FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Sortable Player Projections | Game Predictions Summary | Projections by Team

Prediction: SF 20, ARI 13

The 10-2 49ers are still in the lead for the #2 seed in the NFC and are 4-1 on the road. The Cardinals are only 5-7 and 3-2 at home. This is a rematch of week 11 when the 49ers whipped the Cardinals 23-7

Pregame Notes: The 49ers have already clinched the NFC West and have to face every divisional opponent in road games to finish the year along with hosting the Steelers next week. That should end up no worse than a 13-3 record and could even keep that two loss column since the Steelers are the visitors. The bad part about the 49ers is that they hardly allow anyone else to score and that hurts fantasy numbers.

LB Patrick Willis will likely miss this game but be back for the Steelers.

QUARTERBACK: Alex Smith enjoyed one of his best games of the year when he passed for 267 yards and two scores on the visiting Cardinals in week 11. The rushing game is not likely to be much better so Smith should need to throw again. Hard to rely on one of his biggest games repeating but the Cardinals at home have always given up big yardage and usually two scores per opponent. Even Sam Bradford passed for 255 yards there and all others topped 300 yards.

RUNNING BACKS: Frank Gore rushed for 88 yards on 24 carries in the home meeting with the Cardinals and that was right around when he cooled off from his 100 yard pace. A sprained ankle has been lingering but he should be without limitation this week.

The Cardinals at home have only allowed two rushing scores to running backs and the defense has been very good in recent weeks there. Expect a decent game from Gore but likely no touchdown again and no more yardage in this road version.

WIDE RECEIVERS: In week 11, Michael Crabtree had his best game of the season when he caught seven passes for 120 yards on these Cardinals and Kyle Williams also enjoyed his best showing with 54 yards and a score on five receptions. Braylon Edwards was held to no catches but that's hardly been the only time he has under performed. At home the Cardinals secondary has been no better with six scored allowed in five home stands and eight players turning in 80+ yards on them.

Crabtree is a decent start this week given his past success and the weakness of the Cardinals secondary. Williams has only shown up in home games so far so figure on a down game for him.

TIGHT ENDS: Following the theme, Vernon Davis had one of his best efforts of the season when he turned five catches into 67 yards and one touchdown. Of the two passing scores, Davis is as likely as any to catch one and has five touchdowns on the season.

Pregame Notes: The Cardinals are still giddy with their overtime win over the Cowboys and thanks to the Rams they are on a two game winning streak. The remaining schedule features three home games with one trip to Cincy and it's likely they have one more win coming if not two. Just probably not this week. The Cardinals offense has never scored more than 28 points in any game and not more than 23 in the last five weeks.

RUNNING BACKS: Beanie Wells was held to only 33 yards on eight runs in the blowout three weeks ago but also turned in 228 yards the very next week in St. Louis. The problem this week is that the 49ers have the best defense in the league against running backs. They have not allowed even one rushing touchdown the entire season and no running back has topped 64 rushing yards against them regardless of venue. The 49ers may be without LB Patrick Willis this week but held Ray Rice to 59 yards and no score without him last week.

WIDE RECEIVERS: This is the biggest weakness of the 49ers defense though hardly glaring. Larry Fitzgerald ended with 41 yards and a score on three catches in the first meeting and Andre Roberts turned in 51 yards in that game and then 111 yards on six catches in the most recent home game versus Dallas. Even Early Doucet ended with six catches for 50 yards in the previous meeting.

Outside of Fitzgerald, the others are too risky for a fantasy start and the 49ers are a very solid defense. There could be higher yardage and even a second score possible but too hard to rely on.

TIGHT ENDS: No fantasy value.

 Print