Sit/Start Week 2: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

 

49ers at Bengals

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 15th at 1:00 pm EST

Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Betting Odds: SF -2.5, 45 Total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Raheem Mostert

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

Quarterbacks

• Jimmy Garoppolo (Sit)

 

I said to start him last week and that was a mistake. Jimmy Garoppolo and the whole 49ers offense disappointed. He did not look particularly good in his 1st game back from the ACL tear and he struggled to get the ball downfield. This could be due to rust and lack of play over the past year so we won’t write him off completely yet. He goes into this week with another easy matchup against the Bengals, but he simply can’t be trusted in 1QB leagues. I would keep him on your bench and look elsewhere. Give him and the 49ers offense a few weeks to get it together and show you what they can do before he gets back in your lineups. 

 

Running Backs

• Matt Breida (Start/RB2)

• Raheem Mostert (Start/Flex)

 

With Tevin Coleman on the shelf with a high ankle sprain the 49ers starting job falls on the shoulders of Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert. The starting RB in a Kyle Shanahan offense is always a coveted fantasy asset and requires our attention. For this week, Breida is firmly in the conversation as a low-end RB2. He will see a lot of volume as San Francisco heads to Cincinnati. The Bengals were able to limit Chris Carson in Week 1 to a sub-4 yard per carry and one rushing score. It is hard to say if this was a result of a stout Bengals D or a poor Seahawks offensive line. Regardless, Breida offers potential in the passing game giving him a safe floor for this weekend. 

Mixing in with Breida is Raheem Mostert. Mostert is a player that 49ers like and showed their appreciation for after signing him to an extension. With Coleman out, we can expect Mostert to fill into the “Matt Breida” role that the backfield was initially playing with. He offers standalone value and can be played as a low-end flex. In the long run, he may be able to outperform Breida and secure a larger role, but that remains to be seen. 

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

• George Kittle (Start/TE1)

• Marquise Goodwin (Sit)

• Deebo Samuel (Sit)

• Dante Pettis (Sit)

 

The weekend did not shake out as expected for the 49ers WRs. None of the WRs had particularly good games and no player has established themselves as the top option. Dante Pettis only played 2 snaps, Deebo Samuel and Marquise Goodwin looked poor and no one beyond that is worth looking at. I am labeling all of them as a sit this week because we do not have a good enough grasp on the target distribution. If worse comes to worst then Marquise Goodwin could be played as a very low-end flex as he was targeted last week and looks to still have a good connection with Jimmy Garoppolo. 

What did go as expected was George Kittle’s target share? He was by far the best looking fantasy option on the 49ers and it was not close. He would’ve had a massive week if not for two called back touchdowns that had no impact on the play. This week he finds himself in another strong matchup. He will be going against Bengals safety Shawn Williams who has struggled to cover TEs in the past. Kittle should finish as a TE1 and should be started without hesitation. 

 

Cincinnati Bengals 

 

Quarterbacks

• Andy Dalton (Sit)

 

Even with no A.J. Green, a banged-up Joe Mixon, and a decimated offensive line Andy Dalton went into Seattle and balled out. Throwing for over 400 yards and 2 touchdowns. Can we expect more of the same this week? The short answer is no. Dalton looked impressive in week 1 but he was playing a weak Seahawks defense and it is hard to project to do the same to the 49ers. The 49ers defense’s biggest strength is their defensive line. Consisting of guys like DeForest Buckner, Dee Ford, and Nick Bosa this line will get after the QB. Dalton will be under fire all game and may not be able to move through his reads as smoothly which leads to mistakes and turnovers. Beyond 2QB leagues, I would be keeping Dalton on the bench.

 

Running Backs

• Joe Mixon (Start/RB2)

• Giovani Bernard (Sit but start if Mixon is out)

 

The Bengals RB position is a “wait and see” situation. Joe Mixon left last week’s game with an ankle injury and his status for the 49ers game is still up in the air. If he plays he should be viewed as a risky RB2. He is banged up and the chance of re-injury is very high. He also may have his snaps limited if the injury isn’t as minor as led on by the Bengals coaching staff. Also going against Mixon is the previously mentioned 49ers defensive line. They looked strong against the Bucs last week until star MLB Kwon Alexander was ejected from the game. Alexander will be back this week and be looking to shut the Bengals run game down. 

If Mixon is out Gio Bernard becomes very interesting. He steps right into the RB2 conversation and potentially even more valuable than a banged-up Mixon. He would assume the starting role and take on all the volume being left behind by Mixon. When Mixon has missed time in previous seasons, Bernard has balled out when given the opportunity. He would be utilized in both the rushing and more importantly the passing game. If Mixon does play, Bernard slots back as a low-end RB3 and should not be in your starting lineup. 

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

• Tyler Boyd (Start/WR2)

• John Ross III (Start/Flex)

• Damion Willis (Sit)

• Tyler Eifert (Sit)

• C.J. Uzomah (Sit)

 

Finally! After years of waiting, it happened. John Ross finally had his breakout game. He torched the Seahawks and firmly planted himself on the fantasy radar. It is very easy to get excited about Ross, but I want to temper expectations. Do not expect a repeat of last week every week for the rest of the season. There are still some serious problems in Ross’ game. His route running wasn’t marvelous and he seriously struggled with drops. However, he did lead the team with 12 very encouraging targets. This week against the 49ers he may see a heavy dose of Richard Sherman. It will be a very tough matchup but Ross has the speed that Sherman could only dream of. It is a difficult matchup but Ross has a chance of continuing his hot streak. I would be cautious and currently, have him as a flex play.  

Tyler Boyd was the other fantasy-relevant player in the Bengals receiving core. He came out of the gates on fire catching 5 passes in the 1st quarter! His role was still very similar to last year. Handling short routes close to the line of scrimmage acting as a safety blanket for Andy Dalton. He will have an easy matchup this week against 49ers slot corner K’Waun Williams. I would not be surprised if he racks up the catches in this game as Dalton projects to be under high pressure which would cause him to check it down short where Boyd resides. He is a low-end WR2 this week and should be in your lineups. 

At the TE position the Bengals field C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Eifert. I had high expectations for Eifert before the years but after last week I am nervous. The pair appear to be splitting snaps and targets. They are cannibalizing each other’s upside making it impossible to trust either. Eifert is still one of Dalton’s go-to targets in the red zone and has a chance at securing a touchdown. There are better options out there and both players should be riding the pine this week. 

-Matthew Perri (@MattPerri91)