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The NFC West is a division of the haves and have-nots as far as wins go. But even on the bad football teams, there is some solid fantasy talent to be had. Continuing the division-by-division preview, let’s take a look at some of my favorites, and one not so favorite from the NFC West.
Trustworthy Elite — George Kittle
Fantasy is a week-to-week, head-to-head matchup game. With tight end you can take one of two guys early, giving your team an edge each week, or you can wait, guess, and hope for touchdowns as you stream tight end all season.
Kittle is an elite talent in an offense that features the position. San Francisco is one of the more stables teams going in to this unique season, and tight end is a position where we rarely see a solid week-to-week starter emerge from the waiver wire.
Secure a team-maker early, and then pick up the slack at RB and WR on the waiver wire.
League Winner — D.K. Metcalf
Metcalf is going at an ADP of 56, and you should be looking to lock him up about a round early in your drafts this year.
While the Seahawks are not a high-volume passing offense, Metcalf showed us all the signs of an emergent, traditional number one wide receiver. Metcalf is 6’3”, 235-240, and he absolutely flies down the field. He can go up and make the big-boy catches, and concerns about his being a little stiff in and out of his breaks, ended up not being the career killer many thought it would be.
The Seahawks are slim at receiver with only the diminutive Tyler Lockett to compete for targets with D.K. And while Lockett is absolutely a fine receiver, he does not have the size to be the traditional number one type WR. This is the last chance you’re going to have to get Metcalf on your team outside the top 30 picks for the next five to six years.
Do Not Draft — Raheem Mostert
Mostert burst on to the scene last year as injuries left him as the last man standing for the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners gave Mostert a bit of a pay raise in the offseason, and there has been a lot of talk about the hot-hand approach to the backfield in San Fran.
Mostert looked good as a runner, he looked really good as a runner. But, he was limited in the passing game, and when Shanahan had a chance to start Tevin Coleman, Coleman got the starts.
If given a lion’s-share of the carries again, Mostert could absolutely be a league winner. But with the names going in this same area, Terry McLaurin, T.Y. Hilton, Cam Akers, I’ll end up taking my shots elsewhere here in the 5th, 6th round.
Late Sleeper — Josh Gordon, San Francisco 49ers
The Niners were thin at wide receiver before getting bit by the injury bug. With Josh Gordon sitting out on the market, why not go get someone with the size, speed, and experience to step in and dominate as the X wide receiver in the Shanahan scheme.