It’s finally Draft Day, the Christmas Day of the NFL offseason calendar. The Carolina Panthers will soon be on the clock, and we’re looking at the needs for the teams from each division from a fantasy football perspective. What does each team need to do to maximize their roster’s fantasy returns? What do we as fantasy managers want each team to address this weekend? We’re swiping to the left coast and prospecting the 2023 NFC West, where a pair of teams on the “F Them Picks” train will likely be waiting for Friday to fill their needs.

2023 Pre-Draft Fantasy Needs Series

• AFC North
• NFC North
• AFC East
• NFC East
• AFC South
• NFC South
• AFC West
• NFC West

Note: All 2022 fantasy point totals and rankings are PPR, unless otherwise noted.

2023 NFC West Draft Needs: San Francisco 49ers

What do you get for the team that has everything?

The San Francisco 49ers have built a powerhouse team out west, seemingly stockpiling high-powered offensive weapons while simultaneously assembling a defensive juggernaut. The Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey trades of the past couple seasons have left them bereft of higher draft picks in their quest to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2020. Luckily, there’s not a lot they need to do to get themselves right back in the mix. And there’s not much they need to do to get fantasy managers excited once again to roster multiple ‘Niners.

Devastating injuries at the quarterback position both saved and scuttled the 49ers’ 2022 season. Presumed starter Lance was lost for the season before San Francisco could even really see what they had. The Saga of Jimmy G in the West^TM then took a Hollywood-worthy turn, as Jimmy Garoppolo would step in and go essentially 7-3 before suffering his own season-ending injury. Enter Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. The final pick in the 2022 draft, Purdy would lead the 49ers to six straight wins to close the season. After a pair of playoff wins took them to the NFC Conference Championship game, Purdy would also suffer a debilitating injury. After career backup-to-the-backup-to-the-backup Josh Johnson subsequently suffered a concussion, Purdy would be forced to return, mostly to receive snaps and hand off awkwardly.

49ers’ Bottom Line

Purdy and Lance are both expected back in 2023. But as a hedge against those bets, San Francisco brought in former Jets’ and Panthers’ starter Sam Darnold. Of those three, someone most likely emerges healthy enough to distribute the ball to the 49ers’ myriad fantasy stars. McCaffrey and Eli Mitchell are an outstanding backfield pairing. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk form a nice one-two punch at receiver, and George Kittle is one of the premier receiving tight ends in the game. Heck, even fullback Kyle Juszczyk is a Pro Bowl mainstay. So what do the ‘Niners need?

With the seventh-ranked offensive line according to PFF, the 49ers have a head start on most teams before they even have to use their skill players. But they lost right tackle Mike McGlinchey in free agency and the guards are the weak links. You can find solid, even impactful, offensive linemen late in drafts, and the 49ers have 11 total picks from the end of the third round on. I would expect to see them take multiple shots at the line Friday and Saturday.

The other position we could (should) see taken is a kicker. Robbie Gould has moved on and the 49ers currently have Zane Gonzalez penciled in. Gonzalez was actually fairly efficient and effective for Carolina in 2021. But he spent all of 2022 on injured reserve after a groin injury. Bringing in young competition in the form of, say, Michigan’s Jake Moody would help. This team is too good to ignore the kicking game, and a successful kicker in an offense of this caliber is a draftable (if you must) fantasy asset.

49ers’ 2023 Draft Picks

• Round 3, picks 36, 38, & 39
• Round 5, picks 21, 30, & 39
• Round 6, pick 39
• Round 7, picks 5, 30, 36, & 38

2023 NFC West Draft Needs: Seattle Seahawks

Things were looking good for Seattle. They were 6-3 atop the NFC West when they boarded a plane for Germany to take on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Then, the wheels fell off. They would leave Europe at 6-4 and go on to lose four of the ensuing five games. The collapse would coincide with San Francisco finding themselves and winning 12 straight, including the Wild Card playoff game that would end Seattle’s season.

But the season wasn’t a total loss. Geno Smith‘s career revival almost single-handedly willed the Seahawks into the postseason. Smith signed a contract extension after the season that solidifies the position for Seattle for at least the time being. Kenneth Walker III was everything Seattle hoped he was when they drafted him. The Seahawks can now focus on other positions if they so choose.

Seahawks’ Bottom Line

While it can’t be ruled out that the Seahawks would take the right prospect if he fell to them at the fifth pick (one last Russell Wilson gift to the franchise), quarterback doesn’t need to be the priority in the draft. D.K. Metcalf‘s extension means he’s not going anywhere, which is good (him being a top receiver option in the league and all.) But Tyler Lockett is in his thirties, and the team could save a good amount of money by releasing or trading him in the next few seasons. The cupboard is pretty bare behind them, however. I wouldn’t expect a high pick on a receiver, but another big body on the outside to complement Metcalf could help Smith duplicate last season’s performance.

