Tell someone two years ago that the San Francisco 49ers would feel lucky to be 1-1 while just hoping to avoid last place in the NFC West, while the Arizona Cardinals would look like one of football’s top teams at 2-0, and you’d get weird looks. It’s the reality right now, with Arizona sitting comfortably atop the division and looking to get to 3-0 against San Francisco Sunday.
Fantasy football advice, Week 3: Who to start/sit for 49ers vs. Cardinals
The 49ers were supposed to have been in the top tier of the NFC West for years, but right now it’s the Cardinals who are up there.
The 49ers will likely be without running back Reggie Bush again but, despite appearances on the injury report, running back Carlos Hyde and wide receiver Torrey Smith should be fine to go for the game. As for the Cardinals, running back Andre Ellington appears sure to miss another game with a knee injury, but the team should have the rest of its fantasy-relevant contributors ready to go.
The game in Arizona is Week 3’s lone 4:05 p.m. ET on the schedule. Let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:
49ERS
Start ‘em: After some injury concerns early in the week, Carlos Hyde should be fine to go, and even against a strong defense, he’s a must-start running back.
Start ‘em?: After an unremarkable Week 1 from a fantasy perspective, Colin Kaepernick had a huge Week 2. He has all the skills to be a monster fantasy quarterback, but he needs to show some consistency. ... Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith both had strong Week 2 outings, but let’s see more of that before they’re anything better than middling flex plays. ... Vernon Davis has started to look like himself again after a bad 2014. Keep an eye on him. ... If the Arizona defense stays strong, Phil Dawson might struggle for kicking chances.
Sit ‘em: The 49ers’ defense fell off by 21 fantasy points from Week 1 to Week 2, from 13 to negative-8. Let’s split the difference and still call them a stay-away.
CARDINALS
Start ‘em: Suddenly, not many quarterbacks appear safer for fantasy than Carson Palmer. I’m as surprised as you are. ... Larry Fitzgerald looks rejuvenated, and while he won’t score three touchdowns again, he looks safe for most weeks.
Start ‘em?: He hasn’t gotten a lot of touches, but David Johnson has made the most of them, with 27 fantasy points through two games. He’s a low-end flex play with upside. ... Fitzgerald has dominated the first couple of weeks, but John Brown will be heard from in this offense as well. ... The Cardinals keep scoring touchdowns, which has limited Chandler Catanzaro’s upside kicking, but he’ll mix in more field goals and be largely fine. ... The Cardinals’ defense was great in Week 2 against a bad Chicago Bears team. It is close, but not quite in must-start territory.
Sit ‘em: The absence of Ellington has given Chris Johnson an opportunity, but I wouldn’t touch him, with David Johnson seeming to be the better option. ... Michael Floyd is the forgotten man among the Arizona receivers. ... Darren Fells followed up a strong Week 1 with a Week 2 goose-egg. Week 3 is probably going to be the more typical performance.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Carlos Hyde, Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald
Start if you’re desperate: Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Vernon Davis, Phil Dawson, David Johnson, John Brown, Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona defense
Bench: San Francisco defense, Chris Johnson, Michael Floyd, Darren Fells
