NFC WEST - HELP WANTED

The Wild, Wild West is exactly what the NFC West division is right now entering Training Camp. Several starting quarterback positions are legitimately up-for-grabs (Arizona and San Francisco). The entire receiving corps in Seattle is to be had, and St. Louis’ starting wide receiver opposite Torry Holt is in-play. This division might have more starting positions open than any other. Attention must be paid.

1. QB1 position—Arizona Cardinals

Candidates: Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner

The Shakedown: Matt Leinart is the starter. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. So why is the QB1 position listed in this column as a battle? Leinart was hurt for most of last year, and Warner stepped in to prove that he can still get it done. He threw for over 3,000 yards (3,417), 27 TDs, and completed over 60% of his passes. Leinart then got those embarrassing (or impressive, depending on your perspective) beer-bong/hot tub photos posted all over the internet. No matter what coach Ken Whisenhunt says publicly, seeing his franchise quarterback liquoring it up with some hotties, instead of training hard to come back from injury, didn’t make him happy.

As mentioned earlier, Leinart is the starter on opening day, barring another injury. But he’s on an extremely short leash. Remember, Coach Ken Whisenhunt comes from the no-nonsense system in Pittsburgh. He won’t put up with much more garbage on the field, or off it, from Leinart. Warner is a heartbeat away from becoming the starter, and it won’t have to involve an injury.

Prediction: Leinart. But I would draft Warner as quickly as possible for a handcuff.

’08 Fantasy Implication: 6 out of 10. With the Cards receiving corps, big numbers are to be had.

2. WR3—Arizona Cardinals

Candidates: Steve Breaston, Early Doucet

The Shakedown: There was an article recently written on another website that flippantly dismissed the two above receivers as not having any value unless Fitzgerald or Boldin got hurt. Well, that injury potential shouldn’t be easily dismissed. First, Boldin is currently unhappy with his contract after seeing the Cards make his partner-in-crime, Fitzgerald, the richest wide-out in the game. His agent is Drew Rosenhaus. So although the organization believes he’ll be in camp, with Rosenhaus in the mix, anything is possible. We could soon be seeing “Q” doing sit-ups in an Arizona park somewhere, while he does random interviews saying ridiculous things like, “It’s not about the money. It’s about the Cardinals not giving me a good chance to win.” We like to refer to that at the “T.O. Johnson Special”. Secondly, Johnson hasn’t been a bastion on health. He missed four games last season, two in ’05 and six games in ’04. So the prospect of injury isn’t a far-fetched idea, and should be taken a bit more seriously than in the aforementioned article.

Breaston is the leading candidate. With Boldin skipping the OTA’s this summer, Breaston was the one chosen to run with the first team. Coaches say that his route running has improved greatly, but he’s never been much of a great receiver in that respect. Doucet doesn’t have the best speed in the joint, but he runs sharp routes, has great hands and provides excellent quickness off the line. Plus, he knows how to get open and isn’t afraid to go over the middle. He’s tailor made for the slot position, which is why you should target him as the WR3, and the guy most likely to move up the WR2 if there is an injury to the big two.

Prediction: Doucet.

’08 Fantasy Implication: 4 out of 10.

3. WR—Seattle Seahawks

Candidates: Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne, Ben Obomanu, Deion Branch

The Shakedown: Normally, the number of the position is listed in this column (i.e. WR2, QB1, etc.). But the Seahawks wide receiver position is very unique. With the departure of D.J. Hackett, and Bobby Engram’s hold-out threat, the whole receiving corps is up-for-grabs in the Emerald City.

Engram is currently threatening to hold-out for the lack of talks on an extension. He signed a two-year deal before the beginning of last season, with the expectation that if he remained healthy and had a good year, there would be extension talks. Engram played in all 16 games last season and caught 94 balls for 1,147 yards. But the ‘Hawks have balked at the extension talks because of Engram’s age, 35. So naturally, you have a stalemate. Eventually something will get worked out, but it was revealed a couple of weeks ago that Engram had offseason surgery, although he wouldn’t reveal what surgery he had. Unless it’s an anal fissure, that makes us skeptical.

