Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

NFC West Fantasy Outlook

November 15, 2007 @ 13:47:55

By Mark Traas
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

Note: All statistics appearing in this article are from Weeks 7-10, unless otherwise noted.

Do Not Bench List - All Positions

Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals: Fitzgerald had eight catches with two touchdowns in his Week 10 performance against the Lions. Although his 74 yards receiving and average of 9.2 yards per catch were his lowest since Week 1, he consistently contributes to the Cardinals' passing game. This week against a weak Bengals' pass defense that has allowed wideouts six touchdowns and an average of 188.8 total receiving yards per game over the past four games, Fitzgerald is a strong play as an upper-tier No. 1 wideout.
Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals: Boldin continued his slump in production in Week 10, with just 25 yards on three catches, while Fitzgerald and tight end Leonard Pope were scoring touchdowns. He is still getting the looks in and out of the red zone, although he has not scored since Week 7, when he scored two touchdowns. This week against a porous Cincinnati pass defense, Boldin could reverse his slump as a strong play low-tier No. 2 or upper-tier No. 3 wideout for Week 11.
Wide Receiver Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams: Holt contributed to the Rams win over the Saints Sunday, grabbing eight passes for 124 yards. The Rams offense is finally showing some signs of offensive balance with key players back in the game, so Holt looks more likely to score in coming weeks. Holt faces a relatively weak 49ers' pass defense this week that has allowed an average of 1.67 receiving touchdowns and 190.7 yards to wideouts over their last three games. Holt is a must-start player with a strong play matchup and can be used as an upper-tier No. 1 wideout this week.

Quarterbacks

Player	Team	Gm	Pass Yds/G	Pass TD/G	INT/G	Rush Yards/G	Rush TD/G
Kurt Warner	Arizona Cardinals	3	237.7	1.67	1.67	-0.7	0.00
Marc Bulger	St. Louis Rams	3	279.0	1.00	1.33	-0.3	0.00
Alex D. Smith	San Francisco 49ers	3	151.0	0.33	1.00	7.3	0.00
Matt Hasselbeck	Seattle Seahawks	3	263.7	2.00	1.00	11.0	0.00

Warner - Still playing through his injury, Warner (elbow) put up an impressive 26-for-36 passing line in Week 10 for 259 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception, against the Lions. Backup quarterback Tim Rattay tossed just one pass for another touchdown while Warner was kept out of goal-line duty. This week, Warner faces a relatively weak Bengals' pass defense, which has allowed six passing touchdowns and an average of 253.5 passing yards per game over the last four games. Warner's play through injury, and Rattay's potential for passing in goal-line situations, tempers Warner's prospects. Still a free agent in many fantasy leagues, Warner can be acquired for bench depth and perhaps played this week as a borderline low-tier No. 1 quarterback if better options are not available.

Bulger - Bulger broke out against the Saints in their Week 10 contest as he went 27-for-33 for 302 yards with two touchdowns, connecting with Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennett. The Rams offense is showing improvement with key players back in the lineup. This week Bulger should do well against an anemic San Francisco pass defense that has allowed an average of two passing touchdowns and 224.5 passing yards per game. Bulger is a borderline lower-tier No. 1 quarterback with some upside potential this week.

Smith - Smith (shoulder/forearm) is out for Week 11. Quarterback Trent Dilfer will replace him. Although the Rams' pass defense has been soft in the past three games, allowing an average of 2.33 passing touchdowns and 238.3 passing yards per game, Dilfer should be benched as long as the stagnant 49ers' offense doesn't improve.

Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck continued to spread the ball around last Monday night against the 49ers, connecting on 27 of 40 pass attempts, with completions to eight different receivers. While he continued to make use of wide receivers Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson, he found D.J. Hackett in the end zone for the second week in row, along with tight end Will Heller for his other passing score. This week, the Seahawks face the stingier Bears' pass defense that has allowed 200.7 yards and only 0.33 passing touchdowns per game over their last three games. At home against the Bears, Hasselbeck is a solid lower-tier No. 1 quarterback this week.

