1 | RAMS

2017 | 11-5, first in West

Last year in playoffs | 2017

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Jared Goff: The No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft bounced back from a rough rookie year and made it to the Pro Bowl. Now he must take the next step and win some games in the fourth quarter.

RB Todd Gurley: The NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year cannot be expected to repeat as the league leader in touchdowns, but the Rams also cannot afford to have a back with a newly signed $60 million extension take a step back.

DT Ndamukong Suh: Even before NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald’s holdout ended, the Rams need their high-priced free-agent acquisition to perform at an elite level.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

S John Johnson: The second-year safety is the youngster of a secondary that includes star cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and franchise-tagged safety Lamarcus Joyner. Peters said Johnson is on his way to becoming an All-Pro.

WR Pharoh Cooper: He’s made a name for himself as a Pro Bowl kick returner. The receiving corps is crowded with starters Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp, but the Rams might find more ways to use his multipurpose skills.

TE Gerald Everett: The tight end was the Rams’ top draft pick last year but was overwhelmed at times with the responsibilities of the position. He suffered a shoulder injury during training camp; if healthy, he should give the offense an extra dimension.

2 | SAN FRAN.

2017 | 6-10, fourth in West

Last year in playoffs | 2013

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Jimmy Garoppolo: Is “Jimmy G” the player 49ers fans think he is? He’s 7-0 as a starter, with two of those wins coming when he was at New England. He’s already in the 49ers’ record books, with more passing yards through his first five starts (1,542) than any quarterback in team history.

DL DeForest Buckner: Buckner didn’t have big sack numbers last season but created a lot of chaos and pressure. In 2016, as a rookie, he was one of nine players with six or more sacks and two or more fumble recoveries.

LT Joe Staley: The 49ers arecounting on their longtime stalwart to protect their five-year, $137.5 million investment in Garoppolo. Now 34, Staley’s embraced yoga that he says has helped his flexibility.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

CB Ahkello Witherspoon: Richard Sherman is going to be in the spotlight, with everyone checking out how he has recovered from his torn Achilles tendon. But just as important is Witherspoon buttoning down the opposite corner.

FS Adrian Colbert: Colbert, who filled in for an injured Jimmie Ward last season, has excellent range and is a big hitter. He’s pivotal to the 49ers secondary.

TE Garrett Celek: The brother of former Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek, Garrett is making a name for himself. A good blocker who made some great catches at training camp, he has survived four head coaches.

3 | SEATTLE

2017 | 9-7, second in West

Last year in playoffs | 2016

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

DE Frank Clark: Without Michael Bennett or Cliff Avril, the Seahawks are going to need Clark to generate a lot of their pass rush. This goes double if Dion Jordan can’t get healthy after offseason knee surgery.

QB Russell Wilson: Wilson has helped the team to two Super Bowl appearances and consistently is in the league’s Most Valuable Player conversation. He can’t try to do too much, though, and needs a running game to take off some of the pressure.

FS Tedric Thompson: If Earl Thomas isn’t back there — and it’s looking like he won’t be — the duty of shoring up the back end of that defense falls to Thompson. When Thomas was injured a couple of years ago, Steven Terrell didn’t do such a great job, and the Seahawks suffered.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

DE Rasheem Green: The third-round pick has looked good so far, and the defensive-minded Seahawks need more rushers to turn up the heat on quarterbacks.

CB Tre Flowers: The former college safety is being converted to corner, and at a lean

6 feet 3, 203 pounds, he has the build of a young Richard Sherman. Flowers is a Pete Carroll project.

RB Chris Carson: A seventh-round pick last year, Carson showed impressive flashes before a season-ending injury. Now he hopes to team with rookie Rashaad Penny for a 1-2 punch like New Orleans has.

4 | ARIZONA

2017 | 8-8, third in West

Last year in playoffs | 2015

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

RB David Johnson: It doesn’t matter who starts at quarterback if this dual-threat running back isn’t a big part of the offense. Johnson, who was lost for the season in the opening week last year, was the league’s best running back in 2016.

DE Chandler Jones: The reigning NFL sack leader is adjusting to the 4-3 scheme of new coach Steve Wilks. Jones will be tested in Week 1 when he goes up against Washington left tackle Trent Williams.

WR Larry Fitzgerald: In his 15th season, the most veteran Cardinal also could be the most valuable. He led the NFC in catches last year and has a thin receiving corps around him.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

C Mason Cole: The third-round pick was drafted to ultimately become the full-time starter down the road. Then center A.Q. Shipley, the team’s only offensive lineman to start every game a year ago, was lost for the season in training camp.

QB Josh Rosen: The 10th pick of draft isn’t the starter at the moment, but Sam Bradford hasn’t started every game in a season since 2012. Rosen is the most polished passer in his draft class.

S Budda Baker: Baker excelled as a rookie, particularly on special teams, where he made the Pro Bowl. With the departure of Tyrann Mathieu, the Cardinals are banking on this second-year defender to step in as a starter.

— Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times