Union

2024 IDP Dynasty Division Outlook: NFC West

bosa 1
Nick Bosa | Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Abbey Posted On July 1, 2024
Save To Favorites

Last year, we brought you a new series covering each NFL division’s IDP dynasty fantasy football outlook. We are back at it again this year. We’ll bring you an overview of each team, highlight the best and worst positional groups, and make some cool predictions for the division as a whole. Let’s jump into it!

Arizona Cardinals

a screenshot of a computer description automatically generated

Depth charts courtesy of Ourlads.

The 2023 season was a baptism of fire for the Cardinals’ new defensive coordinator, Nick Rallis. The defense struggled to stop drives and generate pressure and ranked 31st among all teams in allowing 26.8 points per game. Despite the unit’s poor performance, Rallis returned as the defensive coordinator for 2024.

Chop Robinson headlined the Cardinals’ defensive personnel changes. The versatile first-round pick will enter into a deep rotation involving Zaven Collins, who led the unit in snaps last season despite being outplayed by Dennis Gardeck. 2023 second-rounder B.J. Ojulari appears ready to shoulder a more significant role. Victor Dimukeje and Cameron Thomas will also be involved, albeit to a lesser extent.

Rallis heavily rotated his interior defensive linemen in 2023, and this should remain the case in 2024. New additions Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones performed poorly for their respective teams last season and do not represent significant upgrades over Dante Stills and Co. Temper expectations for this unit in 2024.

Kyzir White was extremely productive before suffering a season-ending bicep injury in week 11. The former Chargers linebacker has worked hard on his rehabilitation process and has drawn praise from head coach Jonathan Gannon for his leadership qualities. In White’s absence, the Cardinals turned first to Josh Woods and then Krys Barnes. Mack Wilson has replaced Woods on the roster, but Owen Pappoe gained momentum toward the end of the season and may leapfrog Wilson and Barnes in the pecking order as the season unfolds.

 

Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson will reprise their roles as the starting safeties this season. Still, they have company after the Cardinals drafted Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The youngster may be brought along slowly, but his experience in the slot may help him see the field more quickly than he would otherwise.

The Cardinals attempted to address their needs at cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft by drafting Max Melton in the second round and Elijah Jones in the third. The rookies have an excellent opportunity to contribute early, considering the lack of competition at the position. Veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting was added in free agency and will be hoping for a bounce-back year after struggling for the Tennessee Titans last season.

Los Angeles Rams

a screenshot of a computer description automatically generated

Jared Verse ranks third among the rookie edge rushers in the DLF Dynasty Rookie IDP Rankings. He has the talent and opportunity to make an impact in year one. Byron Young surprised everyone with a productive rookie campaign and should remain fantasy-relevant in his sophomore campaign. The 2023 third-round pick wasn’t particularly efficient, considering he ranked fifth among all edge rushers in snaps. Still, he’s young and should continue to develop.

Michael Hoecht had a seemingly impressive season, but he, too, benefitted from huge snap volume. There’s a good chance his snap share and production will deteriorate following the addition of Verse.

The impact of Aaron Donald’s retirement on the Rams’ defense has been well documented but cannot be understated. Still, the team’s future hopes at DT appear bright. Kobie Turner has the talent to prove to his critics that his rookie performance was no fluke, and the Rams added Braden Fiske in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Bobby Brown doesn’t possess the same ceiling as Fiske, but it’s possible the two players split time.

 

Chris Shula was promoted to defensive coordinator and has talked about using “a lot of the same structures” utilized by his predecessor, Raheem Morris. If that is true, that would mean Ernest Jones will be the only full-time off-ball linebacker again. Jones achieved career-highs in tackles and sacks under Shula and should remain a coveted asset in IDP leagues. Christian Rozeboom is still young but was as inconsistent as it gets, and it would not be surprising if the Rams shored up the unit with a new addition before the season started.

The safety room will bear little resemblance to the 2023 version. The Rams signed Kam Curl to a two-year, $8.75m deal in free agency and added Kamren Kinchens in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Russ Yeast and Quentin Lake remain on the roster, but Yeast was wildly inconsistent in 2023, and Lake appears to be the frontrunner to retain the slot DB role.

After signing Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams in free agency, the Rams will feature two new outside cornerbacks in 2024. White is coming off an Achilles injury that sidelined him for most of last season, and it remains to be seen how quickly he can recapture his form. Still, the duo should be a significant upgrade over 2023 starters Akhello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick.

