NFL Roundtable: NFC West Edition

Now that we are a week into May, it is time to really start gearing up for the up and coming 2009 fantasy football season.

Over here at Bruno Boys headquarters that means discussions of events happening around the NFL are in full force. Today Bruno Boys Whooley and Bruno Boys Ziza are discussing the NFC West as the Bruno Boys will be breaking down the NFL division by division during the next eight weeks so remember to check back next week.

NFC West Burning Questions!

1. In your pursuit of building a championship caliber fantasy football team, is an unhappy Anquan Boldin a viable option to be your WR1 or do you look elsewhere?

Bruno Boys Whooley: 

From a pure talent standpoint, Boldin has the skills to power a fantasy team as a WR1. I mean, despite playing in just 12 games last season, the man had 1,038 receiving yards and 11 TDs for the year, numbers that propelled him to the seventh spot among fantasy receivers for the year.

However, be aware that because of his current discontentment with the Arizona Cardinals, there is some risk involved in selecting Boldin. Players that are not pleased with their situations can be less likely to give 100 percent and less likely to play through pain, something that is a bit disconcerting when considering that Boldin has played in only 12 games in each of the last two seasons.

Boldin has always been a professional, though, so once the season starts, I fully expect the man to be on the field as much as possible, and while he may not be the Cardinals' No. 1 option in the passing game, I believe he could be a solid WR1 for a lot of fantasy teams out there.

After all, we all know that the Aerial Assault is Arizona's bread and butter.  

Bruno Boys Ziza:

If you recall, I was the one last season that was saying that Boldin was well on his way to a fantasy football MVP half-way through the year.

Well, as you know I couldn't have been more wrong.

Boldin definitely had a solid season, but he has now posted back to back seasons in which he has only played 12 games. Add to the durability issue, his current unhappiness and Boldin becomes a risk.

Right now, he is so disgruntled that if he does get his way and pushes the  Arizona Cardinals'' hands and forces a trade, he will most likely be the top receiver on his new team meaning more double coverage.

That could hurt his numbers as he has the luxury right now to play in an offense which is wide spread and features Larry Fitzgerald, a wide receiver that is going to be drawing most of the double coverage play after play.

Even in a deeper 12-team league, I would pass on Boldin for 2009, unless he fell to me at a spot where I could grab him with great value, using him as my WR2.

2. With the addition of left tackle Jason Smith to the St Louis Rams' offensive line, do you think Steven Jackson will return to being a top five fantasy football running back?

Bruno Boys Whooley:

 Predicting what will happen with Steven Jackson's 2009 season is a bit of a conundrum for me.

On the one hand, the Rams have gone out and done everything they can to open up holes for the back. Not only did they draft stud offensive tackle, Jason Smith, in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft, but they also added center Jason Brown, the former Baltimore Raven, through free agency.

Those additions will definitely make Jackson's job easier as those big men will be able to push opposing defenders around. In addition, Jackson will undoubtedly be the focal point of new head coach Steve Spagnuolo's offensive game plan, meaning he should get over 300 carries, if he can stay healthy, for the first time since 2006—a year in which he went for 1,528 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs.

He should also see his receptions jump from the 40-range into the 60s. A better line and more opportunities would seem to suggest Jackson is a no-brainer to have a big 2009.

However, while the Rams did much to improve their running game, they appear to have regressed when it comes to their passing game.

In fact, the team will start the year with Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, two sophomore wide receivers, in the starting lineup. A poor passing game will allow defenses to stack the box against Jackson, which could possibly negate any added value Jackson would receive from the improved line or extra touches.

Fantasy football though is a game of risks, and with the potential upside Jackson has, he's worth taking a risk on.

Bruno Boys Ziza:

I would not hesitate to take Jackson as a top five back next season.

When you are talking about first round draft choices in fantasy football, I look for two things:

1) Is he going to be capable of being a force when it comes to fantasy points from week to week and 2) is he a solid investment, if he can not be the force that I expected.

