Fantasy Football Projections: NFC West

Fantasy football week is upon us once again. Each FanHouse NFL division writer used their keen insight to predict the top four fantasy football scorers at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

John Hickey covers the NFC West:

QUARTERBACKS

1. Alex Smith, 49ers: 3,000 yards, 22 TDs, 12 interceptions.

Smith, for the first time, has the same offensive coordinator two years in succession. That has given him some continuity, and maybe the chance to be the star the 49ers thought he was when they drafted him out of Utah. Competing in a weak division helps.

2. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks: 2,900 yards, 18 TDs, 14 interceptions.

Hasselbeck's numbers are pretty good, not world class, but you could do worse. The trouble is that the offensive line is missing its best player from a year ago, the retired Walter Jones, and Russell Okung, the first round pick who was supposed to replace him is hurt. That leads to the suggestion that Hasselbeck will be hurried and his interceptions could go up.

3. Sam Bradford/A.J. Feeley, Rams: 2550 yards, 16 TDs, 16 interceptions.

Bradford is the great unknown, but assuming he starts over A.J. Feeley, he could open up the Rams' offense. He's got a strong arm, but it will be a test to see if the weak Rams' offensive line can support him. It can only help that Steven Jackson can carry the bulk of the offense on the ground.

4. Matt Leinart/Derek Anderson, Cardinals: 1,850 yards 12 TDs, 14 interceptions.

The Cardinals will probably start the year with Derek Anderson, but even if Matt Leinart isn't kept on the bench or traded, why would you draft Anderson? He is erratic and Leinart has never established himself.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Frank Gore, 49ers: 1,200 yards, 12 TDs.

Gore has a vested interest in seeing an improved season from quarterback Alex Smith; the better Smith is, the less the defenses will key on Gore, who is a first-class ground gainer. And with his top backup, Glen Coffee, out of the game, Gore could get more carries.

2. Steven Jackson, Rams: 1,200 yards, 10 TDs.

They don't make them much better than Jackson, who has had to go it alone without much of an offense around him the last few years. The thing is, the better Sam Bradford is at quarterback, the greater the chance that the Rams will throw more and run less. Still, that should keep Jackson healthy and productive -- and bring his touchdown total way up.

3. Beanie Wells, Cardinals: 1,100 yards, 9 TDs.

Wells wasn't the team's featured back until about midseason last year, but he started to show his 4.5 speed and ability to dominate games. Now that the job is his from the start, his draftability, which dropped last year, should be climbing again.

4. Justin Forsett, Seahawks: 975 yards, 9 TDs.

Forsett will have to establish himself over Julius Jones and Leon Washington, but he is the best combination of runner/slasher the Seahawks have, and he has a history in which the more carries he gets, the better he does. He also spent time in the offseason working on catching the ball, which had been a liability.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: 1,000 yards, 10 TDs.

Fitzgerald could wind up being hurt as much as anyone on the Cardinals' roster by the retirement of Kurt Warner. Still, he's a first-class receiver with the ability to catch the ball in coverage -- which he may have to do lots of, given Arizona's quarterback issues.

2. Michael Crabtree, 49ers: 1,150 yards, 7 TD.

Crabtree isn't likely to be highly regarded in many fantasy headquarters, but just because he's had a neck injury, does not mean he's a guy to overlook. He seemed to click with Smith last year and all his stats in 2009 came after not playing until Week 7.

3. Deion Branch, Seahawks: 900 yards, 8 TDs.

Branch has often been accused of being a classic underachiever, but watching him in Seahawks camp this year, one gets the idea that maybe Branch is ready to be the receiver so many have thought he could be.

4. Laurent Robinson, Rams: 850 yards, 10 TDs.

Robinson goes to the front of the class with the Rams thanks to the injury to top receiver Donnie Avery. Of course, all this goes by the wayside if the Rams somehow manage to pry Vincent Jackson away from the Chargers.

TIGHT ENDS

1. Vernon Davis, 49ers: 1,000 yards, 15 TDs

Davis comes into the season among the elite in the game, and there's no real reason to believe he won't be better in 2010. He's good in tight spaces, and he's got the rep as a go-to guy with the 49ers.

2. John Carlson, Seahawks: 760 yards, 7 TDs.

Carlson had trouble with inconsistency last year, but still was among Seattle's top offensive threats. A year of maturity may help see him through.

3. Michael Hoomanawanui, Rams: 480 yards, 6 TDs.

Hoomanawanui will make drafters stay away from him simply because they don't want to have to remember how to spell his name. But he's had a big preseason, and that could project well looking ahead.

4. Ben Patrick, Cardinals: 450 yards, 4 TDs.

Patrick's numbers should be on the rise -- if he can get some playing time. He missed much of the preseason with a kneecap injury.