Fantasy football projections, Week 10: 49ers-Cardinals featuring Colin Kaepernick, David Johnson, J.J. Nelson, more

The Week 10 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals features two teams who have grossly underachieved so far this season squaring off. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been in the news all season long for everything other than football. He’s in the middle of controversy again heading into Week 10 thanks to his opinion on the U.S. presidential election. Being the center of attention isn’t something that Kaepernick is worthy of when it comes to fantasy football however. He simply has not performed well. All of that being said, Kap did benefit fantasy owners who picked him up as a streaming option against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. He played catch-up for most of the afternoon. Having to do so led him to a season-high 398 passing yards and two touchdowns. It’s probably the best stat line he’s going to have for the rest of the fantasy regular season. Starting him in Week 10 against the Cardinals and expecting him to surpass his projections is a dangerous game to play regardless of the fact that Kaepernick went off against the Saints.

If there is one shining light in San Francisco’s offense while Carlos Hyde works his way back from injury, it’s fellow running back DuJuan Harris. Harris compiled 142 total yards on 15 touches against the Saints. The majority of that production came in the passing game, making Harris more valuable in PPR formats for the immediate future. He won’t have as much fantasy value as Hyde obviously, but he has earned himself extra work in the eyes of the coaching staff. He’s a player to watch as the fantasy playoffs inch closer and closer. Surpassing his Week 10 projections, however, is going to be a real challenge.

J.J. Nelson would have been a top waiver wire pickup in Week 9 except for the fact that the Arizona Cardinals just happened to be on their bye week. Patient and smart fantasy owners still added him to their roster. Nelson has taken over the team’s No. 3 spot in three-receiver sets. Prior to the team’s bye week, Nelson caught 8 of 12 passes against the Carolina Panthers for 79 yards and two touchdowns. He has likely earned himself a spot in the starting rotation for the rest of the season. All of the team’s receivers not named Larry Fitzgerald or John Brown have struggled this year. Nelson will top his projections against a horrible 49ers team in Week 10.

Of course no matter how well the Cardinals do in the passing game, the team’s offense still goes through running back David Johnson. Johnson was pegged as the potential best fantasy running back in football in 2016 and he’s lived up to expectations. Add that to the fact that no team has given up more points to fantasy running backs than the 49ers and Johnson should have an absolute field day at home in Week 10. When these teams met in Week 5 he dropped 157 rushing yards on them — he’s unstoppable and the 49ers are his easiest test yet. Johnson will be among the league’s elite this week.