If I am sitting there from the fifth pick on in the first round, SJax is someone that I really would consider nabbing with my first round pick. I don't care if he has been disappointing the past few seasons, he is still racking up some solid total yardage as well as punching in some touchdowns.

As you saw last season when Frank Gore, Joseph Addai, and LaDainian Tomlinson all produced less than expected as well as players such as Thomas Jones producing more than expected, no one is a guarantee pick.

I would feel very comfortable with Jackson as my lead back.

Fantasy Football Preference—NFC West (Based on 12 team, standard scoring leagues)

1. Frank Gore vs. Steven Jackson

Bruno Boys Whooley:

JACKSON.

The two were very close when it came to fantasy points in 2008, with Jackson notching 175 points and Gore 173; however, Gore did play in two more games.

The Rams did much this offseason to really make their squad Jackson's team, including the improved offensive line I discussed above, and because of that he just has more upside at the moment than Gore.

Bruno Boys Ziza: 

JACKSON.

I wouldn't even hesitate here.

The San Francisco 49ers have already come out and said that they will be much more of a pass oriented team. And, while I still think that Frank Gore will get his fair share of catches out of the backfield, Jackson will be the focus of his offense.

This year I don't think there is a debate on this. While both are RB1's in my opinion for 12 team leagues, the upside on Jackson is just so much more than Gore.

2. Matt Hasselbeck vs. Marc Bulger

Bruno Boys Ziza:

HASSELBECK.

Just as in the running back comparison, I don't see the St. Louis Rams passing nearly as much as they have in the past. Supposedly Matt Hasselbeck is feeling much better and has added T. J. Houshmandzadeh to his receiving weapons.

Both of these quarterbacks have proven to be injury prone the past few seasons making neither one of these players a sure thing. But, I would much rather have Hasselbeck at the helm on my team.

Bruno Boys Whooley:

HASSELBECK.

Let's see here, the Seattle Seahawks added a pro-bowl wide receiver (TJ Houshmandzadeh) to their roster, while the St. Louis Rams let their's (Torry Holt) go. Add in the fact, the Hasselbeck also has tight end, John Carlson, the lone bright spot for Seattle last season to target, and he's a no-brainer here.

3. Chris Wells vs. Tim Hightower

Bruno Boys Whooley:

WELLS.

While Wells' arrival to Arizona will be delayed by the fact that he has to wait until Ohio State's graduation (June 13), he still appears to be the front runner to secure the Cardinals' starting job.

Remember, Hightower was given an opportunity to make the job his last season, but failed, averaging only 2.8 yards per carry. The Cardinals were thrilled to see Wells still available when their first round pick came up in this year's draft and will quickly see if they hit the lotto.

Bruno Boys Ziza:

HIGHTOWER.

Now, my opinion very well could change in the next few months as the season starts becoming more of a reality, but until then I have to roll with Tim Hightower. The Cardinals are not convinced that he is capable of being the back of the future, which is why they used their No. 1 on Chris Wells, but in fantasy football the points come from touchdowns for the most part.

I think in Wells' first year, you will see a solid split of carries with Hightower getting the majority of the goal-liners. If that does happen, Hightower will be the more valuable back.

That is why it is so important to pay attention to the pre-season.

4. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. Michael Crabtree vs. Donnie Avery

Bruno Boys Ziza:

HOUSHMANDZADEH.

When it comes to the value of a wide receiver, more times than not you have to also look at who is throwing the rock to him. In this case, I think that Houshmandzadeh has the better quarterback.

He also has a solid enough offensive line in which he should be given the proper time to get open which should make him a solid option for wide receivers in fantasy football for 2009. While all three have the capability to produce as WR2's in any given week, I will take Houshmandzadeh's consistency.

Bruno Boys Whooley:

HOUSHMANDZADEH.

