. Decker or Hale could contend for the NESCAC title, and if they lack for a truly dominant 1-2 punch, Williams has very solid runners through their 5th returner. Williams can definitely defend their NESCAC title.
Middlebury, Colby, and Wesleyan can all be up there as well. Wesleyan came on super strong at the end of the season to be the second NESCAC team at NCAAs. They graduate most of their guys, but have really proven they can be good when it counts. Colby, should they get back Chelimo, has a 1-2 punch to rival or even beat Tufts', and with their own depth could be right back where they were two years ago. Middlebury has great depth and good freshmen, and if they just get a little more top-end talent also could certainly be a threat to steal NESCACs. I think the three teams I listed above are a little more proven, but any of these three teams could beat any of those. Maybe when I have more time I'll fully list them.