San Francisco 49ers

a screenshot of a computer description automatically generated

Nick Bosa had another excellent season and will remain one of the most coveted players in IDP. More on him later. Free agency ushered in wholesale changes in Bosa’s supporting cast. Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, and Randy Gregory left to join new teams and were replaced by Leonard Young and Yetur Gross-Matos.

It remains to be seen whether new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen intends to rotate two to three guys behind Bosa like his predecessor, Steve Wilks. Regardless, Floyd will likely lead the chasing group in snaps. The team must be hoping the change of scenery has a positive effect on Gross-Matos, as the former second-round pick disappointed for the Carolina Panthers since being drafted in 2020. Third-year edge rusher Drake Jackson will be relied upon to bounce back from the quad injury that prematurely ended his 2023 campaign.

Javon Hargrave failed to replicate his production for the Philadelphia Eagles in San Francisco. However, he was still a difference-maker on the defensive interior. Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw departed in free agency and have been replaced by Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott. Collins is coming off a career year as a pass rusher for the Houston Texans, but he’s unlikely to earn the same snap volume with the 49ers.

Fred Warner has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL for the last four seasons and earned greater recognition among IDP managers after recording more big plays than in previous years. Dre Greenlaw has proven to be a more than capable partner to Warner. Still, the 49ers added De’Vondre Campbell as insurance if Greenlaw cannot recover from injury in time to start the season.

 

Ji’Ayir Brown was brought along slowly in 2023 but became heavily involved following Talanoa Hufanga‘s ACL injury. Brown and Hufanga will be the starting duo in 2024 after Tashaun Gipson was allowed to leave in free agency. The 49ers selected Malik Mustapha to provide depth in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. General manager John Lynch was enamored with his new addition.

Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir were an excellent cornerback duo in 2023 and will remain significantly involved. Ambry Thomas also impressed and will figure in the team’s defensive plans. Rookie Renardo Green would start for most teams but may be made to wait his turn, considering the talent at the 49ers’ disposal.

Seattle Seahawks

a screenshot of a computer description automatically generated

Byron Murphy II was the first DT selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Big 12 Defensive Linemen of the Year provides the Seahawks with a talented, young player to anchor the heart of their defense for many years. Murphy joins a capable, albeit unspectacular, group comprising Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams, and Johnathan Hankins, each of whom brings a different skill set to the Seahawks’ defensive line.

Boye Mafe had a breakout season in the absence of Uchenna Nwosu, who missed 11 games in 2023 with a torn pectoral. Nwosu sounds ready to return. If Moye continues to develop and Nwosu returns to pre-injury 2022 form, this unit will cause headaches for opposing offenses. Darrell Taylor will likely continue to serve as a rotational piece, and Dre’Mont Jones may once again be utilized as a tweener who splits time between lining up inside and outside. 2023 second-round pick Derick Hall barely played in his rookie season and did little when he was on the field. He will find it similarly difficult to make an impact in 2024, considering the Seahawks’ depth at the position.

It still seems odd that neither Bobby Wagner nor Jordyn Brooks will be in Seattle for 2024. Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson are favorites to replace them. Jon Rhattigan has seen work with the first-team unit following injuries at the position, but he’s unlikely to feature in meaningful games unless others miss time. The same can be said for rookie Tyrice Knight, who may be in line for a more significant role in 2025, considering neither Baker nor Dodson are currently under contract beyond 2024.

Three Seahawks safeties had more than 500 snaps in 2023, and of those three players, only Julian Love remains, which makes sense considering he performed at a superior level. He will partner with newcomer Rayshawn Jenkins. K’Von Wallace could carve out a role after earning valuable experience as a starter in 2023 for the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans.

Devon Witherspoon was the star of the show for the Seahawks’ defense and thoroughly deserved the plaudits he received.

 

Tariq Woolen fell short of the lofty expectations in 2023 after producing six interceptions in 2022. However, he still played well in coverage and could elevate his game to the next level if he could cut down on the missed tackles that have plagued him the last two years. Tre Brown was preferred over Michael Jackson until late in the season and produced more big plays. Still, Brown struggled down the stretch, while Jackson finished strongly.

Positional Group Rankings

Interior Defensive Line

  1. Los Angeles Rams B+
  2. San Francisco 49ers B
  3. Seattle Seahawks B-
  4. Arizona Cardinals E

In 2023, Turner performed better than any other DT in the division not named Aaron Donald. It’s reasonable to question whether Turner can repeat following Donald’s retirement, but I suspect he’ll be a permanent fixture as a must-have DT in DT-required IDP leagues. It may take Fiske a season or two to prove what he has, but the potential is there.

