San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk entered Week 12 leading the team in PPR fantasy scoring with only 115.7 points, a figure topped by 82 other NFL players. In other words, 49ers options have not really aided fantasy football managers much since awesome tight end George Kittle and several of his valuable teammates left the lineup weeks ago. Perhaps the narrative changes after several influential options returned from injury for Sunday's critical 23-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Running back Raheem Mostert scored on a first-quarter touchdown run and finished with 10.3 PPR points, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel paced the club with 24.3 PPR points, catching 11 passes for 133 yards. No 49ers players were active in more than 25% of ESPN standard leagues in Week 12, but Mostert and Samuel certainly deserve more attention for Week 13, when the team is scheduled to face the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football at a venue to be determined thanks to COVID-19 regulations in their home stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Mostert, the journeyman special-teams player who did not get a chance to play a role on offense with the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, emerged as a surprise fantasy option for the 49ers around this time in 2019, scoring on touchdown runs in each of his final six regular-season games. Then he dominated in the NFC Championship Game win over the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 220 yards and four touchdowns. The problem for fantasy managers this season is health. Mostert hurt a knee in Week 2 and missed several games, returned for Weeks 5 and 6 and then suffered a high ankle sprain that cost him four more games.
Samuel, a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, looked like a future fantasy star in the second half of his rookie season, boasting a special combination of power and speed that fantasy managers coveted. Then he missed the first three games of this season recovering from offseason foot surgery, played four games with little statistical distinction and sat out three more games with a hamstring injury. Samuel looked strong and healthy against the Rams, especially breaking tackles on a first-quarter reception and run as he piled on yards after the catch on a consistent basis. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens targeted Samuel 13 times, more than twice as many times as he did anyone else.
None of this means Mostert and Samuel will star versus the Bills or remain healthy for the final month of the season, but fantasy managers dare to dream. These players took vastly different routes to get to this point in their careers, but each warrants some level of trust and hope moving forward. Mostert probably ends up in more fantasy lineups for Week 13 by virtue of a universal lack of depth at running back, but Samuel teems with upside. Aiyuk should also be off the reserve/COVID-19 list this week, and he has scored touchdowns in three of four games. Kittle could even return from a broken foot in late December! There is much to watch with these 49ers!
The virus rages on: A myriad important fantasy football options missed their Week 12 games because of COVID-19 protocols, either because they tested positive for the virus or were deemed ineligible after contact tracing. Realism demands NFL fans and fantasy managers expect more of the same entering Week 13. We hope to see Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and his tight end Mark Andrews, Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and any Denver Broncos quarterback capable of throwing a football return to active rosters this week, but others will surely and unfortunately be next. Pay close attention to the news and utilize your bench options wisely this and every week.
Top running backs on alert: New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara and Vikings star Dalvin Cook entered Week 12 with easily the most PPR points in ESPN standard leagues, but fantasy managers have reason for concern in each case. Kamara, who was on pace to break/shatter the mark for most receptions in a season until QB Drew Brees broke half his ribs, caught one pass in the embarrassing win over the Broncos. That makes one reception over two games with backup Taysom Hill at quarterback, and fewer than nine PPR points on average. That is surely not a RB1, though everyone must regard him as such for a Week 13 rematch with the Atlanta Falcons. Cook, meanwhile, struggled against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and left with an ankle injury, though he returned to play. A healthy Cook would be a fantastic option in Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that is somewhat in doubt. Perhaps the Titans' Derrick Henry gets the nod as top running back.
Veteran wide receivers finally scoring: Browns disappointment Jarvis Landry entered Week 12 No. 50 at his position in season PPR scoring, failing to rank better after having registered nary a touchdown catch in 2020. Colts bigger disappointment T.Y. Hilton was faring even worse, in part thanks to his goose egg in the touchdown category. Each enjoyed their first touchdown receptions Sunday during otherwise forgettable individual seasons. Landry also sailed past 100 receiving yards for the first time, while Hilton contributed 81 receiving yards. These fellows have combined for nine Pro Bowls and awesome fantasy numbers, likely contributing to each remaining rostered in more leagues than they probably deserve, but can we now count on them? It seems premature to do so until further evidence reveals itself. Landry faces the Titans in Week 13; Hilton plays vs. the Texans. Incidentally, New England Patriots sophomore Jakobi Meyers enters Week 13 with the most PPR points at wide receiver despite nary a touchdown.
Speaking of the land of New England: QB Cam Newton managed to lead the Patriots to a last-second win over Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but it was hardly a signature offensive effort. Newton completed only half of his 18 passes for 84 yards. Total. In the game. Patrick Mahomes giggles at that one. No Patriots player rushed for 50 yards. Veteran James White scored on a pair of short touchdown runs but caught one pass for minus-1 yard. Feel free to wonder aloud if any Patriots are worth fantasy attention for the Week 13 road game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Newton threw for 365 yards at Houston in Week 11, but perhaps we should have viewed the outing as aberrant since it was the Texans. Newton came close to scoring several rushing touchdowns versus the Cardinals, but he failed. He has become the equivalent of a running back who is too dependent on said rushing touchdowns, which is dangerous. Damien Harris has no role in the passing game. Well, on Sunday, nobody did. Perhaps the Chargers change this.
Miami injuries: The Dolphins hardly needed offensive perfection to beat the beleaguered New York Jets on Sunday, and next up is a home game with the Cincinnati Bengals, not exactly a powerhouse team. Still, fantasy managers eagerly await updates on quarterback and running back. Injured Tua Tagovailoa ceded the starting passer job to wily, bearded veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, but that might not be permanent. DeAndre Washington and Matt Breida handled the rushing duties with Myles Gaskin still out with a knee injury and Salvon Ahmed out with a shoulder problem, but everyone could be available against the Bengals. It feels worth noting that the productive Fitzpatrick has topped 19 fantasy points in five of his past six starts, in case he gets the nod, and surprising Gaskin was cruising along as a safe RB2 when he got hurt as well.