Burleson needs to focus more on catching the ball, and might need to be removed from punt/kicking return duties in order to do so. He had way too many drops last season. But he does have the speed needed to stretch the field from the outside position.

Branch is rehabbing from ACL surgery. He will, most likely, be on the PUP list to begin the season. Then he’ll return mid-season and jumble the picture again.

Payne is reported to be out of the mix by both local papers. Obomanu received more playing time last season, but the coaches have given the impression in the daily fish wrap that Taylor has had the more productive summer thus far. Whichever one wins that battle will have sleeper potential. We like Taylor.

Prediction: Engram and Burleson will start. Taylor is a definite sleeper. Branch will throw everything in turmoil again in Week 7.

’08 Fantasy Implication: 7 out of 10. Even with Julius Jones, the Seahawks will still be a pass first offense.

4. QB1—San Francisco 49ers

Candidates: Alex Smith, Shaun Hill

The Shakedown: Smith was supposed to be the franchise quarterback to carry on the legacy of Montana and Young when they drafted him first overall in the 2005 draft, and signed him to a seven-year contract. It hasn’t worked out that way at all. Smith only played in seven games last year before being shut down with injury (IR). When he’s been healthy, his career record is 7-5. Not exactly the makings of a franchise superstar. Now, he could end up being one of the most overpaid backups in the game. Well, unless Favre returns and agrees to backup Rodgers. Ha-ha.

Coach Mike Nolan stated in the local papers about a week ago that Hill and Smith would take an equal number of snaps with the first team when Training Camp begins. He also stated that each would start, and play a majority of snaps, in the early exhibition season. By the third exhibition game, he’s hoping to be able to name a definite front-runner to the position. It’s been rumored that Smith is the GM’s favorite; therefore, he has the leg-up. Unless Smith is an abject disaster in Spring Training, he’ll be given every opportunity to be the player the organization thinks he can be. There’s simple too much money tied up in him to do anything else. He should be the starter come opening day, and Hill, unlike Warner in Arizona, isn’t a guy you need to target on draft day as a handcuff.

Prediction: Smith.

’08 Fantasy Implication: 4 out of 10. The offense goes through Gore, period. And outside of an ancient Isaac Bruce, they don’t have a good receiving corps.

5. WR2—St. Louis Rams

Candidates: Drew Bennett, Keenan Burton, Donnie Avery

The Shakedown: Torry Holt is reported to be 100% healthy this season, after noticeably losing burst last season while coming off of knee surgery in the 2007 offseason. That’s good. Isaac Bruce left to go play for the 49ers. That’s bad. Or is it?

A healthy Holt gives you a bona-fide superstar, even at age 32, at one wide out position. We love what he Rams did with their draft in order to fill the void left by Bruce, and upgrade their depth. With every wide receiver available on the board when they picked in Round 2, the Rams took Avery. No offense, but even a healthy Holt can’t stretch the field like he used to. Avery can. He has unbelievable speed, and he caught 91 balls for 1,456 yards and 7 TDs in his senior season at Houston. He’s the perfect compliment in the new Al Saunders’ coached offense. However, he played in the spread offense, which doesn’t require many precise routes. Avery has already been yelled at several times in public by the veteran receivers, including Holt. He’s a project. But we don’t think he’ll be as worthless as most other “experts” are predicting.

Burton has sleeper potential written all over him. He’s very polished for a receiver coming straight out of college (Kentucky), and could push Reche Caldwell off the roster for the slot position (hint: the mere fact that we didn’t even list “Mr. Bug Eyes” on this battle list tells you what we think of Caldwell’s chances to have any fantasy effect).

Bennett is the vet. He’ll get the start opposite Holt, unless Avery gets his act together faster than expected, or Burton impresses. We’d advise keeping an eye on Avery and Burton during camp, but to stay away from any Rams wide receiver outside of Bruce on draft day. Bennett has had one good season in his career (2004); he caught over 1,000 yards that season. Last year? Try 375 yards on for size. And no, he wasn’t hurt.

Prediction: Bennett. Ugh.

’08 Fantasy Implication: 2 out of 10. I know he is technically a starter, but you would have to be playing in the toughest, deepest league ever to truly need a 375-yard receiver as your number two or three.

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