Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Jordan Love (@ Den) – The last time we saw Jordan Love he threw 3 interceptions against the Raiders. It was a rough outing for Love but up next he faces the lowly Broncos defense. The Broncos are allowing an average of 21.5 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and the Packers are coming off a bye. For the most part, Love has had a solid debut season in Green Bay and he is a viable fantasy option with his rushing ability. I expect Love to finish with 2 passing touchdowns and over 30+ rushing yards in this one.

Sit ‘Em

Trevor Lawrence (@ NO) – As of now it looks like Lawrence will suit up tonight against the Saints. He is dealing with a minor knee injury but it’s not expected to be serious. Even if completely healthy the Saints have mostly shut down opposing quarterbacks allowing an average of 14.1 fantasy points per game to them. If Lawrence does play I expect the Jaguars to lean heavily on Travis Etienne in this one. I would also be hesitant to start any Jaguars pass catchers tonight.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (@ NYG) – Robinson has yet to break the 100+ rushing mark in a game but that could change on Sunday. Robinson will go up against a Giants defense that as a team is giving up 147.5 rushing yards per game. Really the only thing holding Robinson back is the pass-heavy play calling by Eric Bieniemy. This is the week to lean in on the run as wind could be a factor in this game.

Sit ‘Em

Raheem Mostert (@ Phi) – Sit a skill player on the Dolphins offense? It sounds crazy but Miami is set to face the Eagles defense that has been stout against the run. The Eagles are allowing an average of just 9.4 fantasy points to opposing running backs thus far. It will also be a chilly Sunday night game in Philly which favors the Eagles at home. This will be a good measuring stick game for the Dolphins on the road. I will be watching closely to see how well their offense performs in these conditions.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Drake London (@ TB) – Drake London started the season slowly but is starting to heat up. He had 9 receptions on 12 targets for 125 receiving yards last week vs. the Commanders. London has had 21 targets in the last two games as the Falcons are looking to get him more involved in the passing game. Up next is Tampa Bay who have struggled to contain #1 receivers this season. I see London getting his 3rd touchdown of the season in this one.

Sit ‘Em

George Pickens (@ LAR) – Last time we saw him Pickens scored the go-ahead touchdown in week 5 vs. the Ravens. He finished with 130 receiving yards in that game and 23.6 fantasy points. Up next is the Rams defense who have been solid against opposing wide receivers so far this season. On top of that, it looks like Diontae Johnson is set to return from IR which will take some of the targets away from Pickens.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Michael Mayer (@ Chi) – It took some time but Michael Mayer finally showed off his potential in week 6. Mayer finished with 6 catches and 75 receiving yards on 6 targets against the Patriots. Up next he gets the Bears defense who have struggled stopping opposing tight ends this season. If you are thin at tight end, Mayer is worth starting and he is still just 12.8% rostered in leagues.

Sit ‘Em

Hunter Henry (vs. Buf) – Henry had a strong start to the season but has been non-existent in his last two games. He is also dealing with an ankle injury that will limit his mobility. The matchup isn’t great either as the Patriots will face the Bills at home on Sunday. Sit Henry until he regains his early-season form.

Start of the Week

Aaron Jones (@ Den) – Despite dealing with a hamstring injury that has him limited in practice, Jones is set for a big day on Sunday. The Packers are coming off a bye which should help in Jones’s recovery. He is also facing the Broncos rush defense whom have been abysmal at stopping opposing running backs. As usual, be sure to monitor his injury but if he is good to go Jones should go off in week 7.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 7 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Things to look for: After struggling Week 1 against the Jets, the Bills seems to be running on all their cylinders as they battle the Dolphins this week. Granted they played the Commanders who seems to have issues on both sides of the ball. Miami is an offensive juggernaut right now who seem unstoppable. They have all the weapons and even without Jaylen Waddle they will be hard to beat. I think in this game they come back to earth, with Tua Tagovailoa under a lot of pressure.

