Anquan Boldin's Monday Night Football History Makes Him Fantasy Must-Start

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin has had a season disappointing for fantasy owners—five weeks with no touchdown catches. If there is a time for the veteran to have a breakout game, it's going to happen on Monday night against the St. Louis Rams.

Fantasy football is all about looking at trends. Boldin has been a gold mine on Monday Night Football and was terrific with 14 catches, 188 yards and one touchdown in two games against the Rams last season. The only team he played better against in 2013 was the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 (13 receptions, 206 yards). 

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The obvious difference in Boldin's performance so far this season compared to 2013 is the weapons 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has at his disposal. For most of last year, Boldin and tight end Vernon Davis were the only reliable options available. 

This year, though, San Francisco's front office did a terrific job of adding depth at the wide receiver position. Michael Crabtree has been able to play in every game so far this season; Stevie Johnson is having a nice bounce-back year after injuries slowed him down with the Buffalo Bills; and Brandon Lloyd may be 33 years old, but three of his six catches have gone for at least 20 yards.

Kaepernick, while still battling some erratic tendencies in and out of the pocket, is doing a much better job of spreading the ball around—something that Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis discussed with the media on Friday, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News:

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In the past, you used to look for Colin to throw things on the outside that were pitch-and-catch things. When he’s scrambling, he’s very good at situational awareness. ‘Hey, it’s third-and-2 to 6 my first read isn’t open. I know I’m fast, so I can get a first down with my legs.’ Heck, the Philadelphia play where he throws back across field to Frank Gore, you see his awareness where his escape guys are, his check downs, that’s better than maybe it’s been in the past.

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While being able to make reads is great for Kaepernick's development, it's bad for fantasy owners who were counting on him to be a one-read player targeting Boldin the same way he did last year. That's not how football works, unfortunately. 

It's also worth noting that even though he hasn't scored a touchdown or more than nine points in standard scoring leagues yet this season, Boldin is still on pace for 80 receptions and 970 yards. Eventually the touchdowns will come. He nearly had one last week in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Kaepernick's pass was a little too high to pull in. 

Boldin is also due for a breakout game because Monday night has been his stage. Per the 49ers' official Twitter account, the 34-year-old has nine career touchdown catches under the bright lights:

According to the 49ers' public relations staff, Boldin's nine touchdown catches on Monday Night Football are the most among active players, with at least one in each of his last four games. 

Everyone knows that the 49ers are at their best running the ball. They've won their last two games by racking up 82 carries and only throwing the ball 57 times. While that does hurt the overall production of San Francisco's wide receivers, Boldin has still been targeted 15 times in those games. 

The 49ers don't figure to abandon the run this week since St. Louis is allowing 152.5 rushing yards per game and the fifth-most yards per carry (4.9), but that was also their philosophy last year, and it didn't stop Boldin from putting up big numbers. 

Patience is a virtue for fantasy owners. Even though Boldin may not have lived up to your expectations yet, he's in line to have his best game of the season in Week 6. 

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