Colin Kaepernick to start for 49ers: Fantasy implications

Colin Kaepernick has officially been announced as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to reports. Head coach Jim Harbaugh had held off naming a starter between Kaepernick and Alex Smith, but there were strong indications throughout the week that Kaepernick would earn his second straight start.

Smith was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report due to a concussion suffered in Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams. Kaepernick started last week against the Chicago Bears, and went 16-for-23 passing for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

Fantasy Impact: We can't gauge just how far from returning Smith is, but it appears that Kaepernick may have beaten him outright for the starter's job. He more than held his own against one of the NFL's fiercest defenses last week, turning in a fantasy-relevant outing against a team that has relinquished few this season.

With a prime matchup against the Saints, a legitimate argument can be made that Kaepernick is one of the better starting fantasy quarterback options out there this week. His ability to run the ball helps his prospects immensely, with rushing touchdowns worth more than passing touchdowns in a lot of formats.

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