The Fis4FF Deep Dive Series is where I go into depth about all 32 NFL teams from a fantasy football perspective. Here, I will discuss each team in depth in each division, in each conference. 

The 8th and final conference in this series is the NFC West!

NOTE: Final Projections will be released in September

Opening Thoughts

The NFC West was an interesting, yet exciting one. While there were plenty of twists, turns and surprises, one thing we did know was that Arizona was going to be a bottom-level team in 2023. With Kyler missing half of the season, Arizona relied on backup QBs, as well as a poor offense, which led them to being one of the worst teams in the league. However, once Kyler came back, a breakout of TE Trey McBride and the defense playing better, the Cardinals ended up being kind of an exciting team, who could play spoiler at any given moment. In 2024, the Cards re-tooled and are looking to make a splash in the positive direction. 

The Seahawks were just kind of there. They were just kind of mid throughout the season, always kind of in it, but never really being truly in it. Throughout the season, they just felt like a team that wasn’t really talked about. They were just an average team. In 2024, many things have changed, hopefully for the better. No more Pete Carroll and Shane Waldron, as the team has introduced new staff to ramp up this offense and defense. I, personally, am excited. 

The Rams surprised many with one of the worst Super Bowl hangovers in 2022. In 2023, they surprised fans and analysts everywhere, by finishing with a winning record and making the playoffs. They also were the talk of the town, introducing two new stars in fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams. In 2024, the Rams will look to take this high-powered offense and make another playoff run. 

Finally, the 49ers were the best team throughout the season. They were the perfect blend of coaching, offensive firepower at all levels and defensive versatility and strength. They started at the top and finished at the top, making it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they would lose in heartbreaking fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2024, they look to make another deep push before this team really starts to get expensive. 

Discussing Last Season

From a fantasy perspective, each team had its share of fantasy-relevant stars. Despite missing nine games in 2023, QB Kyler Murray finished as the QB9 in the games he played. And while they finished 24th in PPG (19.4/g), RB James Conner remained a fantasy star and league winner in 2023 (RB18 in 13 games). The Cardinals also found a star in Trey McBride, who broke out in a big way after Kyler returned from injury. McBride finished as the TE7 in PPR. 

While the Seahawks were just an average team, including in points per game this season (21.4/g, 17th in the NFL), their fantasy players were not. While we saw a bit of decline in terms of fantasy production from Geno Smith (QB19) and Tyler Lockett (WR32), the Seahawks had two standout players in DK Metcalf and Kenneth Walker III. Metcalf finished with over 1,100 receiving yards and 8 TDs, finishing as the WR21, while Ken Walker finished with nearly 1,100 scrimmage yards and 9 total TDs, finishing as the RB18. And while rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba did not have the rookie year he had hoped for (WR48), he had his flashes and is looking for a breakout year two with Seattle. 

The Rams were the definition of a bounceback team. They finished as a top-10 team in PPG (23.8/g, 8th in the NFL) and had plenty of fantasy success to go around. Matthew Stafford finished as the QB15, while newcomers Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua experienced big seasons with the team. Kyren was the RB2 in terms of fantasy points per game for running backs and finished as the RB7 overall, while Puka finished as the WR4 and broke rookie records, on his way to being named a second-team All-Pro. 

Lastly, as I alluded to earlier, the 49ers were the best team in the regular season. And in terms of fantasy production, they were just as great. From top to bottom, the 49ers were loaded with talent that came through in terms of fantasy relevance at every facet of the game. Brock Purdy led the charge of the 3rd-ranked offense in the league in terms of points per game (28.9/g) and finished as the QB6. And to help him get there, was an amazing cast of weapons who all had top-15 fantasy finishes in their respective positions. Christian McCaffrey finished as the RB1 and the number one player overall in fantasy, by a pretty significant margin. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel finished as the WR14 and WR15, respectively. And George Kittle was the only tight end to finish with over 1,000 yards, finishing as the TE5 overall.

