Fantasy Football: NFC West division preview

August 5, 2010 @ 14:00:00

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Bryce McRae

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Fantasy situations to watch

Ready to take over?

• Quarterback Matt Leinart has big shoes to fill, but he has had plenty of time to season over the years. We're not very high on him, but the offense will need him to at least be competent for success. Should he falter early, Derek Anderson could be called on to take over. Leinart starting likely lowers wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald's value.
• We fully expect Arizona to transition into a power-running offense, which benefits rushers Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower. Even still, they will need Leinart to keep defenders honest to achieve their full potential. 

Fantasy football sleepers

• As a really deep sleeper, we like Anderson quite a bit. He fits this system better than the noodle-armed Leinart does.
• More realistically, Wells is one of our favorite sleepers. He should be a quality No. 2 fantasy back, regardless of Hightower's presence. 

Offensive line analysis: The addition of Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca should go a long way in the running game. This group is solid but unspectacular form tackle to tackle, and their depth is more than adequate. 

St. Louis Rams

Fantasy situations to watch

• Quarterbacks A.J. Feeley and No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford will "battle" for the starting job. We call it a battle in jest, because it really won't be one with the money the Rams committed to Bradford.
• Running back Steven Jackson (back) is healthy and taking contact in practice. He should be fine for Week 1, and fantasy owners can expect another strong season. The touchdowns may not be there, but S-Jax is a two-way threat to produce fantasy points with his quality hands.
• How will the receiving corps shake out after No. 1 Donnie Avery? Laurent Robinson has a ton of talent but is a walking injury, and Keenan Burton (knee) is coming off a ruptured patella tendon injury. Rookie Mardy Gilyard and Brandon Gibson will vie for playing time, too.  

Fantasy football sleepers

• If there is any competency at quarterback, you can make the argument for Robinson based on raw talent. If he remains healthy, which has been oh so tough for him in his short career, Bradford could have a dynamic playmaker to work with.
• Tight end Daniel Fells (knee) could be a safety net for Bradford. He has good hands and is a big-play threat. He isn't draftable for fantasy owners, but Fells is worth watching on the wire. 

Offensive line analysis: There is a metric boat load of talent on this line, but injuries have ravaged the unit in recent years. If healthy, they really could be a dominant group. The coaching staff emphasizes controlling the trenches, which bodes well for improvement. 

San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy situations to watch

Needs to stay healthy

• Will last year's first-round pick, wide receiver Michael Crabtree, emerge as a go-to, No. 1 receiver for the Niners? Fantasy owners seem to think so the way he is being drafted. He's a poor man's Andre Johnson, without the elite speed. Crabtree is ideally a No. 3 fantasy receiver, but you'll have to snag him as your second if you want a chance on him.
• Tight end Vernon Davis broke out in a big way last year after several seasons of disappointment. Which Davis will we see in 2010? We expect a little bit of a drop-off, but he should remain a top-flight fantasy tight end.

Fantasy football sleepers

• Wide receiver Josh Morgan was high on fantasy owners' wish lists entering 2009, but he didn't live up to expectations. Now, with little pressure on him, emerging from the shadows to become a fantasy flex play is very realistic for Morgan. He's worth consideration as a sixth receiver in very deep leagues.

Offensive line analysis: The 49ers improved their offensive line by spending two first-round picks in 2010 on this group. Right tackle Anthony Davis and left guard Mike Iupati figure to be Week 1 starters; both players are maulers in the run game, which could portend even more success for tailback Frank Gore. 

Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy situations to watch

• Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's health is a primary concern for fantasy owners. His backup, Charlie Whitehurst, has struggled this offseason and could leave the Seahawks in a lurch if Hass' body doesn't hold up.
• Which running back will step up to carry the load? Probably none. We figure it will be a committee approach. We could see Julius Jones leading the way on obvious running downs, while Justin Forsett and Leon Washington (leg) could be mixed in. Forsett is the most talented of the group, but some concern over his durability remains. If you want to bank on one, make it Forsett.
• Seattle needs a competent No. 2 receiver; Deion Branch can't stay healthy. Rookie Golden Tate will likely rotate from the slot to playing out wide, but he's still a rookie. Mike X. Williams, a Pete Carroll disciple, has a chance at the job, as well.

Fantasy football sleepers

• Forsett is probably gaining too much attention to be a sleeper at this point. We like tight end John Carlson. He's more undervalued than a true sleeper, but the consistent third-year tight end could be a focal point in this WCO's passing game. Seattle plans on making it a point of getting him in more situations that take advantage of his skills. He's a low-end No. 1 with some upside.
• Hasselbeck isn't getting much love in drafts, but he should be a lock for 16 games if he can stay healthy. In other words, don't fear Whitehurst taking over anytime soon. Hass knows the system well, is comfortable with his receiving targets and has a chip on his shoulder. He's a midrange No. 2 with low-end No. 1 potential some weeks and can be had as a third fantasy passer.

Offensive line analysis: If left tackle Russell Okung gets into camp soon and lives up to his billing, Seattle should be in good shape. Hasselbeck has to stay healthy for this offense to succeed. 

Also see:

AFC: East | North | South | West

NFC: East | North | South | West

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Vernon Wells to the DL opens up PT for Peter Bourjos (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Gaby Sanchez's demotion, Emilio Bonifacio's deactivation (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: Aroldis Chapman, Addison Reed, Jose Valverde, Frank Francisco, more (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Lance Berkman's ACL not torn, Matt Adams to fill in (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Todd Frazier, Chris Heisey receiving more at-bats (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Neftali Feliz placed on DL (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Matt Adams, Anthony Rizzo, Carlos Martinez (05/21)
Fantasy NASCAR: Coming on strong in the second half (05/21)
Fantasy Baseball AL or Nothing: Indian Summer Coming? (05/21)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - AL (05/21)