Los Angeles Rams: 4 rookies to watch in the NFC West

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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 16: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #8 of the Washington Huskies scores a touchdown in the second quarter against Johnny Johnson #17 of the Fresno State Bulldogs at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

If there is one threat, a legitimate threat to the promise held by Los Angeles Rams fans for a monster 2018, it’s their rival up north in San Francisco. That’s right and like it or not, the 49ers are a very good team, and will be a thorn in the side of the NFC West, and all their opponents they face this season.

Scoff if you so choose, but quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and head coach Kyle Shanahan have it going in the Bay Area, and save for a late sack by defensive tackle Aaron Donald in Week 3 of last season, the Niners would have swept the Rams in 2018.

And please, spare me the talk of Week 17 where McVay sat a lot of his starters against that 49ers team. The Rams got a gift in that early season shootout, and were throttled to close out the year.

Hey, it happens, and it could again this season.

Next: 3 reasons to be concerned about Aaron Donald

Outside of the obvious Garoppolo era beginning, the Niners added offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey to protect their would be franchise QB, and also added a solid weapon in second round pick Dante Pettis, a wide receiver from Washington.

Like the Rams, the Niners have a chance to crank it up on offense. Pettis was a solid pass catcher with the Huskies and during his career at Washington, he’d total 163 receptions, for 2,256 yards. He also had 24 touchdowns and would set an NCAA record posting nine punt returns for touchdowns.

The 49ers are trending up, and have now served notice to the Los Angeles Rams that a division title doesn’t necessarily have to go through LA.

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