Key Additions and Departures

Arizona Additions 

Desmond Ridder, QB (traded from Atlanta)

DeeJay Dallas, RB (signed in FA)

Trey Benson, RB (66th pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Chris Moore, WR (signed in FA)

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR (4th pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Tejhaun Palmer, WR (191st pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Tip Reiman, TE (82nd pick in ‘24 NFL Draft) 

Arizona Departures 

Rondale Moore, WR (traded to Atlanta)

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR (signed to Kansas City in FA)

Seattle Additions 

Sam Howell, QB (traded in offseason)

Laviska Shenault, WR (signed in FA)

Pharaoh Brown, TE (signed in FA)

AJ Barner, TE (121st pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Ryan Grubb, STAFF

Mike Macdonald, STAFF

Seattle Departures

Drew Lock, QB (signed to New York in FA)

DeeJay Dallas, RB (signed to Arizona in FA)

Colby Parkinson, TE (signed to Los Angeles in FA)

Will Dissly, TE (signed to Los Angeles in FA)

Los Angeles Additions 

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (signed in FA)

Blake Corum, RB (89th pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Jordan Whittington, WR (213th pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Colby Parkinson, TE (signed in FA)

Los Angeles Departures 

Carson Wentz, QB (signed to Kansas City in FA)

San Francisco Additions 

Isaac Guerendo, RB (129th pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Ricky Pearsall, WR (31st pick in ‘24 NFL Draft)

Jacob Cowing, WR (135th pick in ‘24 NFL Draft) 

San Francisco Departures

Sam Darnold, QB (signed to Minnesota in FA)

Ray-Ray McCloud, WR (signed to Atlanta in FA)

Charlie Woerner, TE (signed to Atlanta in FA)

Key Players / My Personal Tiered Rankings

Each relevant fantasy player on this team will be discussed in depth, separated by must draft players, solid players to have, deep sleepers and players to avoid. Some teams may have more fantasy starters than others, some may have less. I will also discuss if they are a current value or if they are someone who is going too high at their ADP.

Tier I: Must Draft Players 

Arizona

Kyler Murray (QB10, ADP 67)

2023 Stats: 176/268 (65.7%), 1,799 Pass Yds., 10 TDs, 5 INTs, 244 Rush Yds., 3 TDs (QB27 Finish – 8 Games)

2024 Projections: 3,595 Pass Yds., 22.7 TDs, 13.3 INTs, 462 Rush Yds., 5.1 Rush TDs

• Murray only played 8 games due to recovering from a torn ACL in 2022. When he did come back, after a few games, he began to look like the Kyler of old. He provided adequate passing stats, but shined when it came to running the ball. And I think it can be even better in 2024. 
• In 2024, Murray has a solid cast around him, including new rookie WR, Marvin Harrison Jr. He also will be over a year removed from his ACL tear and with more confidence, can provide even more rushing upside than he did last season. Add the fact that he is going in the sixth round of drafts, Kyler can absolutely be a league winner in 2024.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR10, ADP 16)

2024 Projections: 89 Rec., 1,211 Rec. Yds., 6.8 TDs

• Marvin Harrison was the first receiver drafted in the 2024 draft and was highly touted as a “generational talent”. At around 6 ‘4, he was an absolute unguardable monster who could run every route in the book to perfection. He was drafted 4th to a system that has a good quarterback and a need for a WR1. From all accounts in camp, Marvin has been lighting it up.  
• Where some people hesitate (not me personally) to draft MHJ is because of his draft capital. This is the highest a rookie WR has gone in drafts in as long as I’ve covered fantasy football. When we look at the past elite rookie seasons (Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua), they all went in the later rounds. 
• Personally, I believe Harrison can have the elite all time rookie WR season similar to Chase or Puka, but you have to draft him earlier instead of getting him at a value. 

James Conner: (RB24, ADP 81)

2023 Stats: 208 Att., 1,040 Rush Yds., 7 TDs, 27 Rec., 165 Rec. Yds., 2 TDs (RB18 Finish – 13 Games

2024 Projections: 195 Att., 887 Rush Yds., 6.9 TDs, 35 Rec., 237 Rec. Yds., 2 TDs 

• Once again in 2023, Conner was an excellent RB2 who had the lead back role and virtually never came off the field. On top of that, Conner was once again a league winner, finishing as the RB2 overall from weeks 15-18. 
• On the surface, things looked to be different in 2024. The Cardinals used a high draft pick to select RB Trey Benson from Florida State. However, after comments in the offseason, it seems that Conner has nothing to worry about. I think Conner’s role is safe in this offense, should he stay healthy and RB Trey Benson is solely a handcuff and a much better option for 2025. 

