NFC West-Fantasy Football Do's & Don'ts

Teams are reporting to camp and all the craziness is starting with free agency.  Here is a look at the players who make their home in the NFC West that deserve your consideration for your fantasy football team. 

Arizona Cardinals
The QB situation in the desert will go a long way in determining the fantasy value of the surrounding cast.  The Cards are expected to make a strong push for Kevin Kolb via trade with the Eagles.  If Kolb lands in Arizona he immediately becomes their starter and has value as a solid QB2.

The backfield in Arizona is very crowded and looks to be a dreaded running back by committee situation.  Beanie Wells will likely be overvalued on draft day even after a disappointing 2010 sophomore season.  He only managed 2TDs and 397 yards while splitting time with Tim Hightower.  Hightower is a restricted free agent and will likely be resigned for the Cards.  To complicate things further, the Cardinals spent their 2nd round pick on Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams.  Williams is a talented back who could eventually have fantasy football value, but the timeshare will likely diminish the value of any of these backs. 



Expect a bounce back fantasy season
from Larry Fitzgerald in 2011

 Larry Fitzgerald was a popular cornerstone for many fantasy squads last year.  If it is possible to catch 90 balls for over 1,100 yards and have your season deemed a disappointment then Fitzgerald's 2010 season qualifies, but only because of the scant six TDs and high expectations.  Should Kevin Kolb end up in Arizona then Fitzgerald's stock is solidified as a top tier WR again.  Look for 90/1,200/10 with solid QB play.  Expectations were also high for Steve Breaston last year.  He was widely expected to step in to Anquan Boldin's spot and produce impressive stats.  Instead, Breaston suffered through some injuries and only had 47 catches and one TD.  He is a free agent now, but the Cards are expected to resign him.  Again, if Arizona has a competent signal caller Breaston could be a quality reserve WR, but if not, he has no spot on your roster. 



San Francisco 49ERs
Alex Smith is expected to be back as the Niners QB and does not have fantasy value unless you play in a very deep league.

Frank Gore saw his 2010 season cut short due to injuries and will see some competition in the backfield from Anthony Dixon.  Gore has received a strong endorsement from new head coach Jim Harbaugh and should remain the workhorse back for the 49ERs again in 2011.  Gore is a solid pass catcher and will make for a solid RB1 for teams that draft towards the back of the draft and are still looking to latch onto a strong back.  Beware of his propensity for injuries and know that he will likely miss a couple of games, but you may be rewarded with a solid back capable of registering strong RB1 numbers. 

Michael Crabtree is the only WR on the Niners that deserves your consideration on draft day.  If he can continue to mature and get solid QB play he has shown the ability to be a solid WR2 option in all formats.  If you can stomach stretches where he disappears and disappoints, draft him for his talent and upside. 



Vernon Davis is arguably the best
fantasy tight end

 Vernon Davis is arguably the best fantasy TE in the game.  His TDs were down from 13 to 7 in 2010 but he still managed to pile up 914 yards and is doing his best to wrestle the best overall tight end moniker from Antonio Gates.  He should be one of the first tight ends off the board and you can draft him expecting solid WR2 type numbers.

Seattle Seahawks
Is it possible for a playoff team to have hardly any players worth picking on draft day?  The Seahawks may be that team.  Keep a close eye on the QB situation as it develops in Seattle and adjust should they sign a vet capable of stepping in and contributing.  If the job somehow falls to Charlie Whitehurst, run...fast and far!

Marshawn Lynch will always be remembered for going "beastmode" and breaking tackle after tackle on his way to one of the most memorable TDs in recent history.  If Lynch is able to get the lion share of the carries he is a solid RB3 option and capable bye week fill in.  Justin Forsett is still in the picture but saw his touches decrease last year and appears to be relegated to an injury option and third down back at this point. 

What do you make of Mike Williams?  Is the he the guy who caught 44 passes for 2 TDs from 05-07 or is the he the target that hauled in 65 catches for 751 yards in 2010?  I tend to think you can expect a similar stat line from him.  Williams appears to have matured as a person and is a good WR3 to consider.  Keep an eye on how the Seahawk's offense performs early and what Ben Obomanu's role is.  He may warrant deep league consideration if he continues to show development. 

The emergence of Mike Williams came at the expense of John Carlson.  Carlson saw his role reduced and he is now longer a reliable fantasy option.


St. Louis Rams

If Josh McDaniels is calling the plays in St. Louis this year Sam Bradford may quickly develop into a viable starting fantasy QB.  Expect a continued maturation and development from Bradford who had over 3,500 yards and 18 TDs in this rookie campaign.  I would be surprised if he doesn't surpass 3,800 yards with 24 TDs this season. 

Steven Jackson takes a pounding and just keeps on running the ball.  Just twenty eight, Jackson has still racked up over 2,200 touches in his career.  He has the ability to carry the load, but could certainly benefit from a complementary back like Reggie Bush to lighten his load.  Beware of the possibility of a drastic drop off and draft Jackson as a high to mid RB2. 

The Rams would be well served to add a quality WR for Bradford to throw to.  Sidney Rice would be a good option due to his size, skill set, and age.  The current Rams receivers are not household names but could end up producing decent numbers for your fantasy team.  Danny Amendola has far more value in a PPR league after hauling in 85 catches last year.  Donnie Avery and Mardy Gilyard will battle with a handful of draft picks to get playing time and have very little fantasy value unless they are able to separate themselves and secure more playing time. 

With all the player movement expected in the next several days, keep checking back for your division by division fantasy rundown.