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	3	19.67 (35.90)	3.33 (31.08)	52.7	0.33	1.00	6.0	0.00
Steven Jackson	St. Louis Rams	2	19.50 (19.34)	4.50 (29.41)	58.5	1.00	3.50	16.5	0.00
Frank Gore	San Francisco 49ers	2	15.33 (19.48)	1.00 (11.57)	67.0	0.00	2.00	11.5	0.00
Shaun Alexander	Seattle Seahawks	2	19.00 (16.58)	3.00 (16.99)	39.5	0.00	1.00	9.5	0.00
Maurice Morris	Seattle Seahawks	3	19.00 (24.87)	3.00 (25.49)	61.3	0.33	2.33	25.7	0.00

James - Edge ran for 60 yards on 18 touches against the Lions defense and caught three receptions for 18 yards. He has averaged 3.33 red zone utilizations per game, but he also has only one play inside the 5-yard line over the last three games. This week James ranks as an upper-tier No. 3 back against a fairly generous Bengals defense that has allowed 121.3 rushing yards and one rushing touchdowns per game over the last three games.

Jackson - After resting during the Rams Week 9 bye, Jackson followed up his one-half Week 8 performance with a reassuring full-game performance in Week 10 with 76 yards on 22 carries with one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown. He also hauled in five passes for 24 yards. Involved in 37.6 percent of all plays, including 38.1 percent of red zone plays, he proved to be a very active component of the Rams offense. Jackson seems healthy enough now to carry a franchise back workload; running backs Brian Leonard and Antonio Pittman are available to take up some of the slack. As of this week, Jackson should started regularly in almost all fantasy league starting lineups barring any unexpected injury setbacks. This week, Jackson faces the 49er rushing defense allowing an average of 120 rushing yards and one rushing touchdowns over their past three games. With the Rams offense finding its balance, Jackson rates as a strong play and a mid-tier No. 1 back.

Leonard - Leonard had only two runs for six yards and two catches for 16 yards in Week 10, while Pittman did more of the relief work with 53 yards on seven carries. At this point, Leonard's role appears to be limited with Jackson taking charge within the Rams offense. Both Leonard and Pittman should be benched unless Jackson suffers a setback that reduces his current workload.

Gore - Gore gained 72 yards on 13 carries for a respectable 5.5 yards-per-carry average in his start against the Seahawks in Week 10, with the 49ers offense as a whole getting few play opportunities. Gore should start again this week with the most of the workload with backup running backs Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson available to spell him. Gore faces a Rams' run defense that has allowed a modest 86.0 yards and 0.67 rushing touchdowns per game over the last three games. For this week, Gore looks to be a mildly productive, but unspectacular, upper-tier No. 3 back who won't see much action later in the game if the Rams run up the score.

Alexander - Alexander (knee, wrist, ankle) was inactive in Week 10, having left Seattle's Week 9 game in the second quarter. Alexander's start and expected workload in Week 11 is still questionable. Look for Morris to be more involved in the Seahawks offense. With all this uncertainty, Alexander owners should keep a close eye on further news and developments.

Morris - Morris ran 28 times for 87 yards and a touchdown, along with adding three receptions for 16 yards, while doing a full workload against the 49ers. With the possibility that Alexander may see limited action in the coming weeks, Morris is worthy waiver wire pickup if he has not already been taken. Against a Bears rushing defense that has allowed 94 rushing yards and 0.33 touchdowns per game against backs, Morris is a weak play as a low-tier No. 2 or upper-tier No. 3 back.