Trey McBride (TE3, ADP 43)

2023 Stats: 106 Tgts., 81 Rec., 825 Rec. Yds., 3 TDs (TE7 Finish)

2024 Projections: 83 Rec., 849 Rec. Yds., 4.2 TDs 

• Trey McBride broke out in a big way in 2023, finishing as the TE7. His breakout began in week 8, following a Zach Ertz injury in week 7. Once Ertz missed the rest of the season, McBride proceeded to be a target monster for the Cardinals. From week 8 to 18, McBride finished as the TE3 in PPR formats. 
• In 2024, I believe McBride will have a big year. He has chemistry with QB Kyler Murray and will have a large role in this offense. While he will lose out on targets with the addition of MHJ, I think he will be Murray’s number two option and will be an elite TE for 2024. 

Seattle 

Kenneth Walker III (RB16, ADP 57)

2023 Stats: 219 Att., 905 Rush Yds., 8 TDs, 29 Rec., 259 Rec. Yds., 1 TD (RB19 Finish – 15 Games)

2024 Projections: 226.5 Att., 935 Rush Yds., 10.2 TDs, 30 Rec., 237 Rec Yds., 0.9 TDs 

• Ken Walker finished with a solid 2023, having a solid showing on the ground and through the air. Walker started off the year strong in 2023, but due to bumps and bruises throughout the season, gave way for RB Zach Charbonnet to get some more touches. 
• Early in the offseason, there was some fear regarding Charbonnet gaining a larger share in the backfield. However, this was quickly put to rest after new OC Ryan Grubb hinted at an expanded role in 2024, calling him a “three-tool guy”. If Walker can stay healthy, I really believe he can finish as a top-12 RB. Getting him in your 5th round in drafts is an absolute steal in my opinion. 

DK Metcalf (WR23, ADP 38)

2023 Stats: 119 Tgts., 66 Rec., 1,114 Rec. Yds., 8 TDs (WR21 Finish)

2024 Projections: 69 Rec., 1,052 Rec. Yds., 9.1 TDs 

• Despite the WR21 finish, Metcalf still finished with over 1,100 yards and 8 TDs. Where Metcalf got separated from other WRs was his low reception total, which I accredit to Geno Smith often scrambling and Metcalf often being used as a deep threat. 
• In 2024 with a new OC, I think Metcalf is a sneaky play to have a career year. I see him having an Odunze-type role within this offense, thanks to new OC Ryan Grubb, who came from Washington. A new offensive mindset I believe, will result in more targets for Metcalf and am looking to draft him everywhere in my 4th rounds.

Los Angeles 

Kyren Williams (RB7, ADP 19)

2023 Stats: 228 Att., 1,144 Rush Yds., 12 TDs, 32 Rec., 206 Rec. Yds., 3 TDs (RB7 Finish – 12 Games)

2024 Projections: 252 Att., 1,169 Rush Yds., 11.3 TDs, 35 Rec., 259 Rec. Yds., 2.4 TDs

• Kyren Williams was every fantasy footballer’s dream: a late round/waiver wire pickup who turned out to be a RB1 throughout the season. Kyren did just that. Despite missing four games with injury, Kyren finished third in rushing yards and second in points per game. 
• In 2024, it’s clear that the Rams love Kyren Williams and he will still be their RB1 overall. However, the Rams used their third round pick on RB Blake Corum, so that they don’t “kill Kyren Williams”, and for good reason. Multiple games last season (five to be exact), Kyren held 90%+ of the snaps in the backfield. I think with Corum we see Kyren having 70% of the backfield share, but definitely not the level he had in 2023. Regardless, because of his upside as a runner and pass catcher, he is worth his price at ADP.

