WELCOME TO THE FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 NFC WEST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW!
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at the four teams in the NFC West and telling you who the players are you should invest in for IDP fantasy football in 2025 and/or those you should potentially avoid.
Now, before we start going position by position, let’s break down the ins and outs of each team from this past season!
***Also, stats & info from all of our divisional previews are sourced from the following outlets: PFF, Fantasy Points Data Suite, FantasyData, FTN, & NFL Next Gen Stats.***
Now that we’ve seen where these teams left off in 2024, let us preview where their players at different positions can either help or hurt your fantasy football teams in 2025!
Linebacker
Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers (FIF Consensus & LB12)
This ranking gives me no joy. Fred Warner is the best linebacker in football, and it frankly is not all that close. However, on-field aptitude does not always equal IDP glory (which I constantly need to remind myself of). Over the past 5 seasons, Warner has put up historically dominant numbers, with PFF ratings of 88.6, 75.2, 83.7, 90.2, & 89.2. However, his fantasy finishes in those years are: 15, 16, 24, 11, & 12. Elite on-field player, good IDP option. 131 tackles and 7.5 PBUs per year is a great floor, but he is frankly too good to have enough production to end up as a top-3 LB.
Ernest Jones IV, Seattle Seahawks (FIF Consensus & LB5)
Let’s get crazy. Jones has long been one of my favorite players in the league, now refined into an upper-echelon LB. He had a bizarre season, being traded twice, but still produced LB2 numbers with almost 140 tackles. Now with an extension and second year in Mike MacDonald’s scheme, Jones hopes to return to 2023 form, where he had nearly 150 tackles and five sacks. The lower metrics in 2024 are understandable with his movement, but he improved as the season persisted.
Extrapolating his Seattle sacks to a full season would have him as an LB1, but that is without improvement from his schematic knowledge and ability to dip back into his pass rush bag. Call my aggressive ranking bias, but Jones is a top-5 play for me in 2025.
Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks (FIF Consensus & LB30)
When Ernest Jones came over and ramped up with Seattle, Knight also took over the LB2 role. He saw limited play time at the start of the year, but took off in week 11. From week 11 to the end of the season, Knight was an LB2, with 65 tackles. Knight has a solid floor for a team LB2, but has some pass-rush upside, too. He ranked as a top-15 pass-rushing LB in most metrics, leading to hope that he could see some more production there. With him being the second LB, he cannot be ranked as an LB2; however, he is a solid LB3 for 2025.
Nate Landman, Los Angeles Rams (FIF Consensus & LB32)
In 2023, Landman took over an injured Atlanta LB room and finished with 110 tackles and as a back-end LB3. The hope was to continue this momentum in 2024, but he did not regain his form after missing the early months. His snaps dropped 10 percentage points before winding up in Los Angeles this offseason. In an inexperienced room, Landman may yet again find himself as the top LB. Landman has been great against the run, finishing 2023 and 2024 in the top-36 both seasons.
The top Rams LB has produced well lately, even with average players winding up as high-end LB3s. If we had confirmation that Landman would be the green-dot (which I do expect), he would be in the high-30s; however, he lands in my LB4 range until the run-stuffer gets that confirmation.
Dee Winters, San Francisco 49ers (FIF Consensus & LB50)
Here we have another new face plugged into a significant role. Winters projects to be the starting Will next to Fred Warner, at least while rookie Nick Martin develops. The LB2 role in San Francisco has been highly productive, with Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair both producing LB2 seasons. Winters was okay in limited action last year, though it was a vast improvement on his rookie season. He was the 6th-best coverage LB in 2024, which is something to build on. If he can keep the role all season, Winters should sneak into LB3 conversations.
Mack Wilson Sr., Arizona Cardinals (FIF Consensus & LB42)
In an overall weak room, Wilson looks like he is pulling away from the group. Wilson is rocking the green-dot as camp starts, leading us to believe he is the guy as of now. Currently, the Cardinal’s top LB is going outside of the top-75 true LBs. Akeem Davis-Gathier is the top LB by ADP, but he is fighting for a spot with Owen Pappoe. Playing behind Kyzir White in 2024, Wilson had 75 tackles and three sacks on 70.5% of snaps.
