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Welcome back for Week 4 of the 2015 NFL season. A lot of fantasy football owners are having to figure out what they are going to do without Ben Roethlisberger in their lineup. I have Big Ben in a pair of leagues, and things are not off to a great start without him. I picked up Joe Flacco in one league, and he was pretty blah on Thursday. In another league, I picked up Colin Kaepernick after the Roethlisberger morning injury, but before the Cardinals game. Suddenly not looking so hot, but I'm going to roll the dice Kap can do some damage for me.
Week 3 was not a pretty week for San Francisco 49ers fantasy options. They will look to rebound against the Green Bay Packers. The 49ers have had a nice string of success against the Packers in recent years, but this year the team is in a rough position. The Packers defense is not great, so there is some potential. And of course, if things get ugly, garbage time could be big for the 49ers.
49ers
Start 'em: RB Carlos Hyde - If the 49ers are going to hang close, Hyde is going to be an important cog. The 49ers need a strong performance from Colin Kaepernick, but Hyde will be critical for them to control the clock. If the offensive line has another bad day, Hyde will be worth a downgrade from must start to matchup dependent.
Maybe start 'em: QB Colin Kaepernick, WR Anquan Boldin, WR Torrey Smith, K Phil Dawson - Kap has great history against the Packers. There's a good chance you have a better option at quarterback, but injuries have cost you, Kap could be a decent fill-in this week. Even if he is not great, I would be surprised if he had as abysmal a performance as he did last week ... This could turn into a shootout, which provide some intriguing value for Boldin and Smith. With any of these 49ers option, you are rolling the dice that the offensive line shows up to prove Kap with some time ... If the 49ers cannot get things going against the Packers, Dawson is a guy who will be downgraded to sit 'em for the foreseeable future.
Sit 'em: 49ers defense, RB Reggie Bush, TE Vernon Davis - The 49ers offensive might get something going, but the 49ers D/ST is not a good play right now ... Bush could develop into an intriguing PPR option if he can stay healthy, but for now he has no real value ... Davis is doubtful with a knee injury, so the decision is made for you.
Packers
Start 'em: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Eddie Lacy, WR Randall Cobb, WR James Jones, K Mason Crosby - If you own Packers, you best roll them out. This 49ers defense has been awful the last two weeks. Maybe they figure something out, but odds are not in their favor.
Maybe start 'em: WR Ty Montgomery, TE Richard Rodgers, Packers D/ST, James Starks - Even the reserves could be worth a look. Starks in particular could be worth a flex play if you think the Packers are going to blow this one open. If Green Bay goes up big early, they might look to rest Eddie Lacy. Starks gains value if you think that's a realistic possibility.
Sit 'em: Nobody