Puka Nacua (WR6, ADP 9)

2023 Stats: 160 Tgts., 105 Rec., 1,486 Rec. Yds., 6 TDs (WR4 Finish)

2024 Projections: 94 Rec., 1,345 Rec. Yds., 6.5 TDs 

• Take everything I said about Kyren Williams and add it to Puka. Puka finished with a rookie-record 1,4486 receiving yards and 6 TDs. Throughout the season, he became Stafford’s go-to guy, even when Kupp came back from injury. Puka had an insane mesh of acceleration and toughness in the middle of the field, and could come down with tough catches down the field too. 
• In 2024, I feel very good about him. Even though he has missed some time during camp with a knee injury, I still believe he will be the #1 on this team. I think he’ll also get more red zone targets this season, as he was tied for 24th in the league with 15. The main concern of course, is injury. Part of the reason Nacua was a 5th round pick in 2023 was due to being injured. If he can stay healthy, I can definitely see him return on his ADP.

San Francisco 

Christian McCaffrey (RB1, ADP 1)

2023 Stats: 272 Att., 1,459 Rush Yds., 14 TDs, 67 Rec., 564 Rec. Yds., 7 TDs (RB1 Finish)

2024 Projections: 262 Att., 1,251 Rush Yds., 11.5 TDs, 70 Rec., 571 Rec. Yds., 5.4 TDs 

• There’s not much I can really say about CMC that has not already been said. He was BY FAR, the most valuable fantasy asset in the league and according to ESPN, CMC was on nearly 73% of all playoff rosters and nearly 59% of all championship rosters. There’s a reason he is the 1.01 in almost all drafts. 
• McCaffrey is dealing with a calf strain, but has said that if the season were starting, he’d be playing, so as it stands, the 49ers are being cautious. 
• Don’t make this pick harder than it needs to be. Draft Christian McCaffrey.

Deebo Samuel (WR14, ADP 23)

2023 Stats: 89 Tgts., 60 Rec., 892 Rec. Yds., 7 TDs, 225 Rush Yds., 5 Rush TDs (WR15 Finish – 15 Games)

2024 Projections: 64 Rec., 955 Rec. Yds., 5.8 TDs, 194 Rush Yds., 3.4 TDs

• Deebo Samuel finished his 2023 campaign with over 1,100 scrimmage yards and 12 total TDs. He provided a solid role in the pass and run game as a receiver and was pretty consistent, with the exception of a few games. It was clear how vital Deebo was both to the 49ers and young QB Brock Purdy.
  • Brock Purdy numbers with Deebo (20 games): 115.2 rating, 4,282 pass yards, 36:9 TD-INT ratio, 69.1% completion rating
  • Brock Purdy numbers w/o Deebo (5 games): 99.1 rating, 1,372 pass yards, 8:6 TD-INT ratio, 67.4% completion rating
• Deebo is an interesting case in 2024. As it stands, the 49ers are currently in the midst of the Brandon Aiyuk saga. Whether Aiyuk will stay with the team or be traded elsewhere, is unknown, but it can be a massive shift for Deebo. If Aiyuk is traded, both him and Kittle will skyrocket in rankings. Keep that in mind when drafting this season. 

Brandon Aiyuk (WR16, ADP 25)

2023 Stats: 105 Tgts., 75 Rec., 1,342 Rec. Yds., 7 TDs (WR14 Finish)

2024 Projections: 72.5 Rec., 1,135 Rec. Yds., 7.4 TDs

• In 2023, Aiyuk enjoyed a breakout season with over 1,300 receiving yards and 7 TDs. He has now landed himself amongst the 10 best receivers in the league. While not overly quick or strong, he is one of the best route runners with some of the most consistent hands in the league, which led to him having the best season, according to ESPN’s receiver tracking metrics. 
• Similar to Deebo Samuel, Aiyuk is an interesting case in 2024. He has been the one of the main talking points throughout the offseason, as he has spoken about him and the 49ers being off on an extension, which led to him seeking a trade. He’s had a number of suitors, but neither worked out and as it currently stands, may not even be in the huddle for week 1. If Aiyuk stays on the 49ers, he’s of course a must draft in round 2-3. If he goes to another team like the Steelers or Commanders, his ADP will plummet and he will be a more volatile player. Regardless he is still a draftable player, but stay tuned for any decisions made regarding his contract decisions.

