Draft Day is here! One of the biggest days of the NFL offseason is finally upon us. In the run-up to the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, we’ve gone division-by-division looking at what moves teams still need to make that will have an impact on 2022’s fantasy rosters. We’ve already previewed the AFC North, NFC North, AFC East, NFC East, AFC South, NFC South, and AFC West. Saving ostensibly the best for last, we fulfill our Manifest Destiny and end the series by looking at the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams and the rest of the NFC West in order of 2021 final standings.

Note: All 2021 fantasy point totals and rankings are PPR unless otherwise noted.

Los Angeles Rams: NFC West Champions

It’s not often we see a paradigm shift in professional sports. For years, the conventional wisdom has been that NFL teams should build primarily through the draft, then supplement that home-grown core with a few key free-agent additions (hopefully while your quarterback is still on his rookie contract.) It was the NFL’s version of The Process, and it seemed every successful franchise believed in (and followed) The Process in some form. Under that prevailing philosophy, draft picks are a resource more precious than Personal Seat Licenses gold. Teams weighed the talent available in a draft and often opted to trade down, acquiring more picks at the cost of seemingly safer, more predictable early picks. It was akin to buying more lottery tickets with your investment money as opposed to putting it in large-cap growth funds.

Then the Los Angeles Rams came along and turned all that upside down. Trading boatloads of high-end picks for high-priced established stars in key positions, the Rams quickly put together a team that went from missing the playoffs in the 2019 season to winning it all in the 2021 season. In a copy-cat league, others have taken notice and figure to follow suit. In a strong division (only Seattle missed the playoffs last season,) everyone else figures to be gunning for the Rams. To be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man.

Rams’ Bottom Line

The Rams bring back almost every significant offensive skill player from last season’s championship team. That’s good news for fantasy managers. While Odell Beckham, Jr. (WR55) remains a free agent and Robert Woods (WR51) is now a Titan, the team did bring in Allen Robinson II to team with Cooper Kupp (WR1) and Van Jefferson (WR36) as number six overall fantasy quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s primary targets. Cam Akers is healthy and looked good in his late-year run. Darrell Henderson, Jr. (RB27) remains capable when healthy. Tyler Higbee (TE14) is also back, as is placekicker Matt Gay (K3). There are some holes to fill on the defense, especially with the departure of Von Miller, but this offense looks capable of outscoring just about anyone in the league.

Besides possibly another playmaking tight end, the biggest questions for the Rams, then, are along the offensive line. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth retired and right guard Austin Corbett left in free agency. While Joe Noteboom looks set to step in for Whitworth, the guard position is worth monitoring and adding to. It may literally be the only weak spot on the entire starting 11 for the Rams. If the line can perform this year like they did in 2021, Rams fans and fantasy managers alike should find themselves happy come January.

Arizona Cardinals: Second Place NFC West

Like the rival Rams, the Arizona Cardinals return most of their top skill position players from last season. Also, like the Rams, the Cardinals appear to be weak at right guard. Yet again like the Rams, one of the Cardinals’ leading receivers from last year was lost to free agency. And that’s about where the similarities end. Unlike the Rams, the Cardinals folded down the stretch and failed to win a championship despite their talent. And while Stafford has been enjoying a victory lap as America’s new darling, Cards’ quarterback Kyler Murray (QB10) was scrubbing Arizona from his social media and raising all sorts of distractions.

Christian Kirk (WR26) and Chase Edmonds (RB34) are gone, leaving behind some holes. There are internal candidates to fill those holes. Whether or not those candidates are more than just “filler” remains to be seen. Perhaps the biggest question Arizona will have to answer, though, is why they seem to have shown a penchant for late-season collapses. If culture or coaching issues (not necessarily mutually exclusive) are contributing to the problem, Kliff Kingsbury may be on the hot seat. He’ll need to prove otherwise this season. And that means maintaining consistency with his offense and defense for seventeen weeks.

Cardinals’ Bottom Line

DeAndre Hopkins‘ health will be one key to Arizona’s success. Hopkins played in only 10 games last year but is still dominant on the outside when healthy. Arizona appears ready to give Rondale “Moore” looks as a Kirk replacement. But with A.J. Green on the downhill phase of his career at 33, another outside wideout could be key. Moore is capable of playing outside, but Andy Isabella does not look to be the answer in the slot. Keeping Moore inside and finding Hopkins and Green another running mate seems like a good idea.

James Conner (RB5) had a very productive season thanks in part to some injury trouble for Edmonds. The Cardinals were very successful in deploying both running backs, and a quality replacement for Edmonds would carry similar standalone value. Eno Benjamin probably works best as a third guy, rather than THE guy.

One more position I would like to see upgraded would be the right guard position. Will Hernandez was not spectacular for the Giants last year. If a good prospect is available, Arizona should think long and hard about it. Even if they’re optimistic about Hernandez, a tackle prospect who could slide over wouldn’t hurt. Kelvin Beachum didn’t light the world on fire last season.

