Fantasy Football Movers & Shakers-NFC West

The 2011 NFL off season has been one of the strangest off seasons in history and the repercussions have trickled over in to the world of fantasy football.  With free agency and trades taking place on the heels of training camp and even spilling over in to the start of camp, keeping up with all the movement can be challenging.  Here is a division by division rundown of all the notable player moves with fantasy football relevance and how the moves effect the player's value.

NFC West 


Kevin Kolb

 Arizona Cardinals-The Cards accelerated off season saw many fantasy noteworthy players come and go.  Arizona hopes to have Kevin Kolb under center and consistently tossing TDs to Larry Fitzgerald for years to come.  Kolb is an upgrade for the Cards and is a fringe fantasy starter or high end quality backup.  I would approach him with caution and hope to land him as my QB2 and use him as trade bait if he performs up to expectations. 

The trade of Tim Hightower thins out a crowded backfield where now Beanie Wells is the undisputed starter.  Or is he?  The Cards drafted Ryan Williams with the intentions of giving him the opportunity to carry the load.  Wells is known to get dinged up and any extended stretch of missed time could mean that he finds himself as Williams' backup.  Avoid Wells and consider Williams as a late round flier who could be a solid contributor if he claims the starting role.  Arizona's backfield has the looks of a RBBC and you should temper your expectations for either player barring an injury. 

Todd Heap is looking to end his career closer to home and joins the Cards as their starting tight end.  Heap is a reliable, but unspectacular option.  At this stage in this career he is nothing more than a fantasy reserve, but you aren't carrying two tight ends on your roster, are you?!

San Francisco 49ERs-Braylon Edwards joins a Niners team who has several questions with their receivers.  Will Michael Crabtree mature and take advantage of all the talent that he possesses?  Can Ted Ginn contribute as a wide receiver?  Edwards signed a one year deal and will be playing this year for his next contract.  Expect him to put up decent WR3 numbers.  His background, work ethic and new surroundings will probably result in him being slightly undervalued.  If you grab two dependable wideouts early don't feel bad about adding Edwards to round out your starters. 



Mike Sims-Walker

 St. Louis Rams-The Rams only notable addition this off season was wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker.  Sims-Walker has hauled in seven TDs in each of the last two years and should be a valuable red zone target for Sam Bradford.  Consider Sims-Walker a quality backup, but with the Rams' muddled receiver situation he may have a increased role and value.

Seattle Seahawks-The Seahawks added a couple of quality pass catchers and Tavaris Jackson at quarterback.  Zach Miller is a quality tight end but his fantasy value will take a hit now that he has left the Raiders' tight end friendly passing game.  Miller has the look of a fringe starter or quality backup now that he is a Seahawk. 

Sidney Rice flourished with Brett Favre at quarterback after suffering through forgettable seasons with Jackson at QB.  But for some reason Rice followed his former Vikings teammate to the Pacific Northwest.  Rice's value stands to be as a low end WR2 given his talent, but he could have some disappointing stretches given the possibility of the Seahawk's shaky quarterback play.