Fantasy Football Week 6: Complete Monday Night Preview
Are we really ready to wrap up the sixth week of the NFL season?
That’s hard to believe. But time flies when you’re having fun.
Reality-wise, this now shapes up as a huge game in the NFC West. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks took it on the chin at home on Sunday afternoon.
Fantasy football-wise, we shall see.
The St. Louis Rams host the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, and for those of you out there who still have players getting ready to perform tonight, good luck.
As for the teams, they appear to be headed in opposite directions. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t players on each club that will help your cause this evening.
Starting Quarterbacks
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San Francisco 49ers: Colin Kaepernick
Spotty would probably be a fair analysis of Kaepernick so far this season. He’s completed 64.7 percent of his throws for 1,113 yards, seven scores and five turnovers, including four interceptions. Kaepernick has run for 205 yards this season but hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown, something he did four times in 2013.
Fantasy Prediction: 20-of-32, 263 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
St. Louis Rams: Austin Davis
Jeff Fisher’s third-string quarterback has put up numbers the last two weeks that have made his owners pretty happy, even though the Rams have lost both games. He’s totaled 702 yards through the air (300-plus yards in each contest) and thrown for three scores in each contest. But in four appearances this season, Davis has been sacked 10 times and committed a total of five turnovers, with three of those miscues returned for touchdowns.
Fantasy Prediction: 26-of-39, 294 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT; 2 carries, 12 yards, 0 TD
Running Backs
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San Francisco 49ers Starter: Frank Gore
The veteran performer has become a bigger factor in recent weeks and the Niners offense is the better for it. Gore has rushed for 100-plus yards each of the last two games after totaling only 139 yards on the ground in the team’s first three contests. He also has a 55-yard touchdown reception this season.
Fantasy Prediction: 22 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD; 3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD
San Francisco 49ers Backup: Carlos Hyde
The second-round pick from Ohio State has opened some eyes when he’s been in the lineup. While not a pass-catching threat, he ranks third on the team with 132 yards on the ground and has scored a pair of touchdowns. The powerful rookie has been a solid addition.
Fantasy Prediction: 11 carries, 51 yards, 0 TD; 0 receptions
St. Louis Rams Starter: Zac Stacy
Stacy has not picked up where he left off last season, when he was one of the league’s most productive runners during the second half of 2014. He’s totaled 223 yards and a touchdown on 53 carries so far this season and ranks fourth on the club with 10 receptions. In his last nine games a year ago, Stacy totaled at least 26 carries in five games and ran for 100-plus yards in four of those outings.
Fantasy Prediction: 14 carries, 53 yards, 0 TD; 4 receptions, 25 yards, 0 TD
St. Louis Rams Backup: Benny Cunningham
He ranked second on the team in rushing last season with 261 yards and is in that same position this season with 112 yards on the ground. But he is a bigger factor in the passing game this season with nine catches in 2014, three more receptions than he totaled as a rookie one year ago.
Fantasy Prediction: 7 carries, 26 yards, 0 TD; 1 reception, 12 yards, 0 TD
Wide Receivers
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San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the fact that the former first-round pick is averaging a mere 9.8 yards per catch this season. Crabtree has totaled 25 receptions, tied for the club lead, for just 246 yards. But he has also scored a pair of touchdowns, tied for tops on the team. It’s worth noting that both he and Anquan Boldin have each been targeted 36 times in 2014.
Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 68 yards, 0 TD
San Francisco 49ers: Anquan Boldin
Someone I have personally dubbed the Wes Unseld of the NFL, all quarterbacks have benefited from his toughness because he will always win the battle. Boldin is tied with Crabtree for the team lead with 25 receptions for 303 yards but has not scored so far this season. He now ranks 18th in NFL history with 882 catches.
Fantasy Prediction: 6 receptions, 74 yards, 0 TD
San Francisco 49ers: Stevie Johnson
He has made the most of his 15 catches this season, especially if you have him in one of your leagues, and has helped his owners the last three weeks. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Johnson totaled nine receptions for 103 yards. And over the past two weeks, he’s caught just one pass in each contest, both for touchdowns.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 14 yards, 0 TD
San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Lloyd
The well-traveled veteran wideout has totaled six catches for 109 yards this season. He hasn’t been a major factor this year so far but bears watching tonight if tight end Vernon Davis is unavailable.
Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 8 yards, 0 TD
St. Louis Rams: Kenny Britt
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher had Britt with the Tennessee Titans and the talented wideout had his ups and downs during his tenure in Nashville. This season in the Gateway City, the former first-round pick has caught only nine passes but for 154 yards and one touchdown.
Fantasy Prediction: 6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin
A bit of an overall disappointment as a rookie last season, save for a few electrifying moments, we are still waiting for Austin to wow us in 2014. He’s totaled just five catches for 67 yards and has been involved in just as many running plays.
Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 0 TD
St. Louis Rams: Brian Quick
The one-time second-round pick from Appalachian State, who totaled only 18 receptions for 302 yards and two scores last season, currently leads the Rams with 21 grabs for 322 yards and three touchdowns, all three of those scores coming in the last two games.
Fantasy Prediction: 5 receptions, 55 yards, 0 TD
St. Louis Rams: Austin Pettis
Pettis is one of three players on the team with exactly nine catches, his total going for 103 yards and a touchdown. After being held without a reception in Week 1, he’s totaled three grabs in each of his last three outings.
Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 39 yards, 0 TD
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Tight Ends
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San Francisco 49ers Starter: Vernon Davis
Tight end has been a tough spot for the 49ers this season. Davis has missed time, but when available he always seems to find the end zone. Davis has totaled just nine receptions for 91 yards this season but has scored twice.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 35 yards, 0 TD
San Francisco 49ers Backup: Vance McDonald
Like Davis, injuries have been an issue for McDonald as well. He’s totaled just one catch for nine yards this season and it’s actually been third-stringer Derek Carrier who has the better numbers (seven receptions for 90 yards). Again, Davis’ availability is the key here.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 19 yards, 0 TD
St. Louis Rams Starter: Jared Cook
A year ago, in his first season with the Rams, Cook lead the club with 51 receptions for 671 yards and five touchdowns. In 2014, he ranks second on the club with 19 grabs for 221 yards and has totaled at least four receptions in each contest this season.
Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD
St. Louis Rams Backup: Lance Kendricks
A year ago, he totaled 32 catches and four went for touchdowns. This season, Kendricks ranks third on the team behind Cook with 12 receptions for 88 yards and a score. Unfortunately, you don’t get a lot of real estate with Kendricks, who averages a mere 7.3 yards per grab.
Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions
Defense/Special Teams
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San Francisco 49ers Defense/Special Teams
Even down nose tackle Glenn Dorsey and linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith, the Niners entered Week 6 as the league’s second-ranked defensive unit. However, while the team managed a very-respectable 10 takeaways in five games, the pass rush has totaled only five sacks, three of those by veteran defensive tackle Justin Smith.
Fantasy Prediction: 14 points allowed, 4 sacks, 2 INT, 2 FF
St. Louis Rams Defense/Special Teams
Yes, Jeff Fisher’s club is minus standout defensive end Chris Long these days. But it is still hard to believe that the Rams have managed only one sack in four games, that coming from rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Keep in mind that this is a group that totaled a combined 105 sacks in its previous 32 games. We are still waiting for defensive end Robert Quinn to break out this season.
Fantasy Prediction: 27 points allowed, 2 sacks, 0 INT, 1 FF
Best Sleeper Adds
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A couple of these performers may not be on your team and could be worth adding on Monday morning or afternoon. Sometimes a little last-minute shopping can be beneficial.
1. Carlos Hyde, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers (Owned in 67.0% of ESPN leagues)
Plenty of folks have the second-round pick from May on their roster. Hyde has run for 132 yards and two scores this season and has gotten 10 carries each of the last two weeks.
2. Vance McDonald, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers (Owned in 0.3% of ESPN leagues)
A possible insurance policy if Vernon Davis is unavailable, although McDonald has only totaled one catch for nine yards this season in three games. He returned to action last week against Kansas City after sitting out the previous two weeks.
3. Benny Cunningham, Running Back, St. Louis Rams (Owned in 1.7% of ESPN leagues)
Cunningham has basically half as many carries and rushing yards as starter Zac Stacy but has caught nine passes for 63 yards.
4. Brian Quick, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Rams (Owned in 56.4% of ESPN leagues)
He’s become the team’s touchdown guy with three scoring receptions this season, half of quarterback Austin Davis’ season total. But he’s still available in numerous leagues.
Injury Report
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Here is a look at the latest injury report regarding the 49ers and Rams, focusing on key performers (courtesy of NFL.com).
San Francisco 49ers | ||
Player | Status | |
Tramaine Brock | CB | Out |
Vernon Davis | TE | Questionable |
T | Questionable | |
Ray McDonald | DE | Probable |
Ian Williams | NT | Probable |
Chris Cook | CB | Probable |
Brock being out certainly hurts a pass defense that has allowed nine scores through the air this season, but the bigger concern may be the possible absences of the both Davises. We are still kind of waiting for the San Francisco offensive line to find its groove, and Vernon Davis has missed two of the last three weeks.
St. Louis Rams | ||
Player | Status | |
Alex Carrington | DT | Questionable |
Jo-Lonn Dunbar | LB | Questionable |
Zac Stacy | RB | Probable |
Kenny Britt | WR | Probable |
With the exceptions of the long-term absences of quarterback Sam Bradford and defensive end Chris Long, these Rams are a fairly healthy bunch. Dunbar could play on Monday night, but Carrington did not practice late last week.
Sit or Start
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We know who the stars are when it comes to this contest. But is there a pivotal player or two that may be on your roster that you can’t decide whether to start or not? Here’s a little help.
RB Carlos Hyde (49ers): While Frank Gore remains the starter Hyde actually leads the team with a pair of rushing touchdowns. Still, it would be a bit of a reach to put the rookie in your lineup.
Verdict: Sit
WR Stevie Johnson (49ers): He’s made a habit of reaching the end zone the last two weeks. With tight end Vernon Davis questionable, he may not be a bad option.
Verdict: Start
QB Austin Davis (Rams): We envision somewhat respectable numbers tonight from Davis, who’s thrown for 300-plus yards and three touchdowns in each of his last two games. But San Francisco’s defense could present a different challenge.
Verdict: Sit
TE Jared Cook (Rams): Although Cook hasn’t found the end zone yet in 2014 he should be able to find an occasional hole in the 49ers’ 3-4 defense. And don’t be shocked if he gets his first score of the season tonight.
Verdict: Start
Some statistical support provided by Pro-Football-Reference, NFL.com and ESPN.com. Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.
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