San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will play in the team’s final preseason game against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday, according to the 49ers head coach Chip Kelly on Tuesday. Kelly also added that quarterback Blaine Gabbert will not play Thursday and it does not seem as though injury played a factor into the decision.
Barring an insane performance from Kaepernick against the Chargers, it seems safe to say that Gabbert will likely open the regular season as San Francisco’s starting quarterback.
Fantasy Impact: For the beginning of 2016, fantasy owners should concern themselves more with the other skill players on the 49ers’ roster rather than who is starting at quarterback. Niether Gabbert or Kaepernick are being drafted this year and they will likely remain on the waiver wire for the beginning of the season until they prove otherwise.
Despite leading the team to the playoffs just three seasons ago, Kaepernick may be lucky to even make San Francisco’s 2016 roster. More performances like when he threw for 67 yards and four interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals last year are not going to keep the 49ers, or fantasy owners, interested in his services much longer.