Game Previews: All Fantasy Relevant Players For Week 6

49ers vs. Packers

49ers

The 49ers are reeling, and a trip to Lambeau will do them no favors. HC Kyle Shanahan will have them ready to compete, but the sloppy play and injuries to key players make this Niners team far from good. The Packers need a win, and a floundering San Francisco team looks like the perfect tonic. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any fantasy value to be found on the 49ers. Shanahan’s scheme typically leads to production, as the Niners have scored, 27, 27, and 18 points over their last three losses. However, the team is turning the ball over at an insane rate (7 times in their last 24 possessions). It’s shaping up to be a long day on the road.

C.J. Beathard may be a tough stream on the road even in a blowout

QB C.J. Beathard is going to have to throw to keep the 49ers in this game. He’s been good for nearly 300 yards and some production with his legs for a few weeks now, so there will always be appeal so long as the game script dictates he needs to chuck it. Then again, the Packers are 5th in the league with 16 sacks and 2nd in football in allowing just 209 YPG to opposing quarterbacks, and they did a pretty good job holding down QB Matthew Stafford last week. Stafford has better weapons and more talent than Beathard, so those thinking Beathard would be a sneaky stream because he’ll have to throw to keep in the Niners in the game may want to lower expectations. It’s not that Beathard can’t pile up some garbage time stats or be competitive, but Green Bay’s passing defense is actually far better than it used to be with a stronger pass rush and emerging young corners. Plus, Beathard has tossed a pick in six straight starts, which means he’s just as likely to turn the ball over as score.

Alfred Morris may not return on the investment

With RB Matt Breida nursing an ankle sprain, RB Alfred Morris was a hot commodity on waivers in any leagues where he may have been dropped. Some owners even used their top waiver priority on him. The Packers’ run defense is allowing 4.2 YPC and 105.0 YPG thus far in the season. They field a mostly middling run defense, but it’s far from a favorable matchup. Behind an O-line nursing injuries of their own, it’s hard to recommend Morris as anything other than a low-upside FLEX play or RB3. He hasn’t shown much big-play ability this year, so you’re likely hoping for a TD, a few catches, and a respectable overall yardage total (60-70 yards). That will play if he scores.

Kyle Juszczyk offers sneaky value

FB Kyle Juszczyk reeled in 6 catches for 75 yards last week, though it was mostly game-plan specific as the Niners successfully moved the ball against Arizona early on with screens and dump-offs. Once Arizona adjusted, the offense stalled. A similar game plan may be in store as it would create longer drives to milk time of possession, keeping QB Aaron Rodgers off the field, and the 49ers wide receivers are likely to struggle to gain separation as they have all season without WR Marquise Goodwin on the field to stretch the defense. The versatile player known as “Juice” could vulture a short yardage TD and rack up a healthy yardage total on runs and receptions this weekend.

George Kittle is elite…. consistently

It may sound weird to read, but the numbers back it up. Kittle is 3rd in football when it comes to receiving yardage among tight ends, trailing only studs tight ends like Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce. He’s demonstrated big-play ability as well with a few catches over 40 yards, giving him a solid floor even if he does not score. In a year where TE is a veritable wasteland, Kittle is as “plug-and-play” as it gets, especially with college teammate Beathard throwing him the ball. He has become an integral part of the offense, so much so that the offense almost runs through him with so many weapons missing. Outside of Kittle, it will be difficult to trust any of the 49ers wide receivers, though WR Pierre Garcon’s target share with Marquise Goodwin out (12 targets last week) makes him a desperation play if needed.

The defense is poised to get shredded… but will it?

The 49ers boast a top 8 rushing defense, holding opponents to 3.7 YPA. The Packers continue to rise and fall with A-Rod’s arm and the defense, though RB Aaron Jones has forced plenty of missed tackles in his somewhat limited snaps. That being said, the 49ers have put the clamps on far more potent rushing attacks thus far with LBs Reuben Foster and Fred Warner, as well as defensive line stalwart DeForest Buckner. San Francisco is middle-of-the-pack in most pass defense metrics, but the one that stands out is turnovers: they have just 1 interception through five games. Give their relative lack of a pass rush, it’s hard to envision the Niners forcing any turnovers, which means Rodgers could move the ball through the air at will.

The Picks

Boom Pick: George Kittle

Bust Pick: Alfred Morris

Sleeper Pick: Kyle Juszczyk

-Paul Ghiglieri

Packers

Time to Feast

On the heels of his best statistical production, Aaron Rodgers leads Green Bay in what should be a comfortable home match against San Francisco. Rodgers broke 300 and 400 yards passing for the first time this season against Detroit and should do so again in Week Six. After Week Five, Rodgers stated that his injured knee was sorer than normal – but expectations are that he will continue to play through it. Despite Green Bay ranking in the top 10 in total yards, the team’s “success” is a result of their late comebacks and garbage time than it is consistent, repeatable success. Green Bay is still without a workable run game, maintaining Rodgers’ sky high value in Week Six.

Fantasy Prediction

Aaron Rodgers: 25 points

So, No Running backs?

Frustratingly, despite Aaron Jones solid play, he did not see a snap in the second half of Week Five. While some of this can be chalked up to a 0-24 deficit Green Bay entered the second half with, but to receive zero snaps is still shocking. The question for Green Bay is when Jones will take over the ground game as Jones the top talent in the team’s backfield. For now, head coach Mike McCarthy has maintained a holding pattern with Jones seeing no more than 38% snaps in any given game, ranking third in snaps in Week Five (22). Despite the limited workload, Jones still saw the most carries in Week Five (by one) and in the three weeks he has played, Jones has an average 6.1 YPC. Green Bay’s running back situation is less that the team will not commit to Jones as it is the team will not commit to a running game, which is fairly indicative of any other team consistently playing from behind.

Week Six Edition of which “Receivers are Healthy?”

In a similar situation to Week Five, both Geronimo Allison and Randall Cobb are questionable. Both have been limited participants this week and with their game on Monday, it is seeming likely that at least one will be able to suit up. Allison has quickly become one of Aaron Rodgers go-to receivers after Davante Adams and should be streamed if healthy. If not, look for Marquez Valdes-Scantling to have another productive matchup as he showed himself capable when to fill in last week. Under Rodgers there will always be targets, this week it’ll be whoever makes it on the field.

The Graham Connection?

In reality, Jimmy Graham is Aaron Rodgers’ fourth look. Despite what looks to be a solid 5th most targets among tight ends (36) and an average 245 yards receiving, his value has been artificially inflated by injuries to Geronimo Allison and Randall Cobb, with 11 of Graham’s targets and 53% of his fantasy points coming over the past two weeks. Graham is a solid TE1 when Allison and Cobb are out and a fringe TE1 when they’re healthy. Graham has not been able to work deep down the field and has not made the level of impact Green Bay had hoped he would make. Given Allison and Cobb are still questionable and that the team is playing San Francisco, Graham is a strong play in Week Six.

A Streamer Worthy Defense?

Green Bay’s D/ST put on a field day against Buffalo, accounting for 52% of the unit’s total fantasy points. In Week Six Green Bay is playing an already shaky San Francisco offense that is now without its star quarterback and increasingly likely to be without its top running back. Coupled with Green Bay’s ability to maintain ball control, this is a great defensive stream.

The Picks

Boom Pick: Jimmy Graham

Bust Pick: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (if either Cobb or Allison are healthy)

Sleeper Pick: Green Bay D/ST

-Brennen Gorman