Sleepers, Surprises and Projections – NFC WEST Edition
July 10, 2025
On this week’s Heater Dynasty Podcast, host Eric Heater walks us through a deep dive into one of the most fantasy-loaded divisions in football: the NFC West. Armed with his custom-built Google Sheets projection tool, Eric shares positional breakdowns, bold takes, and valuable insight that can give you the edge in your fantasy leagues—redraft or dynasty, including some sleepers, surprises and projections you need to know.
And yes, the spreadsheet he uses? You can get it. Just follow Eric on Instagram or check out his Patreon or Etsy shop for access.
📊 What Is the Projection Tool?
This isn’t just a bunch of guesswork. Eric’s projection sheet:
- Auto-updates rosters using OurLads
- Lets you enter core stats like pass/rush attempts (green cells)
- Outputs season-long projections for every skill player (gray/blue cells)
- Is built off four-year team averages and adjusts for coaching/personnel changes
It’s like having a mini fantasy analytics lab at your fingertips. But now, for those sleepers, surprises and projections you need to know:
🔍 Team-by-Team Fantasy Rundown
🟥 Arizona Cardinals
- Kyler Murray (QB7): Mobile upside + healthy offense = cheat code potential.
- James Conner (RB13): Perennially underrated. He’s still that dude in Arizona.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR16): Post-hype breakout loading.
- Trey McBride (TE2): Quietly becoming the centerpiece of this offense.
✏️ Verdict: Four startable players and McBride might lead the team in targets.
🟨 Los Angeles Rams
- Matthew Stafford (QB23): Serviceable Superflex QB; no rushing upside.
- Kyren Williams (RB11): Underappreciated workhorse—don’t sleep.
- Puka Nacua (WR6): Still the alpha in L.A., even with…
- Davante Adams (WR38): Traded to the Rams but viewed as a Flex at best.
- Tyler Higbee (TE19): Dynasty backup; low floor, meh ceiling.
✏️ Verdict: Kyren and Puka are strong weekly starts; Adams is the big question mark.
🟥 San Francisco 49ers
- Brock Purdy (QB8): Solid late-round grab with a cushy schedule.
- Christian McCaffrey (RB7): Elite when healthy, but volume could dip.
- George Kittle (TE3): Big role increase expected.
- WR room: Messy.
- Brandon Aiyuk (WR58): Injury recovery concerns.
- Ricky Pearsall (WR43) and Jauan Jennings (WR40): Both intriguing, neither clear-cut.
✏️ Verdict: High ceiling, high risk across the board. Expect weekly volatility.
🟩 Seattle Seahawks
- Sam Darnold (QB12): Eric’s boldest call. A post-hype sleeper with a real shot.
- Kenneth Walker III (RB26): Talent? Yes. Health? Not so much.
- Zach Charbonnet: Handcuff alert. Could shine with a Walker injury.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR9): Huge breakout incoming.
- Cooper Kupp (WR31): Now in Seattle, still relevant, but aging.
- Noah Fant (TE28): Depth-only option.
✏️ Verdict: JSN stock is rising fast. Darnold might shock people (and win leagues).
🎤 Final Thoughts
Eric wraps up the episode reflecting on just how jam-packed the NFC West is with fantasy value—but also how fragile some of it might be. Between aging stars, injury risks, and breakout potential, there’s a lot to unpack here.
If you want to run your own projections or tweak your own rankings, grab his fantasy tool and plug in the numbers yourself.
➡️ Next up: the AFC North episode drops this Saturday. Hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss it!
Follow @HeaterDynastyPodcast on all platforms to level up your fantasy football prep this season.
Add a comment
0 Comments