Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 3rd at 4:25 PM ET
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Betting Odds: SEA -5.5, 46 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Russell Wilson (Start, QB1)
His second half of the season has been nothing to write home about but Russell Wilson faces off against the 49ers passing defense that he shredded for 4 touchdown passes back in Week 8. With a higher seeding to play for this week, Wilson will look to the air to overcome a 49ers defense that will want to spoil the party as they did for the Cardinals last week. Wilson scored only his 2nd rushing TD of the season last week and may have to repeat that performance. Wilson is still a QB1 with the potential top 5 fantasy finish.
Running Backs
Chris Carson (Start, RB2), Carlos Hyde (Sit), Rashad Penny (Sit)
Chris Carson missed 4 games in the middle of the season but since returning in Week 12, he is averaging 16 touches. The results have been steady and the matchup against the 49ers is tough. A reminder that Carson has not had a 100-yard rushing outing this season so he will be highly touchdown reliant for a solid RB2 finish.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
D.K. Metcalf (Start, WR1), Tyler Lockett (Start, WR2), David Moore (Start, FLEX), Jacob Hollister (Start, TE2)
The fantasy production of the top 2 receivers in Seattle is a tale of 2 halves this season. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett were both in the top 10 receivers after Week 11 but their production has suffered from the severe drop in performance from Wilson over the 2nd half of the season. Metcalf has only 1 TD in his past 5 games and Lockett has failed to hit paydirt since Week 11. The 49ers’ secondary is terrible, however, and Wilson will look to exploit this as often as he can this weekend. Both should be solid starts, and my sneaky dark horse for a big week is hard-working wideout David Moore, who essentially won the game for his team last week with a brilliant 45-yard grab to set up a touchdown at the start of the 2nd half. Tight end Jacob Hollister has a passing touchdown in each of his last 2 games. He could well be in line to complete the hat-trick.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
C.J. Beathard (Sit, QB2)
Returning to the starting position in light of Nick Mullens‘ injury, C.J. Beathard did what Mullens could not – play turnover-free football. Beathard was efficiently boring as he expertly ran a conservative, run-based offense against a miserable Cardinals run defense. He did throw for 3 touchdowns but all three were to running backs out of the backfield. Beathard can hurl it but he won’t be asked to by Kyle Shanahan. He can be effectively ignored in terms of fantasy.
Running Backs
Jeff Wilson Jr. (Start, RB1), Tevin Coleman (Sit), Jerick McKinnon (Sit)
After topping 200 scrimmage yards and running in a score last week against the pitiful Cardinals defense, Jeff Wilson Jr. will lead the backfield for the final game of the season and is a must-start. Wilson has started only 2 games for the 49ers this season but both have been memorable – his Week 7 effort yielded 112 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs, and last week’s output was the most yards by a 49er back in 10 years. Impressive! The Seahawks have been middling at best against the run and so Kyle Shanahan will dial-up another scheme-frenzy approach for Wilson to spearhead.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Richie Jones (Sit, FLEX), Kendrick Bourne (Sit, FLEX), George Kittle (Start, TE1)
Well, what to do here?! Both YAC-monsters Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are out so it will be up to Richie James and Kendrick Bourne to make some plays around tight end George Kittle, who will be peppered with targets as the 49ers only threatening receiver in Week 17. Kittle, not looking anywhere near 100%, put up 92 yards on 4 catches from 5 targets and dropped an easy chunk reception too. He is the sole recommended option in this receiving corps.
— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)