Hargrave was almost as good as Turner as a pass rusher but offered an inferior tackle floor. Collins was on the fringes of being fantasy-relevant in deep DT-required leagues in 2023, but I believe his role will be reduced with the 49ers. This unit has less appeal than the Rams and Seahawks in dynasty leagues, but in 2024, Hargrave should remain one of the best DTs in the division.

Given time, the Seahawk’s Murphy II may challenge Turner for the title of the best DT in the NFC West. He’ll probably begin his rookie campaign competing with Reed and Williams for snap share before earning a more significant role down the stretch.

The interior of the Cardinals’ defensive line is a significant weakness. Nichols flashed potential in his third season for the Chicago Bears, but that was four years ago, and he’s been mediocre since. Jones has been consistently poor. I predict that none of the Cardinals’ DTs will be fantasy-relevant.

Edge

  1. San Francisco 49ers A
  2. Seattle Seahawks B
  3. Los Angeles Rams C+
  4. Arizona Cardinals D+

Bosa is as good as it gets and almost singlehandedly earned this unit an A+. The 49ers have been docked marks because, despite the depth alongside Bosa at edge rusher, only Floyd has proven capable, and he’s not getting any younger. Gross-Matos has been ineffective, and Jackson is yet to emerge.

Nwosu and Mafe are above-average players, and I’m excited to see both on the field in 2024. Taylor seems like a career change-of-pace, but as a third option, I can get on board. Hall needs to demonstrate improvement. This Seahawks edge rusher unit is a worthy recipient of a B grade.

If Verse becomes the player I expect him to be and Young continues to improve, this young Rams’ unit will become difference-makers in IDP. Hoecht doesn’t move the needle much where these ranks are concerned, but I acknowledge the value he brings as a rotational piece. I fear Hoecht may eat into Verse and Young’s snap share.

Sorry, Cardinals fans. I believe Robinson will become a solid player, especially in run defense. I’m confident that Ojulari will elevate his game in 2024. Still, the team’s edge rushers need another season under their belts. In the meantime, I’m afraid this unit will be inconsistent and produce below-average results.

Linebacker

  1. San Francisco 49ers A+
  2. Los Angeles Rams B+
  3. Arizona Cardinals C
  4. Seattle Seahawks C

Warner is one of the most complete linebackers in the NFL. Greenlaw is a fine complement. Campbell’s play had deteriorated for two consecutive years, but as the team’s third option, he can hold his own as a temporary replacement for Greenlaw. The strength in depth is the differentiator in these grades.

Jones isn’t nearly as good in coverage as Warner, but there’s little to choose between for IDP purposes. The lack of quality depth behind Jones is why they lost marks here.

White may keep pace with Warner and Jones in fantasy, but he’s a distant third in talent. Again, that matters little for fantasy purposes, provided he has similar snap volume. Still, he’s only under contract through 2024, and that creates some concern that if they fall out of contention early, the Cardinals may want to see what they have in Pappoe. Quality depth is a concern if Pappoe doesn’t hit.

Dodson is one of my breakout candidates for 2024, and I’m encouraged by Baker’s improvement in coverage in recent years. However, there’s very little continuity to lean on here. Experience tells me to exercise caution when predicting success for new personnel in a new scheme.

Cornerback

  1. Seattle Seahawks B+
  2. San Francisco 49ers B+
  3. Los Angeles Rams C+
  4. Arizona Cardinals D-

Witherspoon may find it a challenge to match the performance and production of his rookie campaign. Still, he’s undoubtedly going to be a star in the NFL and is already in the conversation for the best cornerback in the division. His supporting cast is probably underrated.

The 49ers’ Ward was the first player I considered when contemplating who could challenge Witherspoon for the crown of the best cornerback in the division. Depending on the scoring format of your IDP league, Ward may have even been the NFC West’s highest-scoring cornerback in 2023, owing to his superior number of interceptions and pass breakups. Lenoir is a capable partner, Thomas is an emerging talent, and Green could ensure no drop-off at the position, provided he becomes the player the 49ers envisaged.

White may be a forgotten man in some circles following his lengthy layoff and lack of interceptions in recent years. Pairing him with Williams was a shrewd move by the cornerback-starved Rams. Can White bounce back quickly, and will Williams’ form in 2023 translate to a new team? Only time will tell.