Who has the edge: Many people will overreact after last weeks dominant win and say Dolphins all the way. Let’s pump the brakes on that one as playing in Buffalo, even in the Fall is very difficult. This game has 34-31 in OT written all over it as both teams can put up a lot of points. What do the Bills plan to do with Tyreek Hill who they have experience playing against both with the Dolphins and Chiefs. They can’t give up the big play and somehow force Miami to run with Raheem Mostert. This will play into their strength of a solid run defense. For Buffalo, they will need to put up points and force a few turnovers from Tua.

Prediction: Buffalo 34 Miami 31 in OT

The post NFL Week 4 Game of the Week appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

C.J. Stroud – (15.5% Owned)

Stroud is starting to come into his own for the Houston Texans. Houston put up one of the more impressive performances of the week in a blowout win at Jacksonville. Stroud completed 66.67% of his passes and had 2 passing touchdowns in the game. More importantly, he had zero interceptions in the contest. In fact, Stroud has yet to throw a pick this year which is encouraging for a young quarterback. He is now worth picking up and starting if you’re struggling at the quarterback position.

Running Backs

De’Von Achane – (29.1% Owned)

Achane will certainly be the #1 waiver wire target this week after an insane 49.3 FP output against the Denver Broncos. It wasn’t just Achane for the Dolphins, Raheem Mostert also went off on a record-setting day for Miami. The question now going forward is if Achane is worth starting. Even in a crowded Dolphins backfield, the answer is yes. Achane has elite-level speed and in that offense, he can take it to the house at any moment.

Wide Receivers

Tank Dell – (28.2% Owned)

Dell exploded on Sunday for 145 yards and 1 touchdown in the Texans win. He is building a nice chemistry with C.J. Stroud and this Houston offense is looking much better than expected. Dell has had 17 targets in his last 2 starts and is a significant piece in this Texans offense. He is not a one-week wonder, Dell is worth picking up if he is available in your league.

Quentin Johnston – (39.6% Owned)

Johnston has been non-existent in the first three games but that’s about to change. The Chargers were dealt a blow as Mike Williams is now out for the season with an ACL injury. It’s time for Johnston to step into this role as WR2 for Los Angeles. While the production hasn’t been there yet there will be plenty of opportunities going forward. If you’re in a deep league, Joshua Palmer is also worth a look.

Tight Ends

Luke Musgrave – (16.2% Owned)

While Musgrave has yet to score for Green Bay week 3 he showed some encouraging signs. Musgrave had 6 receptions on 8 targets for 49 yards. He has also played in over 85% of snaps on offense for the Packers the past two weeks. The tight end position is always the trickiest to master in fantasy but this usage is what we like to see. Musgrave is worth stashing on your bench as he continues to develop.

The post Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Brock Purdy (vs. NYG) – Purdy has yet to break the 20+ fantasy point mark but I see that changing on Thursday night. The visiting New York Giants are struggling defensively and just gave 28 points to a tanking Cardinals team. Even if Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t play Purdy should still be able to move the ball with ease. This one has all the makings of a blowout.

Sit ‘Em

Jordan Love (vs. NO) – Love has been impressive in his first two starts for Green Bay but he is in for a tough afternoon against the Saints defense. Even at home, the Packers will find it hard to move the ball against New Orleans who have yet to give up 20 points in a game. Green Bay may also be missing Aaron Jones and Christian Watson who has yet to make his 2023 debut.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Buf) – There are no longer questions about who the lead-back in Washington is. Robinson Jr. has solidified his role as the main man for the Commanders thus far. He has also looked impressive in the passing game which is driving up his value. Robinson Jr. has averaged 20 touches per game through the first 2 weeks and I expect him to get around that this week against Buffalo. Washington will look to be more balanced on offense to limit the pressures on Sam Howell.

Sit ‘Em

Najee Harris (@ LV) – Unfortunately It’s now time to sit Harris. Harris has been a huge disappointment, to say the least through the first 2 weeks of the season. He has yet to eclipse the 5-point mark in half-ppr and only has 19 total touches thus far. Jaylen Warren has been the more explosive back and I like his upside better against the weak Raiders run defense.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Deebo Samuel (vs. NYG) – Samuel looks to be in line for more targets as Brandon Aiyuk’s status is in doubt for Thursday night. Samuel has had 16 targets through the first 2 games but has yet to have a breakout performance. I could see that happening tonight against the Giants. Lock in Samuel as a must-start if Aiyuk is out.

