The Week 5 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants features two teams with some catching up to do in the standings. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Fantasy football projections, Week 5: 49ers-Giants featuring Colin Kaepernick, Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.
We break down the Week 5 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants.
San Francisco 49ers
Carlos Hyde looked like he was going to be one of the breakout players of the 2015 season when he ran all over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. Since then, though, the team’s inability to get anything going in the passing game, coupled with the large deficits the 49ers have often faced, have really stalled Hyde. After rushing for 168 yards in the opening week, he has just 114 rushing yards in the last three games combined. However, Sunday night represents a good opportunity for Hyde to boost his numbers. The Giants have been generous to rushers so far this season.
No matter whom Hyde is up against, the reality is Colin Kaepernick needs to be better. He’s struggled mightily since signing a huge contract extension with the team prior to last season. He has just 227 passing yards to go with an ugly five interceptions in the last two weeks combined. One or two more consecutive performances like that could get people talking about the possibility of Kaep riding the bench. The pressure is on him to perform under the bright lights of New York, and he’s definitely got to respond sooner rather than later.
New York Giants
As much as Colin Kaepernick has been a disappointment to fantasy owners so far this season, the Giants’ Eli Manning has been a welcomed addition to rosters league wide. He’s got seven touchdowns and just one interception on the season and has been able to lead his team to two huge victories after starting off the season 0-2. Manning and the boys in blue face a pretty soft schedule over the next month, so keeping the ball rolling against the 49ers would give the team a chance to create some separation going into the second quarter of the season. Fantasy owners have to like Manning’s prospects going forward.
His bright outlook undoubtedly helps wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.‘s cause too. Although the Giants put together a great second half as a team against the Buffalo Bills last week, Beckham finished with just five catches for 38 yards. He only has a single 100-yard receiving game on the season, but he’s still a premier receiver. The 49ers did a good job containing the Packers’ James Jones and Randall Cobb this week, but doing that against Beckham is an equally tall task. It’s only a matter of time before Beckham posts another monster game and Week 5 is as good an opportunity as any.
SB Nation presents: Week 5 sit/start fantasy football advice
