San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers
|
GB |
$$ |
SF |
$$ |
|
Aaron Rodgers |
$9,300 |
Colin Kaepernick |
$8,100 |
|
Eddie Lacy |
$8,300 |
Frank Gore |
$6,100 |
|
Jordy Nelson |
$7,200 |
Anquan Boldin |
$6,200 |
|
Randall Cobb |
$7,700 |
Michael Crabtree |
$5,600 |
|
James Jones |
$5,200 |
Vernon Davis |
$6,400 |
|
Jarrett Boykin |
$5,200 |
The last game of the weekend will be the fourth time that the Packers and 49ers have played over the past two seasons. San Francisco has held an extreme offensive advantage over Green Bay, averaging 483 yards of offense and 36 points per game over the first three meetings.
That doesn’t mean that the Packers offense should be off limits, though, especially when it comes to the passing game. The 49ers enter this weekend allowing the seventh fewest passing plays of 20 yards or more in the league (43), but have allowed 11 of those over the past two weeks while allowing 755 passing yards to Matt Ryan (348) and Carson Palmer in those games (407). Green Bay had five pass plays of 20 or more yards back in week one and Rodgers himself has been fine in the three games versus the Niners. He’s thrown seven touchdowns (two plus in each game) and two 300 yard games while averaging 40 pass attempts in the last three meetings.
Jordy Nelson was back in full swing as an elite fantasy option last week with the return of Rodgers, grabbing 10 of 16 targets for 161 yards. With Rodgers under center, Nelson totaled a 49/810/7 line which accounted for 66.5 percent of his fantasy output. With Carlos Rogers questionable for the game, Nelson should have his way to matching the seven catch, 130 yard performance he had in week one in San Francisco. His salary made a jump this week, but it’s still far under his true value of being a legit top receiving option any week playing with Rodgers.
The other Packers receivers are in play, but not as attractive as Nelson. Cobb has had his way with Rogers from the slot in the past, but is more expensive than Nelson and was still limited last week, playing only 47 percent of the snaps. Don’t chase those two targets for two scores last weekend. Jones has scored in two of the past three meetings but also comes with a zero point game from week one. In other words, par for the James Jones course.
Kaepernick may be the best way to spend your quarterback money this weekend with his low salary, current hot streak and small previous history facing Packers. Since Michael Crabtree returned from injury, Kaepernick has averaged 19.3 points per game, completing 62 percent of his passes for seven scores and only one turnover. He’s also been the cause of Dom Capers’s nightmares, passing for a career high 412 yards and three scores in week one this season after rushing 181 yards and combining for four scores in their playoff meeting last season. The Packers defense hasn’t recorded a multiple sack game in five weeks and Clay Mathews is out for an added bonus.
Kaepernick hasn’t been the sole beneficiary with the return of Crabtree, but so as Anquan Boldin. Before Crabtree returned, Boldin was averaging 4.7 catches for 65.8 yards on 7.5 targets per game, and that’s including the 13 catch, 208 yard game versus Green Bay in week one. On the five games since then, Boldin is averaging 6.6 receptions for 91 yards and 9.1 targets per contest.
The final player to consider fitting into your lineups this weekend is Gore. He’s scored in all three of the past meetings, topping 100 yards twice while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Green Bay has allowed 169.5 yards per game rushing over the final nine weeks of the season. They’ve allowed three straight 100 yard rushers and nine 90 plus yard rushers over those final nine weeks.
