Daily Dr. Roto — November 1, 2018
Week 9 Thursday Night Football Preview
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr — Carr shocked the Fantasy world in Week 8 by having a terrific game even after losing his top receiver to a trade. The 49ers give up the sixth-most points to the QB position, so if you need to use Carr again in Week 9, he is in a good spot for Fantasy success.
C.J. Beathard — Beathard is very questionable to play with an injured wrist. It looks like it will come down to a game-time decision, so I would look for other options just in case he ends up being inactive.
Running Backs
Doug Martin — Martin is now the RB1 for the Raiders, and he might even be on the waiver wire if you need him. I am not sure that he can be relied upon every week to produce, but in a week where there are six teams on BYE, Martin has a terrific chance to rush for 100+ yards in a game that the Raiders should be leading due to Beathard’s injury.
Jalen Richard — Richard often does his best work late in games with the team down by about 10 points. I worry that if the Raiders are winning throughout (which is possible this week) that he will see a reduced amount of carries. I expect about 8-10 Fantasy points this week due to poor game flow.
Matt Breida — Breida is going to see a ton of touches on Thursday night for a multitude of reasons: 1) Beathard is not 100%, 2) If Beathard does not play there is no way the 49ers will throw the ball that much, 3) Raheem Mostert is questionable with an ankle injury, and 4) Alfred Morris really isn’t very good. In sum, Breida is probably the best 49ers player to start on Thursday night.
Wide Receivers
Jordy Nelson — With Cooper gone, it seemed obvious that Nelson was going to step up at the Raiders WR1—until he went for one catch for 14 yards against the Colts. I would tell you that it makes sense to start Nelson on Thursday, but I can’t do it confidently because of last week’s nightmare game. Use Jordy at your own risk. The upside is there for 15-20 if Carr decides to pass him the ball.
Brandon LaFell/Seth Roberts/Martavis Bryant — I thought Bryant was going to the WR2 last week, but instead it was Roberts and LaFell who got most of the offensive snaps. It’s hard to know what the Raiders are planning to do on offense, so it’s best to avoid all of these players if at all possible.
Marquise Goodwin — Goodwin is by far my favorite player in this game, but I am very hesitant to use him due to Beathard’s wrist injury. If I had to guess, I think Beathard does play, but I think he won’t be able to throw many deep passes which will limit Goodwin’s upside. That said, Week 9 is a mess for most Fantasy owners due to numerous BYE week issues, so play Goodwin if you have him and hope for one big play.
Pierre Garcon — It’s hard to trust Garcon at this point. There were rumblings that he was on the trading block, but he is still on the team. That said, the 49ers might be planning on moving on from Garcon in the off-season, so I would expect that he will be phased out over the last few games of the season.
Trent Taylor/Kendrick Bourne — I am slightly intrigued by both receivers, but I am leery of using them this week with Beathard not at 100%. Watch them carefully, though, as I think one of them might make an impact in the coming weeks as the team phases Garcon out of its offensive plans.
Tight Ends
Jared Cook — The 49ers were very generous to opposing tight ends for the first four games of the season, but in the last four games they have not allowed a TD. I think that mini-streak ends on Thursday as the Raiders have been featuring Cook all season and the 49ers have struggled with big, athletic tight ends. I believe Cook goes for 65 yards and a TD in this contest.
George Kittle — In general, I am a fan of Kittle, but I would temper my expectations with him this week. I see him getting about five or six receptions at the most for about 50-60 yards.
