Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 10th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Betting Odds: -5.5 ARI, 50.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Writer: Marc Salazar (@oldsnake77 on Twitter and Reddit)
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Trey Lance (Start, QB2), Jimmy Garoppolo (Sit, Injury)
One of the primary reasons that the 49ers moved up in the draft to select Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL draft was because their starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, was unable to stay healthy and on the field. Last week Jimmy G exited the game is a calf injury and his status is unclear, but managers can expect at least one start from Lance. Whether or not he remains the starter is unclear, but for this week at least fantasy managers should be salivating. In just over a half, Lance scored 20.4 fantasy points and exhibited his immense upside. The 9ers called several designed runs for Lance, to take advantage of his rushing upside, and Lance responded with seven carries for 41 yards. He also punched in a 2-point conversion.
This week is a huge game for Lance, as he faces a division rival. However, with a full week to prepare, expect a game plan revolved around Lance’s unique ability as a ball carrier. Lance did struggle as a passer in his debut. Many of his throws were off target, and he had two passes batted at the line after he stared down his primary receiver. However, with a week to prepare, Lance is set to explode for a huge fantasy week.
Running Backs
Trey Sermon (Start, Flex), Elijah Mitchell (Sit), Kyle Juszczyk (Sit)
49ers running back Trey Sermon was the last man standing in the depleted 49ers running back room. Sermon carried the ball 19 times for 89 yards and looked good doing it. He was decisive hitting the designed hole and took every bit of what the defense gave him. However Sermon is not being involved in the passing game, and Kyle Juszczyk is seeing more work than what managers would hope. It seems the team just doesn’t trust Sermon yet, and that could present a messy backfield should Elijah Mitchell return from injury. This week managers could start Sermin at Flex but if Mitchell is back on the active roster, it is tough to know how the backfield usage will play out. Still, Sermon has the draft capital and played well last week. He could be on the plus side of a committee. Pay attention to the backfield usage this week, which should tell us more about how we view this backfield heading into bye weeks next week.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Deebo Samuel (Start, WR1), Brandon Aiyuk (Sit), George Kittle (Start, Low-end TE1)
Through four weeks Deebo Samuel is the overall WR3 in fantasy, and he has been dominating defenses. Last week he got free on a broken play for a 76-yard touchdown on a blown coverage. Deebo is 5th in overall with 42 targets and a change at QB shouldn’t slow him down. He collected 12 more last week. He’s an easy weekly start and the bedrock of early fantasy lineups.
The secondary pass-catching options on the 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle have been disappointing, but fantasy managers should hold course and hold both. Kittle nearly came down with a score last week and is 4th overall in fantasy targets. Kittle will produce and should be in your lineup this week. Aiyuk is an incredibly talented receiver that seems to still be finding his way. Aiyuk’s route share dropped last week but it is a long season and he is a hold until things turn around. If you can help it, don’t drop Aiyuk but he cannot be started this week.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Kyler Murray (Start, QB1)
Through just four weeks of the season, the Cardinals Kyler Murray is playing like an MVP. The overall QB2 is scoring more than 26 fantasy points per game and has accounted for 12 touchdowns, either as a passer or a rusher. What’s most encouraging is Murray is producing in the pocket, he’s yet to have a game with more than 39 yards rushing. Murray is a wizard and should take apart the 49ers passing defense, a team that is allowing the 5th most points to the position.
Running Backs
Chase Edmonds (Start, RB2), James Conner (Start, Flex)
At the near quarter point of the season, the Cardinals have again shown us all we needed to know about how this backfield will operate this season. Chase Edmonds is a monster n the passing game, and electric as a ball carrier but still will see only about 12-15 touches per game. Meanwhile, James Conner works as the primary ball carrier and goal-line back. Conner received 18 carries this past week and, for the second straight week, scored twice. Both players are splitting the work inside the 10-yard line. Expect all of this to continue, and both are viable weekly fantasy options at RB. San Fran is allowing 27 fantasy points per game to the position, and managers can continue going to the well this week and start both backs.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
DeAndre Hopkins (Start, WR1), A.J. Green (Start, WR3), Christian Kirk (Sit, Low-end Flex), Rondale Moore (Sit), Maxx Williams (Sit)
The Cardinals receiving corps has been productive but also a headache to decipher week to week. DeAndre Hopkins played through a rib injury, and it showed but he finished with four catches on seven targets and 67 yards. Hopkins hasn’t had the explosive week that we have come to expect nut he is still a strong WR1 option and managers should not debate whether or not to start him.
After a hot start, Christian Kirk had a quiet day with just one catch. Kirk will be an up and down option and it will be tough to peg exactly which games he will produce. He is an every-week WR4, and a nice fill-in for teams facing injuries but without a high-volume role it will be a shot in the dark. Instead, A.J. Green had his third straight weekly WR3 or better finish. Green is heavily involved and is playing in 80% of the team’s snaps. The team clearly has a defined role for Green, and he has looked good. With the way Murray is playing, managers looking for help at receiver could do worse than A.J.
Rondale Moore isn’t seeing enough playing time to be trusted in lineups. If injuries hit the position, then watch out for fantasy production but only desperate managers need to start him. Likewise for Maxx Williams. Williams had a really great day but only ran routes on 50% of the team’s passing plays. We need that number to be higher until we can trust him.
-Marc Salazar (@oldsnake77)