2009 Fantasy Football Breakout Players from the NFC West

Every year there are multiple players at each position that have breakout seasons and put their name on the fantasy football map. In 2008 we saw players like Matt Cassel, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Turner, Derrick Ward, Antonio Bryant and Dwayne Bowe put together what is considered breakout season and because of this they will be highly targeted in 2009 fantasy drafts.

With it never being to early to start planning for your fantasy football draft, the Bruno Boys offer you their opinion on what players will flourish in 2009 and have a breakout season. In our first installment of 2009 Fantasy Football Breakout Players we bring to you the NFC West division.

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San Francisco 49ers

Once again, outside of running back Frank Gore the 49ers will lack play-makers heading into 2009. Still the 49ers brass and fantasy football owners are excited about the potential of second year wide receiver Josh Morgan. 

With primary wide out Isaac Bruce contemplating retirement, Morgan spent all of mini-camp working as if he will be the number one wide receiver in an offense that should be improved this season.

As a rookie, Morgan battled a nagging groin injury that forced him to miss multiple games, but he finished with a 16.0 yard per catch average and scored a touchdown in three of his last four games played.

Head coach Mike Singletaryis expected to continue his smash-mouth offense that will be a run heavy, but in his nine games as head coach in 2008 the 49ers attempted 34.3 passes per game, which means Morgan should see plenty of targets.

There is no doubt about it that Morgan is raw and lacks experience, but if he emerges as the top receiver in San Francisco, fantasy owners can expect around 60-65 receptions for 900 receiving yards and 5-6 touchdowns.

Come August, Morgan should be targeted as a reserve WR in fantasy drafts, with the upside to play his way into a WR3 or Flex role.

Even if Bruce decides to play another year in San Francisco, Morgan should have a breakout campaign in just his second NFL season.

Also Consider: WR Brandon Jones; TE Vernon Davis (one last shot)

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Seattle Seahawks

Matt Hasselbeck has produced at a high level for over a half-decade, but after a dismal 2008 season he needs to re-identify himself in the eyes of fantasy football fans.  

After throwing for 20-plus touchdown passes in four of the previous five seasons, a back injury forced Hasselbeck to miss nine games in '08 and to under-perform in the seven games he played.

He finished the season with just 5 TD passes to 10 interceptions and he averaged just 173.7 passing yards per game.

However, with the signing of free-agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the emergence of tight end John Carlson and a healthy Deion Branch and Nate Burleson the Seahawks have the offensive weapons to score points in 2009. 

With the NFC West expected to be a wide-open race and a high scoring division, a healthy Hasselbeck should have no problem getting back to normal in '09.

You should target Hasselbeck as a high-end QB2 with the ability and experience to once again become a top 10 fantasy football quarterback. Just hope his back holds up and the Seahawks can be efficient at running the football.

Also Consider: RB Julius Jones; WR Nate Burleson; WR Deion Branch

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St. Louis Rams

Even though the Rams finished just 2-14 in 2008, there isn't much hope for improvement in 2009. 

This off-season, St. Louis has already released two of the most prominent players in franchise history, in offensive lineman Orlando Pace and wide receiver Torry Holt.

Despite the losses on offense, they have done nothing note-worthy in the free-agent market to replace the bulk of the offense outside of running back Steven Jackson. Rumor has it the Rams are expected to replace Pace and take an offensive lineman with the second pick in the upcoming NFL draft, but that still leaves a hole at wide out.

Expected to take over as the Rams go-to wide receiver is second year speedster Donnie Avery.

In his rookie season, Avery had 53 receptions, 674 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns and with maturation he should put together an even better sophomore season.

The Rams are moving to a more receiver friendly West Coast offense, which will allow Avery to show off his speed and stop worrying about hot reads, according to the St. Louis Today.

There is no doubt about it the success of the Rams will go through Jackson, but if you are seeking a WR3 in the 9th-10th rounds of your fantasy football draft Avery should be a good fit. Especially considering the NFC West is expected to be an offensive show from Week 1 to 17.

Also Consider: WR Keenan Burton;

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Arizona Cardinals

When breaking down the Cardinals depth chart there isn't a single player that stands out as being a breakout contributor in 2009.

We say this because wide receiver Steve Breaston more than made a name for himself in 2009, and despite failing to rack up the yardage running back Tim Hightower was a touchdown machine throughout Arizona's Super Bowl run.

Both Breaston and Hightower will enter 2009 as draft-able options in fantasy football and should continue to produce, but the status of Anquan Boldin and Edgerrin Jameswill determine just how valuable they are in '09.

If Boldin leaves town, Breaston will step into the WR2 role and should see a bump in touchdowns with his reception total being around the same.

As for Hightower, he should have no problem improving on his 2.8 yard per carry average and 399 rushing yards, but don't expect him to eclipse the 10 TD's he had in 2008.

In fact, the Cardinals are targeting a running back in this April's NFL Draft so that will add to the mix at the RB position.

Bottom Line, the Cardinals will get their production from Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald but you should wait until their depth chart sorts out before you start targeting a breakout player in Arizona.

Breaston is the most appealing but his fantasy value will be determined by what Boldin decides to do.

Also Consider: WR Jerheme Urban (if no Boldin); WR Early Doucet (if no Boldin)

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