Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

NFC West Fantasy Outlook

September 13, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Greg Elyea
Edited by Herija C. Green

Do Not Bench List - All Positions

Quarterback Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams: Bulger came out firing against the Panthers in Week 1, completing 22 of 42 pass attempts. The bad part is that those 22 completions only accounted for 167 yards and one touchdown. On the bright side of things, Bulger threw zero interceptions and was only sacked once. Of course the loss of left tackle Orlando Pace (shoulder) doesn't help matters, but Bulger is good enough that he needs to remain in your lineup this week.
Running Back Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers: Gore managed just 55 yards on 18 carries, for an average of 3.1 yards per carry and one rushing touchdown. He also caught one pass for 21 yards. Although Gore looked fresh, and the hand seemed of no concern, he and the 49ers remained relatively quiet in week 1. Gore was the only back to have a rush attempt, and he faces an atrocious run defense in St. Louis this week. Look for him to reward those who drafted him in Week 2.
Running Back Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams: In week 1, Jackson carried the ball 18 times for 58 yards and fumbled twice in the third quarter. St. Louis gave Jackson the entire preseason off to keep him fresh for the regular season. I wonder if they're second guessing that move? Regardless, Jackson is a stud, and his performance in week 1 is all but guaranteed to not be a frequent occurrence. Look for Jackson to rebound this week when the Rams play host to the 49ers.
Running Back Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks: Alexander proved in Week 1 that he is still a top five running back, carrying the ball 27 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. His age and durability are still cause for some concern, but not very much. Alexander and the Seahawks face off against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Although the Cardinals managed to keep Gore in check the results should be much more pleasing for Alexander owners.
Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals: In Week 1, Fitzgerald was targeted nine times but only came away with three receptions for 20 yards and no touchdowns. Fitzgerald was still quarterback Matt Leinart's favorite target (eight looks for wide receiver Anquan Boldin) and that should stay the same going forward. Fitz and the Cardinals get a pretty tough matchup when they play host to Seattle this Sunday. However, if you own him, you've got to play him.
Wide Receiver Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams: This guy isn't nicknamed “Big Game" just for the heck of it. In Week 1, Holt was targeted 11 times, had eight receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown. Considering that Bulger passed for a total of 167, that speaks volumes for Holt's performance. The eight-year veteran wide receiver entered the season at what he said was, “70-to-80 percent". Sure didn't look like it last Sunday! No matter who the Rams play, if you own Holt, you get him in your lineup.

Quarterbacks

Player	Team	Gm	Pass Yds/G	Pass TD/G	INT/G	Rush Yards/G	Rush TD/G
Matt Leinart	Arizona Cardinals	1	102.0	1.0	2.0	35.0	0.0
Alex D. Smith	San Francisco 49ers	1	126.0	0.0	0.0	36.0	0.0
Matt Hasselbeck	Seattle Seahawks	1	222.0	1.0	0.0	7.0	0.0

Leinart - It was not a great showing from Leinart in Week 1. Many believed the Week 1 matchup would be a close, high-scoring affair. The first part was correct, but the second part was way off. Things don't figure to get much easier for Leinart in Week 2 as the Cardinals face a much more potent offense and defense in the Seahawks. Leinart is no better than a weak No. 2 and is more suited for your bench.

Smith - The same goes for Smith as it did for Leinart. Both he and Leinart have the potential to be special quarterbacks, but apparently, that blossom has not sprung yet. Facing St. Louis in Week 2, Smith makes a weak No. 2 play.

Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck and the Seahawks should don't figure to be airing it out too much this week so one should quell their expectations. Alexander and the defense will look to set the pace of the game. The match up from a fantasy perspective isn't the best for Hasselbeck, but he's still a strong No. 2 play.

Running Backs

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rush Yds/G	Rush TD/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Edgerrin James	Arizona Cardinals	1	29.00 (39.53)	2.00 (40.00)	92.0	1.00	2.00	20.0	0.00
Brian Leonard	St. Louis Rams	1	5.00 (7.83)	0.00 (0.0)	0.0	0.00	3.00	12.0	0.00

James - “The Edge" had a fairly nice showing Monday night, at least temporarily putting to rest any question about his durability and/or age. Leinart still may need to hone his quarterbacking skills before James can post those monster numbers we all know he's capable of. This week against Seattle, James makes a weak No. 1 or strong No. 2 play at running back.

Leonard - Leonard has plenty of talent, but just about zero opportunity at this point. For now, he's just a handcuff for S-Jax owners. He should not be in your lineup.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Anquan Boldin	Arizona Cardinals	1	8.00 (9.91)	1.00 (20.00)	4.0	22.0	1.0
Darrell Jackson	San Francisco 49ers	1	10.00 (18.36)	1.00 (10.00)	4.0	36.0	0.0
Deion Branch	Seattle Seahawks	1	3.00 (4.95)	2.00 (33.41)	0.0	0.0	0.0
D.J. Hackett	Seattle Seahawks	1	2.00 (3.30)	0.00 (0.0)	1.0	7.0	0.0
Isaac Bruce	St. Louis Rams	1	9.00 (14.10)	0.00 (0.0)	3.0	20.0	0.0
Drew Bennett	St. Louis Rams	--	--	--	--	--	--

Boldin - It doesn't look like an easy matchup in Week 2, but Arizona could find themselves playing from behind against Seattle. Opportunities should be plenty for Boldin, but can Leinart get him the ball? He had just four receptions in Week 1, but Boldin makes a strong No. 2 play this week.