Sit ‘Em

Chris Godwin (vs. Phi) – Godwin has a tough matchup this week at home versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. The Eagles secondary will be missing Avonte Maddox but don’t expect Godwin to benefit. It could be a tough day for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense as they deal with the Eagles stout front seven. I am fading Godwin this week until I see better production.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Jake Ferguson (@ Ari) – Ferguson has a great matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals as he will look to find the end zone in back-to-back weeks. Ferguson leads the league with 7 red zone targets which is encouraging going forward. Don’t expect gaudy numbers for Ferguson but I see him grabbing another touchdown on Sunday.

Sit ‘Em

Pat Freiermuth (@ LV) – Freiermuth has been one of the big disappointments in 2023 thus far. It’s hard to put the blame on him though as Kenny Pickett has struggled mightily. Even with a decent matchup ahead, it’s hard to trust Freiermuth to produce. Sit him until the Steelers passing game starts to show some life.

Start of the Week

Raheem Mostert (vs. Den) – There were questions before the season on how big of a role Mostert would get in the Miami Dolphins offense. It’s still early but Mostert has been lead-back for Miami and is showing no signs of slowing down. Mostert is averaging 15.5% touches per game and is currently the RB9 on the season. Coming to town are the Denver Broncos who were gashed by Brian Robinson last week. Robinson had big-time success in the screen-game and I expect Miami to do the same.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 3 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

QB Derek Carr $5300
Derek Carr plays against the Titans today whom were 29th in the league in fantasy points to opposing QBs last year. Allowing 274.8 YPG through the air, ranking dead last at 32nd this Titans team didn’t do a whole lot to improve their secondary. They are great up front as they were the number 1 defense against the run last year. Carr is my favorite stack play of the day.

QB Justin Herbert $6900
This game has the highest over under of any game on the slate today. Two high powered offenses with a whole lot of talent, and two defenses while boasting many talented players, do give up a lot of points. Dolphins gave up 23.2 PPG while the Chargers gave up 22.7. Herbert could be in line for a QB1 performance as the Dolphins were 30th in the league last year in fantasy points per game allowed to QBs.

Dart Throws at QB
Desmond Ridder/Baker Mayfield $4900
If you’re looking to play a lot of high priced studs, I can see either of these guys throwing for 2 TDs today.

Running Backs

RB JK Dobbins $6600
Finally healthy with a lot more weapons on the outside will mean that Dobbins will be in an excellent position to succeed. He should see less men in the box as there is more attention paid to the pass catchers in this offense. Dobbins also gets a juicy opportunity against the team that allowed the most rushing yards(170.2) and fantasy points(28.5) to RB per game last year in the Houston Texans.

RB Raheem Mostert $5400
The Chargers allowed 144.2 YPG on the ground last year as they were one of three teams to give up over 2000 yards last year. With Jeff Wilson Jr going on IR the only competition he will really have in the backfield will be rookie Devin Achane. He could be in line for a 100 yard game with a TD.

RB Brian Robinson Jr $5100
The Cardinals are going to be bad this year, and not in the good way. They ranked 29th in fantasy points against RBs as they gave up a lot of over 100 receptions to RBs last year. I expect a huge day in check downs on top of his work on the ground.

Dart Throws at RB
Devin Achane $4900
AJ Dillon $5200
Gus Edwards $4500

Wide Receivers

WR Chris Olave $6500
If Derek Carr is going to dice up this defense, I want to stack him with Olave. As bad as the Titans were against the QB last year, they were the worst against the WR in fantasy, ranking 32nd. I expect multiple Saints receivers to be celebrating in the end zone today, Olave has the best chance at topping 100 yards as well.

WR Justin Jefferson $8800
He was the number 1 player drafted in fantasy for a reason, he’s the highest salaried player for a reason. If you’re playing him, you’re going to need a lot of value plays to match him up. Not much else to say here, he’s amazing.