George Kittle (TE8, ADP 74)

2023 Stats: 90 Tgts., 65 Rec., 1,020 Rec. Yds., 6 TDs (TE5 Finish)

2024 Projections: 62 Rec., 881 Rec. Yds., 5.8 TDs 

• One thing I love about this deep dive is that it uncovers biases that you have regarding certain players. One player that I’ve had a negative bias towards is George Kittle. He, to me, has always seemed too inconsistent (not because of him, but because of the great cast of weapons around him) and injury prone. However, we can look at his previous fantasy finishes.
  • 2023: TE5 Finish, 16 games played
  • 2022: TE4 Finish, 14 games played 
  • 2021: TE3 Finish, 13 games played 
  • 2020: TE19 Finish, 8 games played
  • 2019: TE2 Finish, 14 games played
  • As we can see, Kittle does miss the occasional 3 games or so a year, but has maintained (outside of 2020) consistent top 5 TE finishes. 
• In 2024, I expect nothing less. While the TE landscape has greatly improved, I think Kittle will still be in the mix as a top 5 TE. I also believe that if Aiyuk is traded, Kittle should be drafted as a top 3 TE in fantasy drafts. 

Tier 1.5: The Cooper Kupp Tier 

Cooper Kupp (WR21, ADP 35)

2023 Stats: 95 Tgts., 59 Rec., 737 Rec. Yds., 5 TDs (WR40 Finish – 12 Games)

2024 Projections: 84 Rec. 1,051 Rec. Yds., 7.3 TDs 

• After leaving mid-season with an ankle injury in 2022, Kupp was looking to come back strong in 2023, but suffered a hamstring injury during camp that not only required him to see multiple specialists, but also caused him to miss the first four games of the season. When Kupp came back, it looked like he was all the way back and healthy. However, it was a different story the next five games, averaging only 5.34 points per game in PPR scoring formats. At times, it looked like Kupp was not fully healthy and at times, it looked like age and injury had caught up to him. And that is what makes Kupp the hardest player to rank in fantasy in 2024. 
• I think you can make a strong case for either in 2024. The Rams have talked about Kupp dealing with more injuries than what was put out in the media, and throughout the offseason, multiple Rams players (including Kupp) have talked about a “revenge season”. On top of that, he has been healthy all throughout camp and reports have been nothing but good. On the other hand, age and injury could have caught up to him, to where he is no longer who he once was. Reception Perception states that Kupp took a noticeable step down in terms of success rate vs. man at 65.2%, which is below average for their metrics. 
• Throughout this offseason, I have been both off and on regarding drafting Cooper Kupp. But as it stands, the upside is too large. If last year was mostly regarding injury, which explained his poor success rate vs. man, Kupp could be the biggest steal in your drafts. But part of me is also hesitant to draft him, as he could be regressing and injury is always a factor here. One stat that intrigues me is that despite playing in 12 games, Kupp was 10th in the league in red zone targets. 

Tier II: Solid Players to Have/Players at Great Value

Arizona

N/A 

Seattle 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR45, ADP 97)

2023 Stats: 93 Tgts., 63 Rec., 628 Rec. Yds., 4 TDs (WR48 Finish)

2024 Projections: 72 Rec., 771 Rec. Yds., 5.2 TDs 

• JSN was drafted with the 20th pick in the 2023 draft and had a bit of a weird year. Under the offense led by former OC Shane Waldron (now with Chicago), JSN had an average depth of target (aDOT) of 6.2 yards. On top of that, one-third of his 93 targets were at or behind the line of scrimmage. A funny clip went viral regarding an interview with JSN, discussing Waldron’s move to Chicago. And JSN’s response was a bit of proof that the two did not see eye-to-eye. 
• New OC Ryan Grubb, who likes to throw the ball deep, could be the key to him having a breakout this season. I am hopeful for a JSN breakout and think he can absolutely demolish his 9th round ADP. 

