Fantasy Scouting Report: San Francisco 49ers

San Fran tangles with the Packers, what does Niners Nation see happening?

The 49ers head into Green Bay for a battle between what Football Outsiders ranks as the top 2 defenses in the NFL. That certainly might make folks hesitant, in anticipation of another 49ers-Bears quality matchup. However, there remain a variety of fantasy options at your disposal.

The most valuable option for this game might in fact be the 49ers defense. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked more than any other QB in the league (41 times!). The 49ers pass rush has been a bit inconsistent at times, but I’d expect them to break through with some sacks this week. Several of their games when they’ve recorded 0 sacks, they’ve still gotten some pressure on the QB, so that should hopefully turn into actual sacks. Even if they give up a good deal of points, those sacks, any potential turnovers for an always aggressive defense, will make up for any lost points.

Frank Gore remains the top option for the 49ers offense. Glen Coffee returns from a concussion so Gore might lose some carries, but he’s still the workhorse of this offense. Throw in the fact that the team is mixing in some more RB screens and I’d say his value is actually increasing. The Packers have a solid rush defense, but Gore has shown that all it takes is one big run to make a game.

Vernon Davis was quiet last week against Chicago, but remains the most consistent receiving threat on this 49ers offense. Packers fans think the team will cover him with Charles Woodson, which would be intriguing to say the least. Woodson is a great corner, but I wonder if he can handle someone with Davis’s rare combination of size and speed. He’s turned into a must-start at the tight end position.

Michael Crabtree is not a must-start, but he continues to improve each week. If you’re out of your league’s playoff race at this point I say start him so you have something enjoyable to watch. But if you’re in the playoff hunt, now that bye weeks are finished, he’s probably not a guy to start these next few weeks.

Alex Smith has not been able to put together the huge numbers he had in the second half against Houston, so he remains a bench guy. Some might argue he’s due for a big game, but if you’re battling for a playoff spot, I just don’t think you want to gamble on a guy like Smith at this point.

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