San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
- Jimmy Garoppolo: 1/6, 0 yards, 1 INT
- CJ Beathard: 5/11, 81 yards
- Nick Mullens: 2/3, 27 yards
In Jimmy Garoppolo’s first game action since his ACL tear, he was–to put it kindly–bad. He completed one pass for 0 yards, had an interception, and had another one slip through the defender’s hands. I don’t think it’s time to hit the panic button just yet, but it was not encouraging. CJ Beathard came in after Jimmy G’s two drives and was not convincing. We’ve seen plenty of Beathard by now and know what he is: a solid backup that can put up some good numbers in shootouts. It was interesting that he played over Nick Mullens, however, given that Mullens took over for Garoppolo last year after his injury. It’s a situation that doesn’t warrant drafting except in the deepest leagues, but Garoppolo does get injured quite a bit; if he keeps performing at this level, we may see Mullens/ Beathard at some point this year.
Running Back
- Tevin Coleman: 3 carries, 21 yards
- Matt Breida: 1 rush, 4 yards
- Raheem Mostert: 6 carries, 58 yards, TD | 2 receptions, 42 yards
- Jeff Wilson, Jr.: 9 carries, 33 yards | 1 reception, 8 yards
Unlike their passing game, the 49ers running game looked explosive and speedy. Tevin Coleman had a few first downs before leaving the game with the starters. To me, he is being undervalued in drafts as the clear lead back in a Kyle Shanahan offense. Before Jerick McKinnon’s injury last year, he was being drafted in the third round; Coleman is currently being drafted at the 7/8 turn. Matt Breida, it seems, is playing the role in Shanahan’s offense that Coleman himself played in Atlanta: a lightning rod change-of-pace back. Raheem Mostert, however, had the best night of the 3. He got extensive run with the second-stringers and made the most of it, scoring a 30-yard TD in the third quarter. He’s worth a look in deep leagues as Brieda has not exactly been the pinnacle of health during his career. Jeff Wilson, Jr. also looked good, and it is clear that whoever gets the most touches in the backfield will be a steal at their current ADP.
Wide Receiver/ Tight End
- Deebo Samuel: 1 carry, 45 yards
- Richie James Jr.: 1 reception, 14 yards
- Kendrick Bourne: 2 receptions, 27 yards
There was not much at all to see with the Niners WR’s; it was more interesting to see who played and when. Dante Pettis, Jordan Matthews, and Marquise Goodwin were the starters with Garoppolo and came off with him. Deebo Samuel played with the second-stringers and had a great run of 45 yards, showing off his speed. However, he did not show much as a pass-catcher. Richie James Jr. returned punts and had a few catches. George Kittle did not play due to injury. To me, Pettis, Goodwin, Jalen Hurd, Samuel, and Trent Taylor are roster locks while Matthews, James Jr., and Kendrick Bourne fight it out for the last receiver spots. James, Jr. has the return chops, but Bourne had a great TD catch late in the game. It’s gonna be a headache figuring out this crowded WR corps, especially given how Garoppolo looked tonight. I’m staying away from all of them except for Kittle.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
- Joe Flacco: 7/11, 59 yards
- Drew Lock: 7/12, 40 yards | 2 carries, 11 yards
- Kevin Hogan: 5/15, 40 yards, 1 INT | 2 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
The Broncos starting offense looked solid if not spectacular. Joe Flacco was efficient in his short stint as starter. Given the way the Broncos’ young guys have struggled, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start the entire year and possibly beyond. That being said, Drew Lock came in after Flacco and looked better than he had his previous two games. He wasn’t great, but he had a few nice throws and runs and wasn’t the complete disaster he was in his first game. He left the game after landing awkwardly on his right hand. Lock should be looked at as nothing more than a deep dynasty stash. Kevin Hogan also had a great TD run late in the fourth and is not backing down in the fight to be Flacco’s backup.
Running Back
- Phillip Lindsay: 5 carries, 14 yards
- Royce Freeman: 5 carries, 0 yards | 1 reception, 6 yards
- Devontae Booker: 4 carries, 15 yards | 2 receptions, 8 yards
The Broncos RB’s did not have a very good night. Phillip Lindsay played with the starters over Royce Freeman but could not find many holes. It was the same for Freeman who is the clear #2 behind Lindsay. Booker retained his passing back role as Theo Riddick sat out with a shoulder injury and had a few catches. Neither are worth rostering except in very deep leagues as a desperation, break-glass-in-case-of-emergency flex play. One of them might be cut.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
- Emmanuel Sanders: 1 reception, 5 yards | 1 carry, 19 yards
- Noah Fant: 2 receptions, 7 yards
- Juwan Winfree: 2 receptions, 24 yards
- Courtland Sutton: 2 receptions, 28 yards
- DaeSean Hamilton: 2 receptions, 21 yards
- Tim Patrick: 1 reception, 12 yards | 1 carry, 10 yards
For me, the biggest takeaway overall for the night was how good Emmanuel Sanders looked. Although he looked a little awkward running with the football, Flacco targeted him early and often, and he had an amazing diving catch on a deep ball that was called back due to holding. Sanders is one of the most complete WR’s in the league and was a borderline WR1 last season before his injury. If somehow he has beaten the odds and recovered from his Achilles tear, he’s an absolute steal going in the double-digit rounds. Get him now while you can. Other than Sanders, the other Broncos’ pass catchers had a few catches each with no one really standing out. Sutton and Hamilton were the starters along with Sanders while Winfree and Patrick seem like the WR4 and WR5. If Sanders is truly recovered, I would take him over Sutton and Hamilton–though they are worthy dart throws in the later rounds. Notably, first-round TE Noah Fant left the game early with a foot injury. This continued the trend of every single drafted Broncos TE getting injured. Monitor his situation as he was running with the starters and showed off his YAC ability with the catch that he got injured on.
— Ryan Comeau
Haven’t played fantasy football in awhile just wondering…besides actual talent which positions should be drafted in the early rounds? Not sure I trust ANY bears fans to give advice but I’ll go with my gut for now.
Haha, thanks for reading Aaron. In the first 4 rounds I will only draft RB and WR and I base my choices on whoever is the best player available at the moment (even if the means I get 3 rb and only 1 wr or vice versa). Travis Kelce will likely go in the 2nd round and I personally would take him at the start of the third. Typically, I’ll draft a TE in the 7th or 8th round. I’ll then go for my QB somewhere in rounds 8-10. Hope this helps!