The 49ers host the Cardinals tomorrow and will find themselves in an intriguing situation with their next game only four days after the Cardinals game. Coach Harbaugh has insisted the team is focused on the Arizona game and nothing else, but you just have to think the coaches have spent a decent amount of time breaking down the Baltimore Ravens and getting a game plan ready. It's an incredibly short week after the Cardinals game, with the team flying out to Baltimore on Wednesday, so every second counts in preparing for the Ravens.
There have been some question marks about resting players given the short week. If the 49ers are able to take a sizable early lead, I have to think we'll see a guy like Kendall Hunter get a decent amount of touches. The question is how they mix him in before any possible big lead materializes (if at all).
While I realize not everybody plays fantasy football, I think it does provide some context for discussing what the team might do on Sunday. For example, if you have Kendall Hunter on your roster, he could actually make a decent flex option if you need some help because of bye weeks woes. There is a gamble with playing Hunter, but there is some solid upside this particular week.
The one guy I really like this week is Alex Smith. His downside is that even with a big offensive showing from the 49ers, Smith could end up with only 170 or 180 yards. But there is some solid upside against a sometimes struggling Cardinals defense. I have Drew Brees in a money league and he is on bye this week. Six weeks ago I picked up Alex Smith just for this game. He could come up with a normal line for this season, but I figure I'll roll the dice on a solid performance.