Los Angeles 

N/A

San Francisco 

Brock Purdy (QB11, ADP 82)

2023 Stats: 308/444 (69.4%), 4,280 Pass Yds., 31 TDs, 11 INTs (QB6 Finish)

2024 Projections: 4,057 Pass Yds., 28.6 TDs, 10.4 INTs 

• With Purdy taking every advantage of a starting spot in 2022, all eyes were on him in 2023. And not only did Purdy earn the starting position as the 49ers QB, he kept it and didn’t look back. Purdy was phenomenal all season, passing for nearly 4,300 passing yards and 31 TDs. Many fans of the NFL will call Purdy a “system quarterback” that has been raised up due to the supporting cast around him. And while there is plenty of truth to that, Purdy made some huge big time throws and in general, was quite accurate. Instead of calling Purdy a system QB, we should commend the 49ers for putting an excellent all-around cast around him and tailoring the offense to his strengths. This is how you build the confidence and develop a young QB. (Take notes Bill Belichick)
• In 2024, I expect about the same for Purdy. Purdy is playing for an extension, as he notably has one of the best value contracts in the league. And the 49ers are only getting older. I am not sure how many years this offense has together to string together a Super Bowl victory, but it is best to do it now before Brock becomes expensive. 

Tier III: Deep Sleepers/Players I’d Draft if Their ADP Fell

Arizona

Michael Wilson, Trey Benson

• As it stands, Trey Benson will likely not be taking too many touches from Conner. If Conner gets hurt and misses time, Benson will be next in line for touches, making him a solid handcuff option. As for Wilson, he has impressed in camp and will be this team’s WR2. Wilson flashed a bit in 2023 and has the capabilities to flash with a healthy Kyler in 2024.

Seattle 

Geno Smith, Zach Charbonnet, Tyler Lockett, Noah Fant

• With new OC Ryan Grubb in charge, I am excited to see what this Seahawks offense can do. I think Geno is a low-end QB2 in most leagues, but wonder if he can reach his 2022 career highs. As for Charbonnet, Lockett and Fant, each will be low-end plays but will still be a part of this offense.

Los Angeles 

Matthew Stafford, Blake Corum

• For a while, I had Matthew Stafford in tier-two, but I question injuries. If he can stay healthy, at any moment in time, Stafford can provide for you a QB1 week. As for Corum, he is a must draft if you select Kyren Williams in your drafts. He has been great in camp and will likely be ranked high week-to-week if Kyren should miss time.

San Francisco 

Ricky Pearsall

• While Pearsall has struggled with injury throughout camp, he is a definite sleeper should Aiyuk be traded before or during the season.

Tier IV: Avoid at all Costs/Likely to Not Be Relevant 

Arizona

Greg Dortch, Desmond Ridder, Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, Zay Jones 

• Majority of these guys are backups or low-end options. If you need a guy in a pinch, maybe Greg Dortch could get you some PPR points, but nothing you can bank on consistently.

Seattle 

Sam Howell, Jake Bobo, Dee Eskridge, Laviska Shenault Jr.

• Backups. No one here worth drafting.

Los Angeles 

Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington

• I want to highlight Jordan Whittington. He has been making a huge impression on the Rams throughout camp and has made a ton of plays during the preseason, so much so that he did not play in the final game of the preseason and sat out with the starters. It is possible that he wins and sees a huge role as this team’s WR3, but he is still the WR3. I would only take him should Puka or Kupp miss time.

San Francisco 

Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Kyle Juszczyk

• Mainly backups that should see the field if any starter get injured. But nothing more for now.

Projected Win Total

Cardinals O/U 7.5 – UNDER

Seahawks O/U 7.5 – OVER 

Rams O/U 8.5 – AVOID (Depending on how healthy they stay, I can see 8-9 wins)

49ers O/U 11.5 – OVER

Summary

In conclusion, I think the NFC West is going to be fast, competitive and one of the best divisions for fantasy players. While the Cardinals aren’t quite there yet, they are slowly gaining steam. And while I definitely expect the Rams and Seahawks to be fighting all year for playoff spots, I still think the 49ers will win the NFC West. Make sure to check each of these teams out and draft accordingly. Happy drafting!