Purdy Returns!
The 49ers enter the week determined to keep pace in the NFC playoff race and should dictate the tempo from start to finish. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are clinging to life as injuries pile up, forcing depth players into meaningful roles. This matchup offers plenty of fantasy value on both sides, but also a few landmines.
📊 Quick Start/Sit Table
| Player | Team | Start/Sit | Fantasy Outlook |
| Brock Purdy | 49ers | Start | Should settle back in with a clean, efficient outing vs. a vulnerable ARI defense. |
| Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | Start | Still an elite dual-threat; expect a TD. |
| George Kittle | 49ers | Start | Purdy’s security blanket; heavy involvement. |
| Jauan Jennings | 49ers | Start | Top target this week; volume bump. |
| Brian Robinson Jr. | 49ers | Sleeper | Could vulture a score with CMC used more as a receiver. |
| 49ers D/ST | 49ers | Sit | Surprisingly leaky lately; giving up points in bunches. |
| Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals | Start | No MHJ, but still capable of producing a TD. |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | Start | The unquestioned top pass catcher; high volume. |
| Emari Demercado | Cardinals | Flex | RB1 usage + yardage upside. |
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | Sleeper | Next man up with MHJ out; 7 targets last week. |
🏈 Matchup Breakdown
⭐ San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Outlook
Start: Brock Purdy (QB)
Purdy returns to action facing a Cardinals defense that has struggled to contain even average quarterbacks. With the pressure building after Mac Jones’s solid fill-in performance, Purdy should play sharp, efficient football. Expect 200+ yards and at least one touchdown, making him a safe QB2 with QB1 upside.
Start: Christian McCaffrey (RB)
Yes, Brian Robinson Jr. is siphoning a few carries, but McCaffrey remains the engine of this offense. The 49ers have leaned on him heavily in the receiving game, and he’s produced multiple touchdowns in recent weeks. Expect one score minimum and his usual floor of elite yardage.
Start: George Kittle (TE)
Purdy and Kittle are a rhythm duo — when one heats up, the other follows. Against a Cardinals defense that routinely gives up chunk plays to tight ends, Kittle is primed for 6–8 targets and red-zone involvement.
Start: 💪 Jauan Jennings (WR)
Jennings is healthy again and looks ready to step into the WR1 role for the week. The volume should be there, and he’s a sneaky play with upside for 70 yards and possibly a score.
Sleeper: Brian Robinson Jr. (RB)
With CMC flexed often into the passing game, Robinson Jr. has carved out surprising value. He’s physical, efficient, and a real threat to vulture a goal-line touchdown.
Sit: 49ers D/ST
San Francisco has been bleeding points recently, struggling with containment and giving up big plays. Even against an undermanned Cardinals offense, they’re too risky for fantasy lineups right now.
🔥 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Outlook
Start: Jacoby Brissett (QB)
Brissett won’t have MHJ this week, but he’s a steady veteran who knows how to distribute the ball smartly. Expect him to find alternative weapons and deliver one touchdown with solid yardage. He’s a low-end QB2 but startable in deep leagues or 2QB formats.
Start: Trey McBride (TE)
McBride is a target hog whenever top receivers are missing, and with MHJ sidelined, he becomes the clear focal point of the passing game. He has legit TE1 upside and is the Cardinals’ best bet to find the end zone.
Flex: Emari Demercado (RB)
He has fully taken over as Arizona’s RB1, running with confidence and absorbing a healthy workload. With 15+ touch potential and big-play ability, he’s a strong flex with room for more.
Sleeper: Michael Wilson (WR)
Next man up with MHJ out. Wilson saw 7 targets last week, and that number should hold, if not increase. He’s a sneaky PPR flex who could push for 5+ catches if game script forces the Cardinals to throw.
🧾 Final Thoughts
This game should be controlled by the 49ers, but the Cardinals will be forced into a volume-heavy offense that produces fantasy value. Start the core pieces from San Francisco, play the high-use options from Arizona, and get cute with sleepers only if you need upside.
