The San Francisco 49ers claimed victory No. 1 on Monday Night Football, and while the offense did not exactly blow us away, there were some highlights. Carlos Hyde looked solid, running over defenders and bullying his way around the field. But for 49ers fans, and fantasy football players looking for a boost, there were some other intriguing performances. I thought I would come up with a weekly look at some of the notable 49ers who might be available on the waiver wire in your fantasy league. Ownership percentage is based on Yahoo! leagues.
WR Jeremy Kerley, 1 percent
Bruce Ellington seemed like he would be Chip Kelly’s go-to guy. A torn hamstring later, the 49ers sent Brandon Thomas to the Detroit Lions for Jeremy Kerley, and he is off to a strong start. He had seven receptions for 61 yards, and led the team with 11 targets. He could have great PPR value, and could be a decent Flex or bye week WR in standard leagues.
RB Shaun Draughn, 3 percent
He rushed seven times for 18 yards, and had two receptions for 18 yards. However, he outscored Kerley thanks to a short touchdown run. His value is either as a handcuff to Carlos Hyde, or in PPR leagues. But there is some value there if you’re desperate.
Quinton Patton, 1 percent
He had five receptions for 60 yards. The 49ers have yet to fully figure out what to do with Torrey Smith, and that could bode well for Patton, who hauled in all five targets thrown his way. He is a bye week option, but depending on what happens with this offense, could stretch into a desperate flex option, depending on the matchup.
49ers D/ST, 2 percent
I thought they might be a sleeper this season, and they got off to a strong start against an awful Rams offense. Two sacks and two interceptions, coupled with a shutout made them the second highest scoring team in many fantasy leagues.
Week 2 matchup
The 49ers face a tough test when they head to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers. That does not bode well for most of the fantasy options. The defense could be feisty, but they face a much better offense this week. I would be willing to roll the dice on them and probably Kerley in a PPR league, but that’s about it.