Wide Receivers

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Isaac Bruce	St. Louis Rams	3	7.00 (10.41)	1.00 (9.80)	4.00	61.3	0.33
Drew Bennett	St. Louis Rams	2	6.00 (5.95)	1.00 (6.53)	5.00	50.0	0.50
Darrell Jackson	San Francisco 49ers	3	6.33 (8.05)	1.33 (15.43)	1.67	10.3	0.33
D.J. Hackett	Seattle Seahawks	2	9.50 (8.29)	3.50 (19.83)	7.00	79.5	1.00
Bobby Engram	Seattle Seahawks	3	13.00 (17.02)	1.00 (8.50)	8.00	88.3	0.33

Bruce - Bruce continued his steady production with a four-reception, 62-yard performance leading to his first touchdown of the year in Week 10 against the Saints. Unfortunately he appeared to suffer a hamstring injury that may make his start next week questionable, so keep an eye on new developments regarding his status. If he is good to go, he might produce decent numbers as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver for the coming week against San Francisco, depending on his health.

Bennett - Bennett saw action in Week 10 with four receptions for 37 yards and his second touchdown of the year. He only has 18 receptions on the season, however, and it will take more performances like he had in Week 10 to warrant a pickup. Even if Bruce is out for Week 11, Bennett is worthy of an upper-tier No. 3 receiver spot play against the 49ers.

Jackson - With just one catch for four yards in Week 10, Jackson has caught a total of just five passes for 31 yards the past three games. Jackson is not the player the team hoped they were acquiring, and he has shown that he still has troubles with drops. With the offense still struggling, Jackson should be benched even against the soft Rams' pass defense.

Hackett - Hackett had a second straight good game in Week 10 with eight receptions and 101 yards with a touchdown against the 49ers. He continues to be a favored target of Hasselbeck and should see plenty of action in the coming weeks. Hackett has settled nicely into his normal No. 2 role, and he is a worthy of a waiver wire pickup for anyone in need of an actively productive receiver with upside potential. This week against the Bears, Hackett rates as a weak play and a low-tier No. 1 receiver.

Engram - Engram caught four passes for 53 yards on seven looks in Week 10 without any looks in the red zone, his lowest number of looks, receptions and yards in four weeks. Although he was upstaged by Hackett's performance, he is still averaging 13 looks a game over the past three games and should continue to be active in the Seahawks resurgent passing game. This week Engram faces a fairly stiff Bears passing defense that has allowed only five wideout touchdowns all year and an average of 144.3 receiving yards and no touchdowns allowed in the past three games. For Week 11, Engram rates as a weak play and a low-tier No. 1 or upper-tier No. 2 wideout.

Tight Ends

Player	Team	Gm	Util (%)/G	RZ (%) Plays/G	Rec/G	Rec Yards/G	Rec TD/G
Leonard Pope	Arizona Cardinals	3	3.00 (4.97)	1.00 (9.32)	2.67	29.0	1.00
Randy McMichael	St. Louis Rams	3	5.00 (7.44)	1.00 (9.80)	3.00	38.0	0.33
Will Heller	Seattle Seahawks	3	3.00 (3.93)	1.67 (14.96)	2.00	7.7	1.00
Vernon Davis	San Francisco 49ers	3	7.33 (12.85)	1.33 (21.12)	4.67	50.7	0.33

Pope - Pope came up big in Week 10 with five catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns, now with three touchdowns in the Cardinals' last three games. Although he has only had an average of three looks per game in the last three games, he is making them count in the red zone. With his potential for future red zone opportunities, he is possibly worthy of a waiver wire pickup. This week against a Cincinnati defense that has allowed an average of 50.0 yards and 0.25 touchdowns to tight ends over the past four games, Pope rates as a risky but potentially rewarding low-tier No. 1 tight end.

McMichael - McMichael caught four passes for 41 yards and one touchdown (thrown by Steven Jackson) in Week 10 against the Saints. As his best outing of the season, it was the first time that McMichael caught more than three passes in a game this year. The 49ers defense allowed tight ends an average of 0.5 touchdowns per game over the past four weeks, so McMichael continues to rank as a low-tier No. 1 tight end.