While I was thrilled my 49ers were able to land Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall selection in the draft, you have to go with the guy that has shown he can get it done in the NFL here.

Houshmandzadeh has 507 receptions for 5,782 yards and 37 TDs for his career to Donnie Avery's 53 receptions for 674 yards and three TDs and Crabtree's goose eggs.

Have to go with experience.

Bruno Boys’ Quick Hits (Opinions Delivered Harder than Ray Lewis Tackles!)

1. Best addition by a team in the NFC West?

Bruno Boys Ziza: 

Right now I think the Seahawks made out by being able to replace Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson with young gun Aaron Curry.

While Jason Smith, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Michael Crabtree will all play a positive role on their respective teams, it is Curry that will not only allow the Seahawks to lose anything at a position in which they have dominated for so long, but it also adds some fresh blood to a defense that may have become a bit stagnant as of late.

Possibly, the best top 10 draft pick for the 2009 NFL Draft.

Bruno Boys Whooley:

Perhaps I'm a bit biased, but I'm going to give the Niners the nod for landing Crabtree.

Prior to the draft, I thought there was no possible way that Crabtree would be available at the 10 slot, but thanks to the Oakland Raiders going with Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh selection, Crabtree fell into the Niners' lap.

This is a guy who has stud written all over him, and he finally gives the Niners a legitimate wide receiver No. 1, something they've been missing since Terrell Owens' departure in 2003.

2. Biggest sleeper from the NFC West?

Bruno Boys Whooley:

In my mind, a sleeper is a guy that's not really on anyone's radar, but ends up exceeding everyone's expectations. And, with that in mind, I have to go with Seattle Seahawks' quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.

Playing in just seven games last year, Hasselbeck notched just 1,216 passing yards and five TDs. Numbers like that in the "what have you done for me lately world" of fantasy football will quickly cause fantasy owners to forget about you.

But, Hasselbeck is apparently feeling 100 percent better from last year's back injury and now has TJ Houshmandzadeh to throw to along with tight end, John Carlson.

Remember, it was just in 2007 when Hasselbeck threw for 3,966 yards and 28 TDs. He's an excellent option at QB that you'll be able to grab later in fantasy drafts.

Bruno Boys Ziza: 

He is not much of a sleeper as everyone knows of him, and he will be going somewhere in the first round or so, but I have to go with Steven Jackson.

He just has all the tools and talent to bounce back in a huge way and return to being one of the best if not the best fantasy football option out there. There are sleepers that you will be able to grab in the later rounds that could help round out a roster, but in this division it is SJax that I can see really playing above what everyone expects and helping some wise, ruthless, fantasy football owner to the glory land.

3. Biggest possible bust for the NFC West?

Bruno Boys Whooley:

While I think he's definitely worth the risk, Steven Jackson in my mind has the best chance at becoming a bust. As I mentioned above, there are plenty of reasons to love SJax as we head into 2009, but there are also reasons to be concerned.

He's a boom or bust type pick, and he could as easily take a team to a championship as he can cause to finish in the cellar.

Bruno Boys Ziza:

Both of the Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver options have a shot at being a bust.

Both are solid talents but depending on what happens with Boldin's situation, Larry Fitzgerald could start really getting covered even tougher than normal. He is such an immense talent to where I still see him being a WR1 no matter what, but he may be hard lived to reproduce what we saw out of him in 2008.

He most likely will be one of the top three WR's this year taken and very well could produce only top 10 WR numbers.

I am not saying he will, just saying it is a possibility. And anyone that drafts Boldin thinking that he will be a WR1, I have a feeling they will be disappointed, maybe not in overall production, but as far as consistency on a week-to-week basis.


::Don’t forget, we've added plenty of fantastic people to the Bruno Boys staff this off season, that way we can further help you dominate your competition. Visit us at www.brunoboys.net frequently as we are constantly putting up new content for fantasy football enthusiasts::