San Francisco 49ers: Third Place NFC West

The 49ers were an interesting team to watch last season. After trading up for Trey Lance in the draft, on again-off again speculation seemed to persist all year. Would Jimmy Garoppolo remain the starter, or would the ‘Niners hand the keys to the franchise to Lance? After injuries to Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Jr., it was sixth-round pick Elijah Mitchell (RB26) who took over the backfield. The more high-profile Trey Sermon, a disappointing third-rounder, was never really a threat to take the job from Mitchell. The injuries in the backfield also opened the door for Deebo Samuel (WR3) to become perhaps the league’s best dual-threat receiver in what seemed like the year of the dual-threat receiver. The offensive line was stellar. George Kittle (TE4) was George Kittle. The solid defense (DST9) gave up the third-fewest yards in the league and was effective at rushing the passer.

It all culminated with a playoff win on the road against the Packers and a trip to the NFC Championship. A thrilling, if disappointing, loss to the division-rival and eventual-champion Rams showed the 49ers would be a team to be reckoned with in 2022.

49ers’ Bottom Line

Stop me if you’ve heard this, but a playoff team from the NFC West returns almost all of its key skill players this season. At least, that’s the hope in San Francisco. Mostert is gone in free agency, but last year’s starters are all at least under contract. Samuel, unfortunately, appears less than happy with his contract. In recent weeks, trade rumors have swirled around the dynamic Samuel, who reportedly wants to play more as a receiver and less out of the backfield. As the minutes literally tick down to the draft, his situation will determine whether or not wideout is a need for the ‘Niners.

Lance appears set to be named the starter at quarterback, but that’s also not quite settled. Garoppolo has been the subject of his own trade rumors. Those rumors have been complicated by offseason surgery, but again, an answer to the quarterback question could determine a need.

The one clear area offensively where the 49ers should focus on adding talent would be the interior offensive line. Keeping whichever quarterback is the starter clean will go a long way towards repeating last year’s success. Both guard positions are in flux. Laken Tomlinson was lost to free agency and Daniel Brunskill was arguably the weak link last season. Center Alex Mack is also not getting any younger.

Seattle Seahawks: Fourth Place NFC West

The only team in the NFC West that wasn’t a threat last season, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in a bit of a bind. Aging coach Pete Carroll doesn’t appear to want to surrender to a full rebuild. That’s understandable, but after years of piecing things together, Seattle may not be able to fully compete in the post-Russell Wilson era without tearing it all down. Seattle was perhaps the earliest and best example of “The Process” I mentioned earlier. They built an elite defense and surrounded Wilson with talent while he was still cheap. After his rookie deal gave way to a “proper” quarterback salary, the team watched the defense slowly crumble away piece-by-piece as they could no longer afford to keep everyone. Despite this, Seattle insisted on a running personality that fit a strong defense, despite their star quarterback, talented receivers, and diminished defense.

Now Wilson is gone. Drew Lock is no one’s idea of a top-flite quarterback. The draft options at the game’s most important position are not highly regarded. A small number of possibly available trade targets holds little more in the way of promise. An offensive line that ranked just 25th doesn’t offer a strong foundation. There is work to do in the Pacific Northwest.

Seahawks’ Bottom Line

On-field success usually, but not always, equates to fantasy success. While there may be no realistic way for Seattle to contend for a title on the field (no matter how much Carroll protests,) there is still an opportunity for fantasy success on this roster. D.K. Metcalf (WR14) and Tyler Lockett (WR16) are still one of the top starting receiver tandems in the game. Rashaad Penny (RB 42) and Chris Carson are both capable of fantasy production when healthy, although that’s wishful thinking. Like in Denver, fantasy managers would prefer to see one or the other as the clear favorite, even with the injury risk. (Although a young, healthy alternative could find himself the lead back if Seattle chose to go that route.) New tight end Noah Fant is an emerging young star at the position.

Of course, that’s all well and good and absolutely moot without at least a capable quarterback. The Seahawks may be saying all the right things about Lock, but any realistic chance for this team to reach its potential (whatever that may be) depends on improving their quarterback situation, whether via trade or draft.

Additionally, the offensive line could stand improvement at just about every position. Seattle has the resources to make it happen, but there will be growing pains on the line this season no matter how the personnel shapes up. The only other immediate fantasy-helpful add would be a speedy slot receiver to partner with Metcalf, Lockett, and Fant.

LET’S DO THIS!!

The Draft is literally moments away. Just a reminder: more great draft coverage is available on the main Belly Up site, as well as fun, informative content on the Belly Up Podcast Network, Belly Up TV, and B.U.R.N.S. Radio. Check back with Belly Up Fantasy Sports throughout the draft for live fantasy analysis and to see what moves are made and which players’ dreams come true. Got something to say? Leave a comment below and follow me on Twitter @SttChaseFFB.