WR Keenan Allen $7300
I’m expecting a huge bounce back season from Allen as he and Herbert continue to grow their connection. Great matchup to start as Allen should see somewhere near 12 targets today, and a few of those in the red zone.

Dart Throws at WR
Drake London $5400
Michael Thomas $5100
Could see either of these guys in the end zone today.

Tight Ends

TE TJ Hockenson $5900
After trading for Hockenson last year, he quickly became one of Kirk Cousin’s favorite targets. The number two to JJ, in a very solid matchup, Buccaneers ranked 29th against TEs last year. I could see a double digit target number with a TD for Hock today.

TE Greg Dulcich $4000
Sean Payton loves his TE in the red zone, but Dulcich is a solid route runner with above average athleticism. He should have a great year in this system and I would look for him to have a solid return on a low price point today.

TE Logan Thomas $3200
These are the kind of values you need to play other than the higher priced studs. The cliche is a young QB needs a good TE to get the ball out quickly, and I believe the cliche will ring true today. I expect a 8 target day for Logan Thomas and wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.

Dart Throw at TE
Taysom Hill $3700
He could throw a pass, run the ball, and catch the ball. Taysom Hill is the Ultimate Dart Throw.

Defense/ST

D/ST Washington $2800
The Commanders are a better defense than they get credit for. They can pressure the QB and create turnovers. Big upside play.

D/ST Baltimore $4000
Highest defense on the slate, if you have the money left over, don’t be afraid to spend it on the Ravens.

D/ST Eagles $3700
Sacks, sacks, sacks, and of course sacks.

Optimal lineup
QB Derek Carr
RB Brian Robinson Jr
RB JK Dobbins
WR Chris Olave
WR Michael Thomas
WR Keenan Allen
Flex Raheem Mostert
TE TJ Hockenson
D/ST Washington Commanders

Good Luck everyone, I’ll see you out there. Let’s make that money.

The post DFS Plays for Week 1 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

This is obviously huge news for Alexander Mattison as he will finally be the lead back in Minnesota. Mattison has a chance now to finish as a top-tier fantasy running back in 2023. Keep an eye out for our fantasy football rankings as when they are updated you will see a pretty big jump for Mattison. As for Cook, it all depends on where he lands. Let’s now look at 3 potential suitors for the star running back.

Miami Dolphins

Rumors of Dalvin Cook to the Dolphins have been circulating for months now. The Dolphins have no clear-cut #1 running back and this spot makes the most sense. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Devon Achane round out the crowded running back room for the Dolphins. Achane was a 3rd round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft so the Dolphins have some investment there. Still, when you have a chance to grab one of the top running backs in the game you take it.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are another team to keep an eye on as a Dalvin Cook landing spot. Denver has Javonte Williams coming back and they also signed ex-Bengal Samaje Perine this offseason. There are some factors here to consider. The first is Williams suffered an ACL tear back in October and it might take some time before he is ready. The other is Perine is more of third down running back and has never handled a heavy load. If Head Coach Sean Payton believes his team is a contender, expect him to make a move.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas is a bit of a wild card on this list but there are signs the Cowboys may be interested in Cook. Earlier this offseason the Cowboys decided to release Ezekiel Elliott and move ahead with Tony Pollard. Although Pollard has shown a ton of potential the questions are there if he can handle a full-time role. Fantasy owners would not be happy with Cook entering the mix but the Cowboys offense would become a major threat next season. Never count out Jerry Jones to make a splashy move and bringing in Dalvin Cook would certainly be that.

The post Top 3 Landing Spots for Dalvin Cook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Fantasy Football landscape is more intense than the blazin hot sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings after two weeks of football. Today, it’s vital to cover none other than the Week 3 Waiver Wire. Hence, I’m going to untwine several names to scoop up off the wire.

Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson is looking to be another special former Ohio State wideout, after hauling in a whopping 102 yards and 2 touchdowns against the dog pound last Sunday (which exceeded his first stat-line in Week 1: four catches for 52 yards). Many NFL faces have pointed out that Wilson already gives off “Justin Jefferson vibes”. It should be noted that Wilson doesn’t even have Zach Wilson at QB yet — who is on track to return in Week 4, per NFL.com.

Raheem Mostert

The flash-like RB Raheem Mostert, who is owned in 51.7% of ESPN leagues, is ascending to be the top dog at RB amid a high-powered offense. Mostert out-snapped Chase Edmonds yesterday & ousted 79 total yards. It seems that Mostert’s chemistry with Mike McDaniel is beginning to pay off.

Michael Gallup

The Dallas Cowboys elusive wideout Michael Gallup is finally back after he tore his ACL last season. Gallup inked a five-year deal worth $62.5 million dollars this off-season and he’s expected to be a big part of the puzzle moving forward. He’s only owned in 44% of ESPN leagues, but I expect that number to rise in the next 1-2 weeks.

Evan Engram

The Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram is in a superior situation than last season, to say the least. He is proving to be reliable with Trevor Lawrence – as he ousted eight targets and several catches in Week 2. Michael Salfino of The Athletic is firm that Engram is a top TE add heading into Week 3.

Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions veteran sharpshooter, Jared Goff, is coming off a monster game with four touchdown passes. He finished with a 121.7 passer rating for the day. It may be wise to grab the Lions QB that is nominated for FedEx Air Player of The Week & that is only rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues.

Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas, also known as Taysom Hill before Taysom Hill, nicely recorded a touchdown in Week 2. He’s also proven to be able to stretch the field – as he caught a 27-yard pass in Week 2 and a 20-yd catch in Week 1. I love the Commanders big weapon next to Scary Terry and Jahan Dotson.

Marcus Mariota

The Falcons dual-threat QB has been a stingy foe against the mighty New Orleans Saints defense in Week 1 & the ultra-dangerous LA Rams defense in Week 2. As of late, Mariota registered a couple of passing touchdowns against the Aaron Donald-led defense. He should continue to blossom with the young WR-TE duo in Kyle Pitts and Drake London.

The post Week 3 Waiver Wire right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara could face a six-game suspension for his unfortunate off-field incident at the 2022 Pro Bowl. With that said, I’m going to simply untwine three running backs that could be logical RB trade targets for the Saints — as they could help replace AK at the beginning of 2022.

Jeff Wilson

The 49ers simply have a loaded backfield in 2022. They have the elite ball-carrier Elijah Mitchell, the rookie Tyrion Davis Price, the fifth-year RB Jeff Wilson, and the motivated, second-year RB Trey Sermon. I really believe the Saints should be aggressive to land the 49ers third-string RB in Jeff Wilson. The 49ers could deal him for a late-round draft pick and still have three young, talented ball carriers in their offense. Wilson nicely had 600 rushing yds, 7 rushing TDs, and 3 receiving TDs in 2020.

Raheem Mostert

The Saints have the power back in Mark Ingram, but they will miss the juice from AK in potentially the first six games next season. The Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert can certainly be the lightning to Ingram’s thunder. He notched 772 rushing yds and 8 rushing TDs in 2019. He was quite efficient in 2020, as he mustered out 521 rushing yds and averaged 5 yards per carry in 2020 (8 games played). Similar to Wilson, Mostert is in a loaded backfield in Miami and Mike McDaniel (aka the disciple of Kyle Shanahan) could ship out Mostert to the RB-needy Saints.

Kareem Hunt

It may be hard for the Saints to acquire Kareem Hunt or an RB with a similar caliber as Hunt. Nonetheless, the former Chiefs RB is easily the best RB2 (behind Nick Chubb) in the NFL at this moment. Hence, it may be easier to acquire Hunt than starting RBs that have less talent. Hunt registered 841 rushing yds and 6 TDs in 2020. PFF also suggested that the Saints should lobby for the brute RB in Cleveland.

The post 3 RB trade targets for the Saints right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. Only the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers (both 6) have more Super Bowl wins than the 49ers (5). The 49ers’ five Super Bowls all came between the years of 1981 and 1994. They have lost two since, in the 2012 and 2019 seasons. The quarterbacks that led the 49ers to the Lombardi Trophy were Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young. Three of those five wins saw Montana as the starter and Young as the backup.