The ongoing need for the Seahawks remains offensive line help. The biggest area of need would be on the interior. Don’t rule out them using their pick at number six in the second round on a center or guard prospect. Improving the line in front of Walker could take a solid rushing attack into the upper tier in the NFL.

Seahawks’ 2023 Draft Picks

• Round 1, picks 5 & 20
• Round 2, picks 6 & 21
• Round 3, pick 20
• Round 4, pick 21
• Round 5, picks 17 & 20
• Round 6, pick 21
• Round 7, pick 20

2023 NFC West Draft Needs: Los Angeles Rams

It’s Draft Day! Or, as Rams fans have become accustomed, “yay, it’s Thursday.” The team that invented “F Them Picks” once again will be watching the festivities from the Draft House until Friday night. A disappointing 2022 season punctuated by injuries to quarterback Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp is in the past, and the Rams need to look to the future.

Meant to post this: these are the full snap-weighted age rankings for each team this season on offense, defense, and overall. Saints were the oldest team in the league, Lions the youngest. pic.twitter.com/PYVVZkvdH1

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 19, 2023

For a team that seems to care so little about its early-round picks, the Rams have an astounding 11 selections in this year’s draft (as do the 49ers.) So while there may not be a big splash selection for LA, there does promise to be a much-needed infusion of youth to this roster by Saturday night.

Rams’ Bottom Line

The emergence of Cam Akers and Kyren Williams looks to have the running back position squared away. The Rams’ massive investment in Matthew Stafford doesn’t look to be ending. But after the let-down of the receiving corps even before Kupp’s injury, that position figures to be an important target. Kupp, of course, has been one of the premier receivers in the league. Van Jefferson has shown glimpses of promise, but was unable to fully grasp his opportunity last season with Kupp’s injury and Allen Robinson‘s uninspiring play. Ben Skowronek is a nice player to have on a roster, but nothing special. And Tutu Atwell has shown little (pun intended) to suggest he’s capable of being a top option. None of them outside of Kupp is even a useable option in fantasy under most roster configurations. Go get one, Les.

Rams’ 2023 Draft Picks

• Round 2, pick 5
• Round 3, picks 6 & 14
• Round 5, picks 33, 37, & 43
• Round 6, picks 5, 12, & 14
• Round 7, picks 6 & 17

2023 NFC West Draft Needs: Arizona Cardinals

I know I referred to the Titans as a team without a plan, but the Cardinals have been the title-holders in that area for a long time. This offseason brought a ton of changes to the franchise, in the form of a new general manager and coaching staff. They even changed their uniforms. Alas, as those uni’s prove, not all change is necessarily an improvement. Time will tell whether GM Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon can set things aright in the desert, and it all starts tonight.

The Cardinals will be a fascinating team to watch early in the first round. As the quarterback situation becomes less and less clear, the Cardinals could find themselves with the most valuable asset in the entire draft with the third overall pick. For a franchise with as many roster holes as this one, trading back could be the smartest move they could make. It should net them plenty of extra ammunition, including some early-round capital. But whether they trade down or not, they have to make a selection eventually. What could they do to bring some increased fantasy value to this roster?

Cardinals’ Bottom Line

The Cardinals have a lackluster running back room, all things considered. James Conner is a capable back when healthy, but his troubles with that particular skill make him a shaky option atop the depth chart. Corey Clement behind him has never recaptured the level of play he exhibited in college. 2022 draft pick Keaontay Ingram did precious little last season. This is a position where the right pick could find himself with a great opportunity to take the lead role at some point this coming season.

Arizona’s mediocre offensive line and defense need reinforcements as well. Well, not just “reinforcements”. They need starter talent ASAP. For our fantasy purposes, Will Hernandez and Elijah Wilkinson at the guard spots could use some competition. Better line play might help to keep Conner healthy, not to mention Colt McCoy or Kyler Murray or whomever is behind center this season. I don’t think it’s a position to target in the first couple of rounds, but perhaps starting in the third Arizona can find a prospect who won’t contribute to the Cardinals’ league-leading penalty tally along the line.

Cardinals’ 2023 Draft Picks

• Round 1, pick 3
• Round 2, pick 3
• Round 3, picks 3 & 33
• Round 4, pick 3
• Round 5, pick 34
• Round 6, picks 3 & 36

It’s Always Fantasy Season

There is no offseason in fantasy! Draft previews, free agency analysis, and Dynasty strategy are just some of what you’ll find when you check Belly Up Fantasy Sports for more fantasy football analysis and entertaining insight. With the MLB season in full-swing, there’s a ton of fantasy baseball content, too. As always, more great NFL coverage is available on the main Belly Up site, as well as fun, informative content on the Belly Up Podcast Network. Got something to say? Leave a comment below, follow me on Twitter @SttChaseFFB, and catch me on the Belly Up Fantasy Live podcast each week.