If he can push that total into the mid-90s, he should sneak into LB2 territory. The ranking remains conservative for now, but has the potential to grow. White finished 2024 as LB22, which would be the hope for Wilson Sr.
Best Value at LB
Of the group listed, Wilson is the best value. He is expected to wear the green dot in Arizona’s defense, which at least means he will be on the field for every snap. To go off the board, the Rams LB room has potential to be interesting. Omar Speights flashed some talent in games he started, while rookie Chris “Pooh” Paul has a lot of love and hype in NFL circles. Paul is not draftable now, as the LB3 or 4 (depending on how you view Troy Reeder), but he should be marked as a future waiver wire pick-up.
Defensive Linemen
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers (FIF Consensus & EDGE6)
Let’s keep this short and sweet… Bosa still rules. He played only 14 games (including 37% of snaps in week 18 with no stats) and finished as DL12 (EDGE9). In a year from hell for the 49ers, Bosa still had nine sacks. If the team is better (healthier) he will have even more opportunities. Per PFF, Bosa graded as the 4th best EDGE overall, while being the 7th best rusher and 18th best against the run. The defense has far less talent than in years past, so he does not belong to the “S-tier” rushers, but he is still a top-6 lock for me.
Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams (FIF Consensus & EDGE8)
The only question with the reigning DROY is how high to rank him. He finished his rookie year as a borderline EDGE1, despite totalling only 4.5 sacks. We have hope that the sack total will improve based on elite metrics. Verse led the league in pressures while finishing top-9 in rush grade, PRP, and win %. As a rookie!!! Now add in his elite run-defense profile/metrics, and you have a surefire IDP star. He should continue to see ~65 tackles/year while having double-digit sack upside. He remains outside of the top tier (for now) until we can ensure he is just as consistent as that group!
Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks (FIF Consensus & DT5)
How often do we see a career-year at 30 years old? I do not have specific data, but it cannot be that often. However, this is precisely what happened in 2024 for Leonard Williams. He finished 2024 as DL6 and DT1 overall with 64 tackles and 11 sacks. Williams may not have quite as much production in 2025, but he was truly dominant. Williams was top-6 amongst all DTs in run-defense and top-24 in most pass rush metrics. Even if sacks regress to the mean, Williams has a massive floor in DT leagues. Byron Murphy II’s emergence could steal some numbers, but Williams is startable in even non-DT leagues.
Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals (FIF Consensus & EDGE20)
Sweat reunites with former DC Jonathan Gannon after signing a massive free agent deal. He had two great seasons under Gannon, totaling nearly 100 tackles with 18.5 sacks. Sweat’s numbers dropped slightly in the two years since Gannon’s departure, but he still has been a DE2 for IDP teams, with 42 tackles and 7.25 sacks averaged. In Arizona, he should remain a DE2 type of play as the top rusher in their room. His metrics are more good than great, but Gannon knows how to maximize Sweat, who enters a strong DL room.
Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams (FIF Consensus & DT9)
Turner has been spectacular in two seasons, finishing as a DT1 both years while compiling 119 tackles and 17 sacks. His pass rush metrics did drop in 2024, but the increase in snaps (8 more, 13% higher) negated that. Turner’s improvement against the run will allow him to remain on the field at a 75% clip, giving a high floor to go with the pass rush ceiling. He has the profile of a top-6 DT, but the number of mouths to feed on the Rams’ front lowers him a bit. You should have no concern starting the third-year pro, with the hope that he can improve even more.
