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We're back for Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season, which means you probably are starting to get a decent idea about your fantasy football squads. In my oldest league, I'm getting Le'Veon Bell back from suspension, which is nice. In my biggest money league, I have Eddie Lacy, but thankfully I landed James Starks on waivers and can wait until Monday to make a decision about that running back slot.
Week 2 was a mixed bag for the San Francisco 49ers from a fantasy perspective. Colin Kaepernick got a lot of late yards, and of course had the big touchdown connection with Torrey Smith. Carlos Hyde struggled to get going, and a hit to the head cost him most of the second half. And if you started the 49ers defense? Well, that was not pretty.
Heading into Week 3, iIn one league I had a choice between Kap and Eli Manning. I decided to bench Manning and go with Kap. He has some success against Arizona, and I am not usually enthused by Thursday fantasy football. Manning ended up with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, so we'll see what Kap can do. In the meantime, here is a look at start and sit candidates for 49ers-Cardinals in Week 3.
49ers
Start 'em: Carlos Hyde - All indications are that Hyde is healthy, following a Week 2 game that resulted in a run through in-game concussion testing (he passed it), and a quadricep injury on an ugly hit from Mike Mitchell. In spite of last week's struggles, Hyde is currently a guy you should be rolling out each week. If the 49ers offensive line struggles again, then we might need to reconsider it.
Maybe start 'em: Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith Vernon Davis, Phil Dawson - Kap put together a big performance against Pittsburgh. While he did benefit from some garbage time yards, he remains a threat thanks to improved passing, and his always dangerous legs. He has good history against Arizona ... Boldin and Smith are both coming off solid Week 2s in which they each scored a touchdown. Both are primarily flex plays and injury fill-ins for now, but they will have their share of solid days ... Davis had five receptions for 62 yards in Week 2. It's not quite the dominant stuff we've seen in the past, but if you got him late or on waivers, he could be a decent bye week fill-in down the road, and also an injury plug-in for a guy like Austin Seferian-Jenkins ... Dawson is a guy who will be up and down depending on this 49ers offense. He's not a bad option, but not great.
Sit 'em: 49ers defense - The 49ers D/ST face a strong Cardinals offense that has not given up a sack, and has avoided excessive turnovers. The 49ers need those to win on Sunday, but this is not a good matchup for them.
Cardinals
Start 'em: Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald - Palmer is off to a strong start. He benefited from a pass interference call last week, and some abysmal defenses, but he's into must-start territory for the time being. Fitzgerald has some good history against the 49ers, and is off to a hot start this season.
Maybe start 'em: John Brown, Cardinals defense, Chandler Catanzaro - Brown is a big-play threat, and a guy who had some success against the 49ers last season ... The Cardinals D/ST faces a 49ers team that does not turn over the ball a lot, but could if the offensive line is faulty. There are sacks to be had ... The Cardinals could put up big points if the 49ers pass rush struggles, so Catanzaro is a decent start option.
Sit 'em: Chris Johnson, Michael Floyd - CJ2? is not the back he once was, and this Cardinals offense is built around the pass ... Floyd missed a chunk of time in the preseason with a finger dislocation issue, and has gotten off to a slow start since returning. Eventually he'll be fine, but for now it's wait and see.