Jackson - Dropped balls have always haunted D-Jax. He had two more key drops this past Monday night. He's the No. 1 wide receiver in San Francisco and has big play ability, but Jackson should be played only as a strong No. 3 this week.

Branch - With Jackson's departure from Seattle, Branch took over as the No. 1 wide receiver. Just how many catches did Mr. Branch come away with in Week 1? Umm... a big fat zero. Yes, more attention is generally paid to No. 1 wide receivers, but that's why they make the big dollars. While not cause for immediate alarm, owners will have to pay close attention to Branch over the next several weeks to see if he truly is a No. 1 receiver. Branch makes for a strong No. 3 play against Arizona.

Hackett - Hackett (ankle) is sidelined with a high ankle sprain and may miss up to a month. It's a shame, because this kid has big play abilities. Wide receiver Nate Burleson will officially take over the No. 2 role while Hackett's on the mend. If you have room on your roster, don't drop Hackett just yet. However, if you must make room to fill the void, by all means, do so.

Bruce - Bruce is more of a quick out and possession type receiver than anything else at this point in his career. He should still score some touchdowns, and he might just crack 1,000 yard. Key word there being “might." But that's about it. Consider playing Bruce if you need to fill a flex spot or need an injury replacement.

Bennett - Bennett (quad) has a quadriceps strain which kept him out of the season opener, but he could play in Week 2. Nonetheless, play it safe by benching Bennett this week.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Leonard Pope	Arizona Cardinals	1	3.00 (3.72)	1.00 (20.00)	3.0	22.0	0.0
Vernon Davis	San Francisco 49ers	1	5.00 (9.18)	1.00 (10.00)	2.0	4.0	0.0
Marcus Pollard	Seattle Seahawks	1	5.00 (8.25)	1.00 (16.71)	5.0	43.0	0.0
Randy McMichael	St. Louis Rams	1	2.00 (3.13)	0.00 (0.0)	2.0	24.0	0.0

Pope - Pope actually “contributed" in Arizona's Monday night game earlier this week. He had the most receptions in a game of his short career. Three. Don't be fooled and think this is something Arizona planned. He was a dump off for Leinart as pressure was coming. Pope is no better than a flex or bench candidate this week.

Davis - The athletic Davis was relatively quiet Monday night. This shouldn't be the norm as the 49ers fully expect to have Davis involved heavily in the passing game this season. He makes for a weak No. 1 or flex play this week.

Pollard - Pollard actually led all Seahawks with five receptions this past Sunday. This speaks volumes, as Pollard has not been known as a receiving tight end for the past few seasons. Remember... former Seahawks and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens was utilized quite often by the Seahawks in red zone plays, so Pollard could emerge as a sleeper as the season moves forward. Still, he makes no better than a weak No. 1 or flex play this week.

McMichael - McMichael didn't have the game one would expect in week 1. Look for him to bounce back in week 2, but play him only as a flex this week, or bench him until he becomes more involved in the passing game.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XPA/G	XP/G	FGA/G	FG/G	Kick Pnts/G
Neil Rackers	Arizona Cardinals	1	2.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	5.0
Joe Nedney	San Francisco 49ers	1	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	8.0
Josh Brown	Seattle Seahawks	1	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	8.0
Jeff Wilkins	St. Louis Rams	1	1.0	1.0	2.0	2.0	7.0

Rackers - Rackers figures to have plenty of scoring opportunities this week. Consider him a weak No. 1 play against Seattle.

Nedney - The 49ers have a tough matchup this week against St. Louis. If the Niners can't get Gore into the end zone, they may need to rely heavily on Nedney's leg. He's a strong No. 1 kicker in Week 2.

Brown - The highly potent offense of Seattle could limit Brown's field goal attempts. Still, with a handful of extra points and maybe a field goal or two, Brown makes a weak No. 1 play.

Wilkins - Wilkins is generally considered to be one of the best kickers in the league. However, Wilkins draws a 49ers defense that allowed just five points to the opposing kicker in Week 1. Bench Wilkins if you can find a better option this Sunday.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Arizona Cardinals	1	20.0	0.0	3.0	1.0	0.0
San Francisco 49ers	1	17.0	2.0	1.0	0.0	0.0
Seattle Seahawks	1	6.0	0.0	5.0	2.0	0.0
St. Louis Rams	1	27.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	0.0

Cardinals - Arizona has their hands full when Seattle comes to town this Sunday. The defensive line figures to have plenty of opportunities as Seattle will probably work Alexander and the clock. Arizona is no better than a weak No. 2 or bench play this week.

49ers - With Pro Bowler Orlando Pace gone for the season, St. Louis' line becomes increasingly weak. Third-year tackle Alex Barron takes over at left tackle, and there is great concern how well he will protect Bulger. San Francisco could be a potentially sneaky play this week as a weak No. 1.

Seahawks - Seattle all but shut down Tampa Bay's offense this past Sunday, allowing only two field goals in the first quarter. They also managed to put a thumping on Buccaneers running back Carnell Williams, which will likely force him to miss some time. The Seahawks are a decent No. 1 this week.

Rams - Although the defense did play a part in their Week 1 loss, the blame can't be entirely placed on them. They kept the game extremely close until the fourth quarter, when they yielded 13 unanswered points. They're a talented unit, but allow too many points to be scored. Bench them this week against San Francisco.