I’m not endearing myself with Cardinals fans with these rankings, but I have to call it as I see it. The team’s 2024 hopes at cornerback are pinned on the hope that Murphy-Bunting can rebound and Melton makes an immediate impact. Even then, their depth is woefully lacking.

Safety

  1. Arizona Cardinals B
  2. San Francisco 49ers B-
  3. Seattle Seahawks C+
  4. Los Angeles Rams C-

These rankings would look very different in fantasy leagues that reward big plays higher than average, as although Baker is a reliable safety in IDP, he’s more of a volume tackler than a big-play specialist. I am optimistic about Thompson’s chances of replicating his numbers from 2023, and I like the depth Taylor-Demerson will provide.

Hufanga and Brown have the makings of a promising partnership at safety for the 49ers. Still, I’m a little wary of how Hufanga will look following his injury, and the jury is still out on Brown as we have seen so little of him.

In tackle-heavy fantasy leagues, it’s within Jenkins’ range of outcomes to lead all NFC West safeties in scoring. The same can be said for Love in fantasy leagues with more balanced scoring.

Curl is an above-average NFL safety and an enticing option in IDP. I was unimpressed with Yeast and would rather see Kinchens involved for fantasy purposes. If that happened, the Rams’ grade would improve slightly.

Divisional Predictions

MVP: Nick Bosa, EDGE SF

Bosa’s sack total decreased from 2022 to 2023, but he has posted 90+ pressures in back-to-back seasons, and his win rate increased dramatically last year. The personnel he is playing with on the defensive line has changed significantly, yet again, but it will have little effect on the 26-year-old. Another stellar season is on the cards.

 

LVP: Zaven Collins, EDGE ARI

Hardcore Collins truthers celebrated a victory when the converted edge rusher recorded four sacks and an interception in the first seven games of 2023. Astute IDP managers reserved judgment, mindful that he had only recorded 12 pressures over that span. Unfortunately for Collins and his IDP managers, the 25-year-old failed to manage a sack in the next ten games despite leading the Cardinals’ edge rushers in pass rush snaps. Even if he does improve this season, the odds are still stacked against him. The addition of Robinson, the superior efficiency of Gardeck, and the expected emergence of Ojulari does not bode well for Collins’ outlook.

Most Improved: BJ Ojulari, EDGE ARI

My LVP and Most Improved award are interdependent. At times last year, Ojulari looked every bit a rookie player. At others, he demonstrated the kind of ability that led to the Cardinals drafting him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His pressure rate and win rate were superior to Collins’. While Ojulari finished with only four sacks, he was only two behind sack leader Gardeck despite rushing the passer 81 times fewer. Snap volume will be critical in determining his ability to become fantasy-relevant in his sophomore year.

Biggest Steal: Tyrel Dodson, LB SEA

Dodson was handed a more significant role for the Buffalo Bills following Matt Milano‘s injury last year, and the results were promising. He struggled with missed tackles, which remains a slight concern heading into 2024. However, crucially, he improved dramatically in coverage as the season unfolded, and this undoubtedly influenced the Seahawks’ decision to sign him in free agency. Expecting a drop-off in production from Wagner and Brooks seems sensible, but Dodson is not being drafted nearly as highly as his predecessors in fantasy.

Biggest Bust: Michael Hoecht, EDGE LAR

Hoecht exceeded expectations in 2023, emerging from nowhere to finish with 66 combined tackles and six sacks. I’m far from sold. I’ve seen others defend him because he dropped into coverage more often than any other edge rusher in the NFL, but there’s no escaping the fact that his 10.5% pressure rate was abysmal. Furthermore, the addition of Verse and Young’s presence means Hoecht is unlikely to earn close to the 960 snaps he had in 2023.

Wait for it: Byron Murphy II, DT SEA

Verse was a candidate for this award, but I suspect he’ll make an impact early and often. Murphy may not have the kind of fast start we saw from Jalen Carter in 2023 owing to the competition on the roster, but he’s the future of the Seahawks’ DT position and should become more involved as the season unfolds. He has the draft capital, the talent, and the potential to become a mainstay in IDP.

jason abbey
Latest posts by Jason Abbey (see all)
Related Items:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Latest Articles

See All Articles

Dynasty Rankings

2024 Rookie Rankings

IDP Rankings

Devy Rankings

Podcasts

Videos

Devy Resources

Player Value Tools

Prospect Tools

Featured Tools

News & Research

Group-3386-min

Part of the Betsperts Media and Technology Group

Betsperts
FLA
Betsperts Golf
Bleachernation
4for4

Copyright 2024 Betsperts. All rights are reserved.

Find us here