Game Info
Kickoff: Monday, December 30, 2024, 8:15 PM ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Network: ABC/ESPN/ESPN+
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Jared Goff – Start, QB1
Jared Goff has been a solid quarterback in both real and fantasy football this season and currently sits as the QB7 on the year, averaging just under 20 fantasy PPG in most formats. He also ranks second in the league in passing yards. Goff has posted three top-six weekly QB finishes in a row, and I’d expect him and the Lions to continue to roll against the 49ers. Goff doesn’t offer the rushing upside that the top-tier options at the position do, but he is surrounded by talent in one of the NFL’s most elite offenses. The Lions may have added motivation to run up the score after losing to this 49ers team in last year’s NFC Championship, so Goff can be comfortably started as a QB1 this week.
Running Back
Jahmyr Gibbs – Start, RB1
Craig Reynolds – Sit
Sione Vaki – Sit
Jermar Jefferson – Sit
Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most explosive players in the league, and his value has received a late-season bump with David Montgomery’s injury. Gibbs is now the overall RB2 for the season in PPR formats, and he will continue to be the Lions’ feature back as long as Montgomery remains sidelined. In four career games without Montgomery, Gibbs has posted 409 rushing yards on 5.3 yards per carry, three touchdowns, and 19 catches for 142 receiving yards. Gibbs should once again be in line for a big game against a team that Dan Campbell and the Lions may want to run up the score against. None of the other running backs are fantasy-relevant.
Wide Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown – Start, WR1
Jameson Williams – Start, WR2
Tim Patrick – Sit
Despite the emergence of Jameson Williams this season, Amon-Ra St. Brown still ranks in the top four in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. St. Brown remains a must-start WR1 this week. Williams actually led the Lions in receiving yards in Week 16, largely due to an 82-yard touchdown catch. Williams is an explosive playmaker, and Ben Johnson looks to get the ball into the speedy receiver’s hands in several ways. Jamo has not seen less than five targets in seven straight games, so he has a somewhat reliable floor to go with his sky-high weekly ceiling. He should be started as a WR2 with upside due to his big play ability. Tim Patrick popped for three total touchdowns across Weeks 14 and 15, but he posted a goose egg and saw just one target in Week 16. His role is too inconsistent to trust starting him in season-long leagues.
Tight End
Sam LaPorta – Start, TE1
After a somewhat slow start to the season, Sam LaPorta has finished as a TE1 in four consecutive weeks and eight of his last eleven games. He has seen at least six targets in each game since Week 10. LaPorta has plays designed for him as the first read (including his touchdown catch in Week 16 off of a fake stumble) and has a strong role in one of the best offenses in the league. Continue to start him as a TE1.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Brock Purdy – Start, QB1
Brock Purdy has regressed from his previous seasons’ unsustainable touchdown rate and has been a bit streaky this season. Luckily, he has somewhat made up for it with more rushing production. Starting him in Week 17 is more to do with his passing and the match up, though. The Lions are decimated by injuries on defense, and I can see them wanting to hang points on the 49ers after losing to them last year in the NFC Championship game. Purdy just produced a solid fantasy outing against the Dolphins, who had been surrendering the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. I’d expect the 49ers to be playing from behind and for Purdy to produce against this unit that just gave up over 300 yards passing, two touchdowns, and 30 rushing yards to Caleb Williams in Week 16.
Running Back
Patrick Taylor Jr. – Sit
Isaac Guerendo – FLEX option if he plays*
Patrick Taylor Jr. got his first start at running back in Week 16. He had eight carries for 24 yards and one catch for one yard. Both Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel had more rushing yards against the Dolphins. Even if Taylor starts again, it doesn’t appear that the 49ers trust him in a workhorse role.
Isaac Guerendo missed Week 16 with a hamstring injury. The rookie’s status is up in the air currently, especially with the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention. If Guerendo does suit up in Week 17, he has proven to be explosive and capable of producing, which makes him a FLEX option for desperate managers.
Wide Receiver
Deebo Samuel – Start, WR2
Jauan Jennings – Start, WR2
Ricky Pearsall – Sit
Deebo Samuel is coming off his best game of the season, posting a 7/96/1 receiving line and adding another 25 yards on the ground. With the injuries to the 49ers’ running back room, I’d expect Deebo to continue to see some opportunities in the run game and to be heavily targeted if the 49ers fall behind. Jauan Jennings has really broken out for the 49ers this season and has played well in the X receiver role typically belonging to Brandon Aiyuk. Despite two down weeks in a row, Jennings’ receiving peripherals have been strong this season, and he should remain a solid WR2 option with upside against the Lions in Week 17. In Week 16, Ricky Pearsall had his best performance since Week 10, but that only amounted to 37 yards. He is too risky to start in season-long leagues, but he could be a cheap upside option in DFS due to the matchup.
The matchup warrants a positive bump for all 49ers’ pass catchers, considering how injury-plagued the Lions’ defense has been. In Week 16, they allowed no less than 68 yards to each of the Bears’ top-three wide receivers, including a monster 9/141/1 receiving line to Keenan Allen.
Tight End
George Kittle – Start, TE1
The Lions have been the toughest matchup for tight ends this season, but you’re not benching George Kittle. He has been a bright spot for the 49ers’ offense this season, is currently the TE2 in fantasy, and has the second-most TDs at the position. The Lions are missing several key defensive linemen due to injuries, which should mean less blocking and more routes for Kittle. In what should be a pass-heavy game script for the 49ers, Kittle remains a must-start, as he has one of the highest weekly ceilings at the tight end position.
No mention of how yall feel with Hollywood Brown? He looked decent last week with limited reps even