Boye Mafe, Seattle Seahawks (FIF Consensus & EDGE42)
After a strong 2023, Mafe’s IDP numbers regressed in 2024. In one less game, Mafe put up 12 fewer tackles and three fewer sacks. 2025 is not projected to be much easier for the former Golden Gopher either. Seattle added longtime Cowboy Demarcus Lawrence to their EDGE room, third-year pro Derrick Hall appears to be leaping, and Mafe has shown to be a solid-to-good pass rusher while he vastly improved in the run game last season. If Mafe were guaranteed a starting (and near-full-time) role, he would be firmly within EDGE2 rankings. Unfortunately, he is a high-risk, high-reward play at this time, with the potential of falling to Seattle’s EDGE4.
Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams (FIF Consensus & EDGE26)
In two seasons, Young has accumulated 123 total tackles and 15.5 sacks. He has finished as a mid-level DE2 in both seasons, including one with budding star Jared Verse across from him. With the ascendance of Verse and DT Kobie Turner, we cannot rank Young this high, but he is severely undervalued presently. While his metrics are not elite, he has proven IDP sustainability. Having a couple of freaks next to him will allow more fantasy opportunities as well, with focus shifted away.
Mykel Williams, San Francisco 49ers (FIF Consensus & EDGE38)
The first (and only – spoiler!) rookie highlighted here is the top-12 pick from Georgia. Williams should step into a significant role on a 49er defense that has lost much talent over recent seasons. Even with Bryce Huff added, Williams expects to be an early-down EDGE while kicking inside for rush downs. Williams had dominant stretches at Georgia (between injuries), bullying linemen against the run while adding a pass-rush skillset to his game.
If Williams continues to develop and sees a lion’s share of snaps, he has EDGE2 potential; however, he is ranked more conservatively until we see any snaps. Williams was a favorite of mine this cycle, with immense – albeit raw – talent. His dominance against the run gives him a higher floor than many rookies.
Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals (FIF Consensus & DT15)
For our last name of the DL breakdown, we go off the board. Calais Campbell returns to Arizona after 8 seasons with four teams. In 2024, he graded as the best DT against the run. He finished as DL26 & DT9 at 38 years old. His pass rush prowess has fallen, but he is still functional – top-25 amongst DTs in pressures. The timeless wonder is fighting father time off better than most, but at age 39, we cannot rank him as a top-10 DT. He should still be in line for 55 tackles and five sacks, which keeps him as a priority DT add.
Best Value at DL
The best value in the division is a battle between a rookie and one of the oldest players in the league. Mykel Williams is currently ranked as an EDGE7, yes, seven. He may not be a superstar immediately, but the top-12 pick has little competition from the rest of the room. He should see a large amount of snaps, and with attention diverted to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, he could see a good amount of cleanup work. Even if Williams is just solid against the run and developing against the pass, he should see enough snaps to land within the top-80 easily.
Defensive Back
Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals (FIF Consensus & DB1)
2024 was another feather in Baker’s cap, finishing as the DB1 again. Baker was second in the league in tackles, totaling over 160. The most significant benefit of Baker is that he is allowed to “freelance” and match across the field, seeing only 35% of snaps deep. No additions were made that should affect this setup for Baker, so another DB1 season is looming. He has finished as a DB1 in 6 of 7 years (the exception season saw him miss five games), so we are right to think he can finish there again. Arizona has a strong DL and weak LB room, clearing the path for him to finish with well over 100 tackles again.
Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks (FIF Consensus & DB10)
In two seasons with Seattle, Love has been a great fantasy asset. He has been a top-8 DB both seasons, averaging 108 tackles, 11 PBUs, and 3.5 INTs. Metrics-wise, he was a top-6 overall safety in overall defense and run defense, while also being top-12 in tackling and coverage. These numbers typically lead to a clear tier-1 and top-8 play, but there is hesitation this season. Love has played deep 55% of snaps in two years as a Seahawk (70% in 2024), which is less than ideal.
