Game Previews: All Fantasy Relevant Players For Week 7

Rams vs. 49ers

Rams

Quarterback

Jared Goff faces off against a 49er team that struggled to stop anything last week. Granted, it was against Aaron Rodgers, but it’s not like Goff is a discount or someone who won’t pick them apart either. The only thing the San Fran defense won’t have to worry about is WR Cooper Kupp, who has an MCL sprain. So, now they only have to worry about the other weapons that Goff was able to utilize when they beat Denver. It should be fairly smooth sailing for Goff and Co.

Wide receivers

Like I mentioned prior, Kupp will be out for an undisclosed amount of time. Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods will have to shoulder the load, while Josh Reynolds will play third fiddle. If you own any of these players, I’d only be hesitant about Reynolds, who didn’t register a positive yard against Denver.

Running backs

I’ve said it every week – Todd Gurley can’t be stopped. Against this defense, he might not reach 200 yards, but it’s still a very favorable matchup. This game won’t be played in snow or bad conditions, so there won’t be much getting in the way. As long as that offensive line stays healthy, it’s going to be a demolition expo, week in and week out.

-Joe Hanretty

49ers

QB C.J. Beathard hasn’t lit the world on fire in place of QB Jimmy Garoppolo, but Beathard showed against Green Bay on Monday night that he’s a capable backup, and perhaps one day, worthy of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. Yes, his interception on the 49ers’ last drive played a big role in costing them the game, but his play was a big reason the 49ers were ever in the game to begin with. The Niners enter Sunday as big underdogs against their divisional rival, the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco has not been blown out of any game they’ve been in this season, but many will suggest this game could be the one where that happens.  However, in games against big-time offenses this year, the Niners lost by only 2 to the Chargers, 11 to the Chiefs, and actually beat Detroit by 3. They also nearly beat Green Bay last Monday night, though the Packers lacked a strong run game and QB Aaron Rodgers is clearly not fully healthy. The Packers were also starting a lot of rookies on both sides of the ball. The Rams, on the other hand, will be without WR Cooper Kupp, but the rest of their explosive offense remains intact. Expect the 49ers to play hard, but ultimately fall short.   

C.J. Beathard has played his way into the streaming conversation.

Against the Rams this Sunday, Beathard is squarely in the QB2 and streaming conversation since he will be playing from behind and have to throw. This also means there will be more turnovers. The 49ers are -11 in turnover differential this season (worst in football), which means they’re turning the ball over at a rate that far exceeds what they take away, ensuring the offense almost never has a short field to play with. Injuries to the Rams’ secondary (CB Aqib Talib is out) and CB Marcus Peters’ struggles should make life easier on Beathard, but Los Angeles’ fearsome pass rush will not. Expect a mix of screens and dump offs, mixed with the play-action deep ball we saw against Green Bay. If you can live with the picks, Beathard has thrown multiple TDs in every game he’s started this season, and all his pass catchers are healthy now.

Marquise Goodwin looks ready to resume must-start status

WR Marquise Goodwin has battled leg injuries all season, but he looked fast and healthy against the Packers on Monday night. The speedster resumes his role as the 49ers’ number one receiver, and the Niners will have to challenge deep to compete in this game. HC Kyle Shanahan has a tendency to be aggressive early in games with deep strikes in the hopes of putting opponents on the ropes and giving his mistake-prone team confidence so they can play more relaxed with an early lead. Goodwin’s opportunities should be there, and the Rams don’t have anyone who can run with him. He’s a high-end WR3 with big upside.

George Kittle could be a funnel

The Rams’ defense has allowed the 8th-most yards up the seam, and against a Rams team resting many of its starters in Week 17 last season, TE George Kittle caught 4-100, so he was a focal point in Shanahan’s plan of attack against DC Wade Phillips’ unit. Kittle had a relatively quiet game against Green Bay, but Beathard only attempted 23 passes, and the 49ers prioritized the run game on the road. It’s unlikely they will have the same success against Los Angeles, nor is it likely they’ll keep the Rams off the board as much as they did the Packers, so Kittle should be targeted early and often as an elite TE1 play.

Can the run game be trusted?

Despite losing RB Jerick McKinnon to IR before the season even started, the 49ers’ backfield is averaging more than 190 yards from scrimmage per game, second-best in football behind the Chargers; a lot of that has to do with Shanahan’s scheme, but RB Matt Breida’s play has been stellar. Breida is averaging 72 yards rushing per game, and he’s on pace for 1,146 yards on the ground behind an improved O-line. Even more impressive is Breida’s 6.8 yard average. Although he’s been banged up, if Breida is active, he’s a high-end RB3 with RB2 upside in most matchups thanks to his efficiency on the ground and in the passing game (11 catches on 13 targets, 8.2 AVG). RB Alfred Morris took a backseat to career special teamer RB Raheem Mostert in Green Bay, but Shanahan said after the game the switch isn’t permanent. It remains to be seen how much playing time Morris and Mostert will get, so neither are worth a start until there’s more clarity. Shanahan’s scheme has traditionally supported two backs, but starting either would be a desperate play for now. We’ve seen what Morris is at this stage of his career; he was signed off the street primarily due to his familiarity with the scheme and injuries to the backfield. Morris is older but has the track record and pedigree, while Mostert is younger but hasn’t done anything notable in his career to this point. As a journeyman player that has shown well in pre-season action during his previous stops despite never getting much run during the regular season, Mostert can be considered a stash for now if you’re desperate for backfield help.

Avoid the defense like the plague

The 49ers’ defense has played admirably at times, but streaming them against the Rams is ill-advised.The defense only has 12 sacks (9th lowest total in the NFL), and the Rams’ boast arguably the most explosive offense in the NFC, if not the entire league. San Francisco has actually played decent run defense, making them a somewhat neutral match up against opposing backfields as they’ve held opponents to 4.0 YDS/A and less than 100 YDS/G, but RB Todd Gurley leads the league in rushing. QB Jared Goff is 4th in passing yards. The Niners will do their best to compete, just as they did in Green Bay, but odds are slim they’re able to do it for all 4 quarters. The 49ers are allowing 279 YDS/G through the air in DC Robert Saleh’s scheme with only 1 INT, tied for league-lowest with Tampa Bay. The Niners have also allowed 14 TDs (5th most in football). If the Rams don’t hang 30+ points on them on Sunday, it will be a surprise.

Predictions:

Boom: George Kittle

Bust: Matt Breida

Sleeper: Marquise Goodwin

-Paul Ghiglieri