Fantasy football projections, start/sit advice, Week 7: 49ers-Buccaneers

The 49ers and Buccaneers kick off at 1:05 pm PT. Niners Nation is here to break down the fantasy football implications of the game, with sit/start advice, stats projections, and a waiver wire target at each position.

Quarterbacks

Teams facing the 49ers have had immense success on the ground, meaning far less fantasy points at QB. It’s hard to bet against point projections that have him as the No. 2 scoring QB this week, but temper your expectations on Jameis Winston this week. Winston is a borderline start.

This is the week for Colin Kaepernick, in fantasy circles at least. The 49ers will be without their starting RB, meaning they’ll be asking much of Kaepernick and the passing game. His rushing ability is also the 49ers biggest red zone weapon this week. The Buccaneers have been a middle of the pack matchup for QB’s, but are missing starters on the D-Line. Start Colin Kaepernick.

Need a QB? Kaepernick is available in 93% of leagues.

NFL.com Projections:
Jameis Winston: 275 pass yards, 1 TD, 23 rush yards, 1 TD – 26.05 points (#1 among QB’s)
Colin Kaepernick: 229 pass yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 29 rush yards, 1 TD – 22.35 points (#6 QB)

Running Backs

The 49ers have allowed the 3rd most points to RB’s this season. The only real surprise to that ranking is that there are actually two teams faring worse. Buccaneers starter Doug Martin is out this week, making Jacquizz Rodgers a hot waiver wire target. Rodgers is projected to be the highest scoring RB this week. Start Rodgers.

Need an RB? Rodgers is available in 70% of leagues.

The Buccaneers offer the 8th best matchup for RB’s, meaning hypothetically this should be a good matchup. The real quandary is who will get the touches. Mike Davis is in line for the start, but his career 1.7 yards per carry makes his fantasy impact doubtful. Don’t waste a roster spot on Davis. If you’re scraping the bottom of the fantasy RB barrel, Shaun Draughn put up meaningful fantasy points for a five game stretch last season and should be the 49ers most productive back this week. Draughn is a weaker start.

NFL.com Projections:
Jacquizz Rodgers: 85 rush yards, 1 TD, 26 receiving, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost – 21.10 points (#1 RB)
Shaun Draughn: 47 rush yards, 1 TD, 21 receiving yards – 12.8 points (#16 RB)
Mike Davis: 12 rush yards, 1 TD, 9 receiving yards – 8.1 points (#31 RB)

Wide Receivers

The Buccaneers offer the 4th best matchup for receivers, in a game where the 49ers will need production through the air. Despite terrible point projections this week start Torrey Smith. A wasted fantasy pick with Blaine Gabbert at the helm, Smith put up 76 yards and a TD in Kaepernick’s first start. Jeremy Kerley and Quinton Patton offer roughly equal potential, but neither is a surefire start. Sit both.

The 49ers offer a middle of the pack matchup for WR’s. Mike Evans is a must start after putting 13+ points in 4 out of 5 games this season. Vincent Jackson went on IR this week, opening the door for more targets elsewhere. Adam Humphries, who has one 100 yard performance this season, is the most likely beneficiary and is a low-end start.

Need a WR? Pierre Garcon hasn’t registered much in fantasy this season, but faces a Lions defense giving up the 3rd most points to WR's. Washington will be missing several pass catchers, giving Garcon a bigger role.

NFL.com Projections:
Jeremy Kerley: 54 receiving yards, 1 TD – 11.4 points (#22 WR)
Mike Evans: 79 yards – 7.9 points (#50 WR)
Adam Humphries: 43 yards – 4.3 points (#77 WR)
Quinton Patton: 35 yards – 3.5 points (#87 WR)
Torrey Smith: 33 yards – 3.3 points (#93 WR)

Tight Ends

Neither team offers much in the TE department. Both groups are fairly abysmal, and neither defense provides a tempting matchup at the position. Sit all TE’s from this game.

NFL.com Projections:
Cameron Brate: 39 yards – 3.9 points (#28 TE)
Vance McDonald: 36 yards – 3.6 points (#38 TE)
Garrett Celek: 14 yards – 1.4 points (#42 TE)
Brandon Meyer: 12 yards – 1.2 points (#46 TE)

Need a TE? Tyler Eifert is likely out for the Bengals, meaning backup C.J. Uzomah will start against the 3rd best TE matchup with Washington. Uzomah is available in 98% of leagues.

Kickers

Both kickers are viable starts this week. Phil Dawson in particular saw a significant scoring bump from the arrival of Colin Kaepernick.

NFL.com Projections:
Phil Dawson: 12 points (#4 K)
Roberto Aguayo: 9 points (#7 K)

Need a kicker? Dan Carpenter is available in 90% of leagues. Carpenter has been the 6th best kicker over the last 4 weeks.

Defense

Defenses facing Tampa Bay this year have scored the 2nd most fantasy points. Fantasy wise, the 49ers defense is better than perceived, and was a Top 10 scoring unit as recently as week 5. Still, it’s hard to feel good about them. Sit the 49ers, despite the tempting matchup.

The Buccaneers defense isn’t good, standing at 28th in points this season. There isn’t any reason to trust them against a 49ers offense that has been better in fantasy than reality. Sit the Buccaneers.

Need a defense? The Baltimore Ravens are available in 80% of leagues. Defenses facing the Jets have scored the most points this season, and the insertion of Geno Smith won’t change much.

NFL.com Projections:
Tampa Bay: 6 points (#8 D)
San Francisco: 5 points (#20 D)