Young is seen by many as the best backup quarterback in history, considering the gold jacket that he earned despite many years as the backup to Montana. He would win a Super Bowl as the starter after the franchise moved on from Montana. Ever since Young decided to hang up his cleats, the 49ers have struggled to find his replacement. Have they found the guy in Trey Lance?

Perhaps, but here is why the quarterback situation involving Lance and current starter Jimmy Garoppolo could prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West during the 2021 season.

Struggles Since Young

Jeff Garcia was the man to come in for Young. During his five seasons in the Bay, he threw for 113 touchdowns and 56 interceptions as well as 16,408 passing yards. He had a 35-36 record as a starter for the 49ers in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the postseason, meaning he never hit the heights of his predecessor.

Alex Smith was the number one overall pick in 2005, shattering Aaron Rodgers’ dreams. However, he was a good quarterback, not a great quarterback. Colin Kaepernick replaced Smith and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl. They ended up losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a game often called the ”˜Blackout Bowl’. Kaepernick failed to live up to the standards he set that season.

He would be kicked out of the league for taking the knee in a protest against police brutality in 2016. He has not played a snap in the NFL since. Jimmy Garoppolo was traded from the Patriots to the 49ers midway through the 2017 season. He gave hope to the organization after winning all five of the games he started in 2017. The fanbase had hope going into the 2018 season.

Many non-49ers fans had San Francisco down as their dark horse for the season. A season-ending injury to Garoppolo in Week 3 saw the starting role shared between Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. However, the 49ers finished 4-12 as they went into 2019 with the second overall pick. Nick Bosa was selected and transformed the defense of San Francisco and Jimmy G had the best season of his career. He threw for 3,978 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Despite these stats, Garoppolo saw his production limited in the NFC Championship game as the coaching staff decided to use more of their running game. This led to many questions leading to the Super Bowl. The 49ers threw away a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter as they would end up losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 54.

Garoppolo was criticized heavily for an overthrown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that would have given San Francisco back the lead. His 2020 season saw a mixture of poor form and injury. During the 2021 offseason, the 49ers traded up with the Miami Dolphins to gain the number three overall pick. They took Lance with the pick, showcasing their intentions to eventually move off from Garoppolo. There is now talk of whether San Francisco and head coach Kyle Shanahan will start Lance in week one. The other scenarios discussed are either Lance coming in mid-season or sitting out the whole campaign as the backup to Garoppolo. The uncertainty will have a significant impact on the 49ers’ season.

The Strength of the NFC West

This is a problem that will affect all four teams in the best division in the NFL. There is a chance that all four teams can make the playoffs. Los Angeles has an exciting new quarterback in 2009 first overall pick Matthew Stafford. Both the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray that they would never dream of trading away. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ starting quarterback is largely unpopular by fans, due to a mixture of the overthrown pass in the Super Bowl, his poor 2020 campaign and his injury record.

San Francisco has the least trusted quarterback in the division. With the position being one of the most crucial in all sports, it does not bode well for a team when there is uncertainty in the position. Garoppolo may be benched at some point during the season for Lance. However, the 49ers would be putting a rookie that will still be learning the system into the toughest division in the NFL.

Learning From Mahomes, Jackson, Tua and Burrow

If San Francisco are to help Lance succeed, they will need to take some lessons from recent draft classes. Patrick Mahomes, widely seen as the best quarterback in the league, spent all but one game of his 2017 rookie season as a backup to Alex Smith. The Chiefs then traded Smith the following offseason and Mahomes has never looked back. In his first three full seasons as a starter in the NFL, he has reached two Super Bowls, winning one. He has also been crowned MVP and Super Bowl MVP and reached three successive AFC Championship games. All three have been at home. On the flip side, 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow started in week one of his rookie year. He wouldn’t last the season, only playing ten games before injury curtailed his first NFL campaign. He was impressive before his injury but there are no guarantees he will be the same player when he returns.