Heller - Heller's spot might be in eventual jeopardy with the return of fellow tight end Marcus Pollard (knee), but Heller scored his third touchdown in three games with just three catches and five yards in Week 10. Meanwhile, Pollard caught only two passes for 19 yards. Heller and Pollard are up against a stiff Bears defense that allowed only 28.3 yards with 0.33 touchdowns to tight ends in their past three games, so Heller rates as a borderline low-tier No. 1 tight end in this week's matchup, while Pollard should be benched.

Davis - Although Davis has been frequently targeted in the last several weeks, he fell short in Week 10 with just one reception for four yards. He has been targeted almost seven times per game in his last three outings, so he should bounce back against a Rams defense that has allowed 30.3 yards and a whopping 1.67 touchdowns to tight ends per game in their last three games. Despite his poor showing for one week, Davis stands as a strong play this week as a second-tier No. 1 tight end.

Place Kickers

Player	Team	Gm	XPA/G	XP/G	FGA/G	FG/G	Kick Pnts/G
Neil Rackers	Arizona Cardinals	3	2.33	2.00	1.00	0.67	4.0
Jeff Wilkins	St. Louis Rams	3	2.00	2.00	2.67	2.33	9.0
Josh Brown	Seattle Seahawks	3	3.00	3.00	3.00	2.67	11.0
Joe Nedney	San Francisco 49ers	3	0.67	0.67	1.33	1.33	4.7

Rackers - Rackers put up one field goal and four extra points for the Cardinals in their win over Detroit last week. This week they face the Bengals, who have allowed an average of two field goals and 2.25 extra points over the past four games. Rackers is a weak play this week and should be benched.

Wilkins - Wilkins is coming back into form along with the newly resurgent Rams offense, hitting all three field goals and four extra points in Week 10 against the Saints. The 49ers have allowed an average of 1.5 field goals and three extra points over their last four games, but the Rams offense has been rolling, so this week rates Wilkins as a low-tier No. 1 kicker.

Brown - Brown made one of two field attempts along with three extra points in Week 10 against the 49ers. He continues to be consistent with his scoring in tandem with the revived Seattle offense. This week, Brown is matched up against the Bears defense that has allowed 2.67 field goals but just 0.67 extra points over their last three games. Brown stands as a strong play this week as an upper-tier No. 1 kicker.

Nedney - The 49ers went scoreless against the Seahawks last week and Nedney's opportunities suffer as a result of San Francisco's anemic offense. With the Rams allowing an average of 2.0 field goals and 2.33 extra points over the last three weeks, leave Nedney on your bench in favor of better alternatives.

Defensive Teams

Team	Gm	Off Pnts Allw/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	FR/G	DEF/ST TD/G
Arizona Cardinals	3	17.7	1.00	2.7	1.00	0.0
St. Louis Rams	3	27.7	1.00	1.3	0.00	0.0
Seattle Seahawks	3	13.0	1.33	3.3	1.33	0.7
San Francisco 49ers	3	26.0	0.67	0.7	0.33	0.0

Cardinals - The Cardinals travel to Cincinnati where they will face quarterback Carson Palmer and an active, full receiving corps. Although they have the potential to cause turnovers against the Bengals, keep the weak play Cardinals defense on your bench.

Rams - Having allowed a combined 83 points in their last three games, with an average of only one forced turnover and 1.3 sacks per game, the Rams have not been a defensive factor in fantasy football. However, this week the Rams travel to San Francisco, whose offense has been easily stifled. Even as a strong play, the Rams defense is probably best left on your bench.

Seahawks - Seattle hosts the erratic Bears in Week 11. The Bears offense is in disarray with quarterback changes and a tepid running game, so the Seahawks have an opportunity to rattle the Bears as they continue their recent defensive clampdown. Play the Seahawks defense as a borderline, low-tier No. 1 strong play.

49ers - The weak Niners defense faces a newly resurgent Rams offense with its key players back in the lineup. The 49ers defense will find itself too busy trying to limit Jackson while Bulger hits the air, so they should be left on the bench.