Sit/Start Week 8: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, October 30th, at 4:25 PM EST

Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Betting Odds: SF -2, 43 total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback

Jimmy Garoppolo (Start if you must, QB2)

Gamescript got the best of the 49ers against the Chiefs, which led to Jimmy Garoppolo finishing with a decent fantasy day. He completed 25 of 37 attempts for 303 yards, two touchdowns, and one ugly interception in the end zone. That box score was good for over 22 fantasy points (in six-point passing touchdown formats). You know what you are going to get out of Garoppolo at this stage in his career, and in a week where Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert are on their BYE, he could be a serviceable streamer. It’s worth mentioning that the Rams defense has given up an average of 13.13 fantasy points to QBs in six games this season, per FantasyData.

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey (Start, RB1), Jeff Wilson Jr. (Sit)

Despite zero practice reps with his new team post-trade, Christian McCaffrey was active, but wasn’t much of a factor in his San Fran debut. He turned eight carries into 38 yards, and had two receptions for 24 yards. His workload will surely ramp up after his upcoming practice sessions, cementing him as an RB1 in a potent offense. Jeff Wilson Jr., who has filled in decently for Elijah Mitchell, is now going back to backup duties with CMC in the fold. He turned seven carries into 54 scoreless yards, and may have lost even his FLEX value because of the trade.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Deebo Samuel (Start, WR1), Brandon Aiyuk (Start, WR3), Ray-Ray McCloud III (Sit), George Kittle (Start, TE2)

Time will tell just how much Deebo Samuel’s fantasy value is impacted as a result of the trade for McCaffrey, but for the time being, still treat him as the dual-threat WR1 you drafted him to be. It’s worth noting that he did suffer a hamstring injury in the loss to Kansas City, and San Francisco does have their BYE in Week 9. On the flip side, as of writing he is concerned “day to day,” and did play a standard amount of snaps against the Chiefs despite the issue; 68 total and owned a 86.1 snap percentage per FantasyData.

In back to back weeks, Brandon Aiyuk has come to play, almost mirroring his box score in each game. In Week 7, he caught seven of 11 targets for 82 yards, and you should continue to trust that Jimmy G will look his way in the middle of the field as he has. Ray-Ray McCloud III was targeted four times, catching all four looks for 65 yards and a touchdown, and that performance was his best of the season. However, he doesn’t possess consistent fantasy value at this time. The Rams defense, fresh off their BYE, have given up the 10th most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season.

Like Aiyuk, it’s been a solid two games in a row for George Kittle. Against KC, Kittle caught six of nine targets for 98 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers would love for this to continue, but as we’ve seen with Kittle in recent years, it’s very easy for him to spend an entire game blocking. With the Rams being the league-best defense against tight ends this season, it pegs Kittle to finish as a TE2 with TE1 upside this week.

Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford (Start, QB2)

Surely Matthew Stafford welcomed the BYE this past week, as it’s been a disappointing start to his season. In six games, he owns a 6:8 passing touchdown to interception ratio. His completion percentage is 71.1%, but he’s only posted 65.74 total fantasy points on the year. The 49ers are a tough task to come back to, which leads Stafford to potentially post QB2 numbers again this week. In Week 4 at San Fran, Stafford completed 32 of 48 attempts for 254 yards, one interception, and zero touchdowns.

Running Backs

Darrell Henderson Jr. (Start, RB2), Malcolm Brown (Sit)

With Cam Akers still the subject of (active) trade efforts, Darrell Henderson Jr. will remain the back to own in the Rams backfield. In Week 6’s win against Carolina, Henderson turned 12 carries into just 43 yards, but did score. He’s on the RB2 map this week against a 49ers defense allowing the third fewest fantasy points to RBs on the year. Behind him is Malcolm Brown, who isn’t a threat or fantasy relevant. One name to look out for is fifth-round rookie Kyren Williams, who as of this week is still at least a week or so away from first returning to practice.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Cooper Kupp (Start, WR1), Allen Robinson II (Sit), Ben Skowronek (Sit), Van Jefferson (Sit), Tyler Higbee (Start, TE2)

The consensus WR1 in Cooper Kupp is back off the BYE, ready to continue his weekly dominance. Through six games, Kupp has turned 56 receptions into 607 receiving yards and four touchdowns, as well as one rushing touchdown. His fellow receivers, Allen Robinson II and Ben Skowronek have paths to fantasy relevancy, however, I would suggest to sit ’em both this week and see how they are utilized coming off the BYE. The 49ers have given up the 15th most fantasy points to WR’s on the season. On Monday, another familiar face in Van Jefferson was designated to return off the IR with his knee injury that has kept him out all season. He is trending towards returning this week, and is no-doubt worthy of an add to your bench off the wire, but not yet a spot in your lineup. Tyler Higbee was very productive in Weeks 2-5, but may as well have goose egged against the Panthers in Week 6. San Francisco is fairly decent against tight ends, allowing the 12th fewest fantasy points to the position this year, but Higbee possesses high-end TE2 capabilities on a weekly basis.