Lamar Jackson was a backup to Joe Flacco during his 2018 rookie year but won the starting role midseason. He has since gone on to win an MVP award and is the future of the franchise. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins brought Tua Tagovailoa in mid-season but he struggled in his rookie season. He is seen to already be on the hot seat, with many feeling the Dolphins rushed him in. These examples all show there are reasons for the 49ers to be hasty when it comes to choosing when to bring Lance into the starting role.

Lance Or Garoppolo In 2021?

The 49ers will have to decide soon who their starter will be in 2021. Considering Lance has only played one full season (2019), he is likely to start the season as the backup. He only threw for a combined total of 31 passing attempts, two touchdowns and 1 interception across the 2018 and 2020 seasons, albeit the latter campaign being disrupted by the pandemic. He is likely to be a work in progress but his 28 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in 2019 mean that he is one for the future.

Garoppolo will likely start in week one but it was clear from the NFC Championship game that Shanahan doesn’t completely trust him.

Jimmy G is a capable quarterback but his health is a concern. Expect Garoppolo to remain as the starter provided the 49ers are winning games but for Lance to come in should Garoppolo either be injured or start the season poorly.

Should this happen, this will be the end of Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco. Depending on timing, he will then be traded either before the deadline or in the 2022 offseason.

Can The 49ers Returning Players Avoid A Repeat Of 2020?

This is key if the 49ers are to challenge for both the NFC West and the NFC. After earning the number one seed and reaching Super Bowl 54 during the 2019 campaign, San Francisco finished 6-10 in 2020 and bottom of the division. A ”˜Super Bowl Hangover’ played its part but the main cause of such a decline was down to a colossal amount of injuries the team suffered. Along with the aforementioned Garoppolo, the 49ers also saw Bosa, Dee Ford, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Solomon Thomas miss large chunks of the 2020 season due to injury.

San Francisco had 33 players reported questionable and there were 186 occasions when the 49ers reported a player on injured reserve. They had the second-most injuries of any team in the NFL over the past twenty years. Should all these players come back, then this 49ers roster will be one of the best in the league. This will make life much easier for whoever the San Francisco starting quarterback is.

However, from the strength of the division to the uncertainty at quarterback, San Francisco will find it tough to win the NFC West.

The post Why the QB situation may prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

As usual, there were lots of fantasy breakouts in 2020, but also per usual, many players didn’t live up to expectations last season. There are things to be learned by those busts, but a lot of underperformance can be due to mitigating situations (injury, surrounding talent, etc.). As such, many of these busts could see improved production in 2021. Below are five fantasy players due for a bounceback year.

1. George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers)

Kittle is an obvious bounce-back pick for next year, but he still tends to be overshadowed given the fantasy dominance of Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. This isn’t to diminish that duo’s 2020 accomplishments by any means, but Kittle seems to be slipping a little too far in midsummer drafts due to fatigue from his injury-plagued year.

Kittle’s 1,377 yards in a 2018 breakout campaign are still the second-most ever put up by a TE all time. On top of that, his 2020 season still had a pace of 96 receptions for 1,268 yards, and that’s including the two games he left early due to injury. Even when on the field, Kittle wasn’t always healthy, and yet he was still able to produce like an elite fantasy tight end. That positional advantage should not be overlooked, so it’s important to move beyond injury fatigue and see the value in his current draft price.

2. Julio Jones (WR, Tennessee Titans)

Jones is another player who will improve dramatically in 2021 assuming he’s able to stay on the field. Last year, Jones had just seven games with a snap share over 75%, and due to hamstring problems, he never was able to stay fully healthy for an extended period of time. However, in those seven games, he still averaged 8.9 targets and 6.4 catches per game, proving that, when healthy, he’s still a major problem for opposing defenses.

Jones is 32 years old, but there’s still reason to believe that his injuries could be a problem exclusive to 2020. The scars he left on fantasy managers last year obscured the fact that he hasn’t missed more than two games in a season since 2013, and he’s missed more than three only one other time in his 10-year career. With 848 catches and nearly 13,000 yards under his belt, he’s proven time and time again that he can put up big fantasy numbers.