Competition has ramped up, with Ernest Jones and top-40 pick Nick Emmanwori coming in. Emmanwori’s rawness keeps him from tanking Love’s stock in 2025. The alignment and defensive improvements do drop Love from a tier-1 play, but he is still an easy DB1
Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks (FIF Consensus & DB15)
Corners typically should not be prominent in DB rankings, with lower proximity to the ball and struggles against the run. It takes a specific type of player to appear high in DB lists, and Witherspoon is the prototype. He is a primarily slot CB (proximity to the ball) who is an absolute nut-job against the run. He has been a top-6 CB in both of his seasons, totalling 177 tackles, four sacks, and 25 PBUs. His numbers dropped in 2024, but it was still a good year.
Entering the second season in Mike MacDonald’s scheme will allow him to play more loosely and fiercely, hopefully increasing his numbers. Spoon is CB1 and a borderline DB1 due to elite run metrics (4th amongst CBs, 5th for DBs) and alignment.
Quentin Lake, Los Angeles Rams (FIF Consensus & DB24)
Lake was having a strong fantasy season in 2024 before taking over the full-time nickel role in week 11. He finished the season as DB23 with 111 tackles. In both primary nickel and deep safety roles, he averaged around seven tackles per game, giving Lake a solid floor. Lake’s calling card is against the run, where he ranked as a top-40 DB overall per PFF in 2024. This proves the floor, but struggles against the pass, keeping his upside down. He is a borderline-DB2 for me, with no other true slot players on the roster who could steal his role.
Jalen Thompson, Arizona Cardinals (FIF Consensus & DB28)
Thompson has consistently been underrated in IDP leagues, overshadowed by Budda Baker. Over the past four seasons, Thompson has averaged over 100 tackles, 6 PBUs, and 2 INTs. Those are high-end DB2 numbers, though they have been lower in the past two seasons. Thompson is still used as a box-safety/nickel LB, with only ~35% of snaps deep. As mentioned with Baker, the weak LB room allows Thompson to clean up tackles while also having potential ball-production from the box/slot. The floor he has given over nearly a half-decade keeps him in DB2/3 range, even if Baker shines brighter.
Kamren Curl, Los Angeles Rams (FIF Consensus & DB40)
Curl was an immense IDP disappointment in his first season with the Rams. He was an elite option for 3+ years with the Commanders, but shifted roles in LA. With a weak DB room, Chris Shula used Curl as a deep safety 60% of the time. In the nation’s capital, he was utilized deep only 30% of the time. That is all that needs to be said to explain the decline. With Lake’s emergence and the system as a whole, we should not expect much to change. The usage keeps Curl out of DB3 range for now, though he is a priority add/watch in deeper leagues.
The 49ers? (FIF Consensus & >DB50)
With Malik Mustapha down for the foreseeable future, the 49ers do not have any DBs with clear, season-long IDP value. Ji’Ayir Brown will start at deep safety, but does not project as a top-48 DB with poor run game metrics. Deommodore Lenoir is probably the top DB, as their 2024 slot corner, but he also does not affect the run game much. With Charvarius Ward’s exit, Lenoir may also be forced outside, further dropping his value. The box safety role in Mustapha’s absence seems to be between Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant. Both have had moments, but have lost snaps before moving on to San Francisco.
Best Value at DB
Most of this group is currently ranked pretty close to their perceived value, making the best value a tough call. If Quentin Lake has CB eligibility, he would be the top value; however, that is not a guarantee. We will go entirely off the board here for the DB value, taking my on-field/film bias fully into play. Arizona’s Garrett Williams has become one of the best under-the-radar players in the league after a strong 2024.
The slot corner graded as a top-12 overall DB and top-8 in coverage in 2024. He has not shown much against the run, but with 96+% slot/box usage in his career, he is at least in a position to do something. He has a great claim as the second-best Cardinal defender, so he will be on the field every snap he is healthy. Sometimes in IDP, opportunity = success (or at least a chance at it!)
Thanks for taking the time to read the FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 NFC WEST IDP DIVISIONAL PREVIEW! You can follow me at @JoeLow63 on Twitter/X. Feel free to reach out for any fantasy football questions you might have!
***For more 2025 Fantasy Football Divisional Previews, click here.***
