Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 12th at 4:25 PM ET
Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Betting Odds: CIN -1, 47.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
San Fransico 49ers
Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo (Start, QB2), Trey Lance (Sit)
The Trey Lance truthers are going to have to wait a little longer because Jimmy Garoppolo has been playing well as of late and has the 49ers in the playoffs currently. Garoppolo is on a 5 game touchdown streak and only one of those games was he held to a singular touchdown. Even in the one game this week where he did not throw a touchdown he rushed for 2. He has a tough matchup against the Bengal’s pass defense. I still start him even though I expect lower production from him this week. You might be able to find a better option but with 4 teams on bye you will be okay if you roll out Jimmy G. I’m personally starting him in 2 leagues and I’m okay with that.
Running Backs
Elijah Mitchell (Sit), Trey Sermon (Out), Kyle Juszczyk (Sit), Jamycal Hasty (Start, Flex), Jeff Wilson Jr (Sit)
It’s looking like Jamycal Hasty might be the last man standing in the 49er’s backfield. Elijah Mitchell popped up on the injury report after the game with a concussion so he is doubtful for this week. Trey Sermon is on IR. Jeff Wilson Jr had his knee injury flare up in last Sunday’s game. The 49ers have brought in running backs off the street for workouts. Trenton Cannon was recently in the hospital because of a concussion. Hasty has been an afterthought most of the season even with the revolving door at running back. Based on who they brought in for workouts it doesn’t seem likely that any of them would be any competition for Hasty if they sign. There is still hope that Mitchell could be cleared but it’s unlikely. If he was he would be an RB1 for me. Jeff Wilson could also be involved in the game this week which would eat into Hasty’s workload. They also like to give full back Kyle Juszczyk carries which seems to only make me use the Z key on my keyboard. If Hasty is the starter I think the volume will be enough for him to be a solid flex.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Brandon Aiyuk (Start, WR2) Deebo Samuel (Sit), Trent Sherfield (Sit, flex), George Kittle (Start) Jauan Jennings (sit)
I’m going to start with I think Deebo Samuel will be out or limited on Sunday so I have him as a sit. If he gets in a full practice on Friday then I would put him as a WR2. That leaves a big hole in targets on the team. Brandon Aiyuk and Goerge Kittle will soak up most of them as they did in the Week 13 matchup against the Seahawks. Both are worth being in your lineup. They have been consistent in their volume that you cant bench them unless you have really good options. Kittle is a start even if Samuel plays. Aiyuk would move down to a WR3 if Samuel is out there this week due to his volume dropping. No one else has really stepped up to fill the Samuel role. Trent Sherfield played on 98% of the week 13 snaps but only saw 5 targets and was only able to convert 2 of them into 16 yards. With Samuel out or limited, He will get the snaps to produce against a middle-of-the-road defense. If the Bengals focus on stopping Kittle and Aiyuk He could see some more targets and could produce but I’m not counting on it. Jauan Jennings has been a letdown. He scored in week 12 but that was on only playing 37% snaps and followed that by playing 50% of snaps and catching his 1 target for 8 yards. You cant chase a fluke touchdown.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow (Sit, high-end QB2)
Joe Burrow is dealing with a finger injury but reports seem that he will play through it. It’s still disconcerting to have an injury that will affect his accuracy when he has thrown 14 interceptions on the year including 2 last week. Burrow has saved his fantasy days as of late by rushing in touchdowns while in the red zone but those are not prescriptive for him. CBS has the 49ers ranked 16th in giving up points to the quarterback position so it’s not a great matchup for Burrow. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot so they will be pulling out all the stops this week. I think you can find better options than Burrow but I wouldn’t fault anyone for starting him.
Running Backs
Joe Mixon (Start, RB1), Samaje Perine (Sit)
I’ll let you behind the curtain. When I get a game for the week I usually copy and paste from a previous week for formating purposes and then change players and of course the analysis of those players. I copied this one from week 7’s matchup of the 49ers v Colts. I quickly looked at the first few lines about Jonathan Taylor and I realized I could probably leave them for Joe Mixon. Mixon has scored in all but one game this year. He has over 50 yards in all but 2 games. What’s even better is he is doing this on limited work. He only averages 18.9 carries per game. If Mixon had more yards he would be in the conversation with Taylor for MVP. Mixon is a must-start even going against a middle-of-the-road rush defense in the 49ers. Mixon isn’t really worked into the passing game too much but he is getting the opportunities on the ground. Mixon does have 2 receiving touchdowns this year. Samaje Perine wasn’t really a factor outside of giving Mixon rest so he isn’t more than a handcuff in case of injury.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Ja’marr Chase (Start, WR1), Tyler Boyd (Start, flex), Tee Higgins (Start, WR2), C.J. Uzomah (Sit)
It’s been a three-way split with the Bengals and their passing offense and who is the number. Early in the season, it seemed that rookie Ja’marr Chase was going to be the focal point of the offense. He scored in his first 3 games and then added touchdowns in 4 other games. He hasn’t scored in the past 2 games mainly because Tee Higgins has emerged as the lead receiver. Higgins has led the team in targets the past two weeks. Tyler Boyd has been someone odd man out most of the season. He has only led the team in targets 3 times this season compared to 5 for Higgins and 5 for Chase. Chase leads the team on the season in yards by a large gap and he and Higgins are tied for the team lead in red-zone targets. Boyd is still getting close to what Higgins is getting in snap percentage so he could still see plenty of opportunities. C.J. Uzomah has been a letdown for me personally after I touted him as a sleeper before the season. it seems he lacks the yarage volume to be a viable tight end starter. his only good weeks have been when he gets into the end zone. He is currently 6th on the team in red-zone targets. He is behind Mixon and Perine. He gets plenty of snaps but just doesn’t see the volume you want in terms of targets.
-Dustin Ludke (Dunit13dl on Reddit)