Now, as Jones moves teams for the first time in his career, questions could arise about whether he can produce given a likely deduction in target share. Sharing touches with A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry will make it nearly impossible for Jones to receive the same heavy workload he’s gotten in past years, but that could actually be a good thing for his fantasy value. For the first time, Jones isn’t the number one offensive option on his own team, and the lessened defensive attention could help him thrive, as he’ll be facing one-on-one battles with cornerbacks more consistently than he ever has. Overall, it’s a near certainty that a healthy Jones blows away the injury-riddled totals that we saw in 2020, and he should be back in fantasy relevance once again.

3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, Kansas City Chiefs)

Edwards-Helaire had a very disappointing 2020, and that was partially due to his skyrocketing fantasy price, as he was a consensus back-of-the-first round RB due to his situation in Kansas City. CEH also dealt with injuries last year, missing three games, and when he was on the field, he just didn’t garner the full three-down workload that many expected him to receive.

Surprisingly, Edwards-Helaire actually averaged 13.9 attempts per game last season, which seems high given that he was generally tough to rely on in fantasy. The signing of Le’Veon Bell kept this number even lower than it could’ve been, and although Bell didn’t work out in KC, he still limited CEH’s touch count overall. However, the area where Edwards-Helaire was really disappointing was in the passing game, as his 2.8 reception average fell well short of what we expected from him, given that his specialty is catching passes out of the backfield. Thankfully, Le’Veon Bell is gone now, and the word is that Edwards-Helaire may develop into more of a workhorse in Year 2, with the biggest bump coming in the form of third-down usage. Even if CEH doesn’t become a true bell cow, it makes sense to project a noticeable increase in touches, and with it should come more fantasy production.

4. Jerry Jeudy (WR, Denver Broncos)

Jeudy actually received 113 targets last year, but he caught just 52 in a messy season that saw him tossed into the fire as Denver’s WR1 almost immediately following the injury of Courtland Sutton. Jeudy should now face less pressure with Sutton returning, and it’s possible, even likely, that the erratic play of QB Drew Lock won’t be what he relies on in 2021. Teddy Bridgewater will compete with Lock for the starting role, and he’s likely to get it at some point given that he’s at least had moderately consistent production throughout his career.

Although consistent, Bridgewater isn’t anything special by any means, and his arrival will hardly fix everything for the Broncos. However, it should mean more production for Jeudy in 2021, primarily because we’ve already seen evidence that Bridgewater can support two productive fantasy receivers (D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson in 2020). Moore and Anderson both eclipsed the 1,000-yard threshold last year, and there’s reason to think that Sutton and Jeudy can do the same, given that they are similar talent-wise to the duo in Carolina. It’s very possible that Jeudy never becomes elite for fantasy purposes, but with Bridgewater in town, we should see a major step up from the atrocious 39.1% catch rate Jeudy had last year, which alone will lead to a sizeable upwards bump in fantasy production.

5. Raheem Mostert (RB, San Francisco 49ers)

This last pick is one that can, understandably, be difficult for analysts to get behind, given that the 49ers have major competition in their backfield. However, I truly believe that a healthy Mostert is and will continue to be this team’s best RB, and if he can avoid injuries, Mostert’s efficiency could lead to very viable fantasy production.

San Francisco and Kyle Shanahan will likely still favor a running-back-by-committee approach given that there are multiple talented players in their backfield. I expect Mostert to hold the lead role if this is the case, and I don’t think that the team will feel a need to force rookie 3rd-rounder Trey Sermon into major year-one action. Sermon is a solid player, but he’s unproven, and the fact that he was a late Day 2 draft pick highlights that he’s far from a guarantee to succeed. Mostert’s average of 5.4 yards per carry in 2019 in 2020 is extremely good, and his blazing speed and acceleration mean he’s likely to continue putting up those numbers in 2021. If he does, there will be no excuse for the 49ers to keep him off the field, and the lead back role in their prolific offense could create very solid fantasy numbers.

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