Fantasy football advice, Week 14: Who to start/sit for 49ers-Browns
The saddest game of the day features two teams looking ahead to 2016.
In sad-game-of-the-week news, the 4-8 San Francisco 49ers take on the 2-10 Cleveland Browns Sunday. The Browns are currently holding on to the No. 1 pick in next year's draft, but a win over San Francisco could give any number of teams a shot at jumping into the No. 1 slot.
The 49ers will be without running back Carlos Hyde and tight end Vance McDonald Sunday. Wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith should both play through their respective injuries, though. On the Cleveland side, wide receiver Andrew Hawkins will be out again with a concussion. Quarterback Johnny Manziel is probable despite an elbow issue. Tight end Gary Barnidge and wide receivers Travis Benjamin and Brian Hartline are all questionable, with at least some chance any of the three misses Sunday; check on reports Sunday morning.
The Browns host the 49ers Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:
49ERS
Start ‘em?: If you jumped on the Shaun Draughn bandwagon, it's a quantity-over-quality thing. He hasn't been good, but he has been the only running back the 49ers really have.
Sit ‘em: You look at Blaine Gabbert's 24-point Week 13 and think he's interesting, until you realize that a full 16 of those 23 came after 58 minutes had transpired in that game. It was a fluke, and while Gabbert has been better than expected, he's not a fantasy play. ... The wide-receiver duo of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith hasn't done much since midseason; Boldin has averaged six points a game since Week 6, while Smith has averaged four. ... Vernon Davis is in Denver, Garrett Celek is on IR and Vance McDonald has a concussion; the team is on to Blake Bell next. ... Phil Dawson hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 6. ... The 49ers' defense has had four negative fantasy days this season, and only one game of more than eight points.
BROWNS
Start ‘em: Assuming Gary Barnidge plays Sunday, and that appears likely, he’s a must-start tight end. He’s just been too good.
Sit ‘em: In addition to being apparently unreliable off the field, Johnny Manziel hasn't gone over 15 fantasy points in a game on the field, either. ... Duke Johnson Jr. and Isaiah Crowell have combined to be the league's single worst 1-2 punch of running backs. ... Between injuries and inconsistent production, you have to be off the Travis Benjamin bandwagon until he re-proves himself, and injuries to Brian Hartline make him hard to trust as well. ... Travis Coons has averaged only 4.5 fantasy points a game in his last seven. That's not helpful. ... The Browns' defense had 19 fantasy points in Week 2, and has 17 since.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Gary Barnidge
Start if you're desperate: Shaun Draughn
Bench: Blaine Gabbert, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Blake Bell, Phil Dawson, San Francisco defense, Johnny Manziel, Duke Johnson Jr., Isaiah Crowell, Travis Benjamin, Brian Hartline, Travis Coons, Cleveland defense
