Which NFC West team boasts the best QB/RB duo?

Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) in the huddle with running back Andre Ellington (38), offensive tackle Bobby Massie (70) and teammates against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Having a competent quarterback and talented running back can lead to some exciting results for any offense. The NFC West has started to create a brand of dominant defenses, but there are some talented offensive players here as well. Here we will take a look at the 4 quarterback/running back duos that reside in the NFC West, and rank them from bottom to top.

#4. Carson Palmer QB / Andre Ellington RB – Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals duo brings up the rear in this countdown. The low ranking comes mostly from Ellington and his poor stat line, but also from the recent case of the injury bug starting quarterback Palmer has caught. Ellington is heading into his third season in the league, but hasn’t produced much after being considered one of the top running back prospects of the 2013 draft. Consecutive years of sub-700 rushing yards and no more than three touchdowns each year did little to help the Cardinals offense. Palmer on the other hand has been very effective, when healthy. Palmer is heading into his third season in Arizona, but coming off a torn ACL injury in 2014. In 2013, Palmer amassed more that 4,000 yards passing and 24 touchdowns. Prior to injury last year, He threw for over 1,600 yards and 11 touchdowns. That would have put him on pace for over 4,000 passing yards once again and a touchdown total of almost 30. If Palmer can stay healthy the Cardinals will always be productive through the air, but without a consistent running game, they will be predictable. There is nothing worse than a predictable offense in the NFL.

Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA;San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrate with running back Carlos Hyde (28) after he scored a touchdown in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

#3. Colin Kaepernick QB / Carlos Hyde RB – San Francisco 49ers

The spit between position 2 and 3 on this countdown was closer than expected, but ultimately there   are more question marks surrounding the duo of Kaepernick and Hyde then the next bunch on our countdown. We’ll start with Kaepernick as he has more of an NFL portfolio than Hyde. Kaepernick has improved his passing yard total in all four years of his career, peaking at 3,369 last year. His touchdown total has never been overwhelming, but what makes him dangerous is his ability to make plays with his legs. Over 600 rushing yards last year also marked a career high. Kaepernick still struggles with his accuracy and has been noted to use his legs when a perfectly good passing option still exists, but is a dual threat quarterback. Hyde had a forgetful 2014 campaign. He registered an anemic 333 rushing yards and four touchdowns last year. These stats came as a secondary option to franchise rushing leader Frank Gore, who left for Indianapolis in free agency. Hyde slots to be the starter in 2015 after San Francisco spent a second round draft selection on him in 2014, but he may lose touches to newly acquired veteran Reggie Bush if he cannot produce. The length of his leash has yet to be determined, but the Niners are poised to take a step backwards in 2015 and production for both of these players looks to decline.