San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis is expected to make his first game appearance since Week 3 on Sunday. Davis has missed the team’s last two games with a knee injury, but should play Sunday as the 49ers host the Baltimore Ravens with gametime slated for 4:25 p.m. ET.
Vernon Davis to return for 49ers, but fantasy owners should look elsewhere
The San Francisco tight end hasn’t played since Week 3, but should be back Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Davis had eight catches for 109 yards on the season before getting hurt in Week 3. In his absence, Garrett Celek filled the team’s tight end role. He has 14 catches for 131 yards and a score on the year. Some of Celek’s production came while Davis played as well and he’ll continue to get a few targets even with Davis back on the field.
Fantasy impact: Unfortunately, the Vernon Davis who was a fantasy monster hasn’t been seen in more than a year now. ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez said he expects Davis to be very active in the team’s offense in his return, but facing a Baltimore team that once employed both of the 49ers’ top two wide receivers, it seems likely San Francisco would lean on Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith before Davis.
Davis is worth a speculative own in deeper fantasy leagues, but absent some actual production, he shouldn’t be in any lineups. Celek, meanwhile, sees whatever scant value he had disappear. He’s fully droppable.
