NFL Grind Down: Week 8 - Page Two
| Los Angeles Chargers | New England Patriots | |||||||||
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| Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 48 | 20.25 | -7.5 | 48 | 27.75 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 19.6 | 20 | 9 | 31 | Offense | 27.9 | 6 | 2 | 17 | |
| Opp. Defense | 26.5 | 29 | 30 | 18 | Opp. Defense | 21.8 | 16 | 6 | 30 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| New England Patriots | 30 | 26 | 28 | 25 | Los Angeles Chargers | 7 | 18 | 21 | 2 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Allen | 68 | 36 | 1 | 487 | Cooks | 46 | 28 | 3 | 537 | |
| Williams | 30 | 21 | 1 | 298 | Hogan | 47 | 28 | 5 | 378 | |
| Benjamin | 25 | 14 | 2 | 240 | Amendola | 36 | 29 | 1 | 324 | |
| Henry | 30 | 21 | 2 | 301 | Gronkowski | 47 | 29 | 4 | 452 | |
Notable injuries and suspensions: Danny Amendola (NE WR) – Questionable (Knee)
LAC Matchup Rating: 6.5
NE Matchup Rating: 8.0
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback: This is one of the more stackable games of the day, and I love taking that approach in GPP formats. Both of these teams aren’t afraid to air it out, and we may see 40+ attempts from Philip Rivers in this game. Prior to last week’s win over the Falcons, this Patriots team had allowed 300+ yards passing to every single quarterback they had faced this year. That included games against Alex Smith, Josh McCown, and Cam Newton. If they can put up 300 yards against this defense, certainly Rivers could do the same. While the Patriots have looked better defensively over the past two weeks, they still rank just 28th in DVOA against the pass. Expect the Chargers to go pass-heavy in this game, especially if they fall behind, rendering Rivers a solid mid-range option at the position.
Running Backs: Melvin Gordon was held in check by a stout Broncos rush defense in Week 7, and I am not concerned about the fact that he had 18 carries for 38 yards. I am also not concerned that Austin Ekeler touched the ball 11 times. I AM concerned about the newest injury that Gordon has developed, which seems to be a foot issue. Keep an eye on the practice reports leading up to this game. Assuming he is healthy, Gordon is going to get his 20+ touch volume, and he is a reasonable option. I prefer McCoy and Freeman in this price range, but I wouldn’t talk you off Gordon if you really want to play him. He has 79 offensive touches over the last three games and can be a reliable option in the passing game if the Chargers fall behind.
Pass Catchers: All right, Keenan Allen. This is the week! We all faded you last week against the Broncos. We all didn’t mind that you had a shoulder injury that had you on the injury report. We are all ready for a breakout game. The Patriots lack elite corners with the ability shut Allen down, lest we need another reminder that the Patriots have already allowed six 300+ yard passing games this year. Fire up Allen as one of the best GPP plays of the week, and he is one of my favorite point per dollar wide receiving options in all formats. Travis Benjamin has seen his offensive snap count plummet below 40% over the past few weeks, so don’t get sucked in by the long receiving touchdown and punt return touchdown from last week. That will hit his quota of one amazing game for the year. Tyrell Williams remains locked in as the #2 wide receiver behind Allen, and he is a reasonable option in his own right in this matchup. Hunter Henry continues to log heavy snap rates at tight end, and a massive game is coming for him at some point. With a potentially enticing game flow this week, I’m a buyer again.
The Takeaway: GPP game stackers unite! Hopefully the Chargers can keep this a competitive game, and that will require a solid day from Philip Rivers. I will be pairing him with Keenan Allen on a ton of GPP lineups, and you can also make a case for Hunter Henry and Tyrell Williams. Assuming Melvin Gordon is healthy, he is also worth a look thanks to his safe volume. The Patriots do not possess a great defense, even though they have looked better in recent weeks. If the Chargers happen to go under-owned as an offensive unit this week, you can feel confident in some of their skill players being optimal GPP options. Allen would be my preferred target in cash games.
New England Patriots
Quarterback: Tom Brady continues to remind us that he is the best quarterback in the NFL. There really isn’t a conversation to be had right now with Aaron Rodgers on the shelf. He is averaging an absurd 368 passing yards per game this year, and he continues to move this offense almost at will. The struggles of the New England defense have enhanced the need to throw this season, which isn’t a bad thing for fantasy players. The Chargers possess a much better defense against the pass than the run, but they aren’t a team that we need to shy away from. Brady is at home and quarterbacking a team with an implied team total of 28 points. Despite the matchup, Brady is the top quarterback option on the board. It all comes down to whether or not he is worth the hefty salary tag. If you can fit him in your lineups, by all means feel free to do so.
Running Backs: This situation remains a mess, though we can see somewhat of a trend with Dion Lewis on the upswing and Mike Gillislee on the downswing. Even with that knowledge, there are no sure things with this unit, especially now that Rex Burkhead back in the mix. Throw in James White and his passing game production, and we have the rare four-headed monster. Good luck figuring out who to play. Lewis and White seem to be the preferred options these days, especially in full PPR formats, but I won’t touch this group on full slates. It is more viable in the early only contests.
Pass Catchers: Brandin Cooks hasn’t been as bad as some people have made him out to be, and I think some of this is because unrealistic expectations were set for him as he moved to New England. This offense has so many weapons that it is hard for one pass catcher to put up gaudy receiving numbers on a weekly basis. In a potential shootout this week, I can definitely see Cooks having a big day. He will likely have to deal with plenty of Casey Hayward coverage, but that won’t keep me completely off him. The Chargers have a solid pass defense, but they will have trouble containing the likes of Cooks, Danny Amendola, and Rob Gronkowski, along with the aforementioned pass catching running backs.
The Takeaway: The Patriots will likely score some points here, but the problem is figuring out where they will come from. The safest way to gain exposure will just be via playing Tom Brady, but you can certainly pair him with Cooks or Gronkowski in GPP contests. The backfield remains a messy situation, but Dion Lewis and James White are the preferred fantasy options of the four. I like the potential game stack angle in this contest, but pegging the right Patriots is a very challenging task.
| Chicago Bears | New Orleans Saints | |||||||||
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| Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 47.5 | 19.25 | -9 | 47.5 | 28.25 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 17.4 | 26 | 31 | 7 | Offense | 28.5 | 4 | 5 | 10 | |
| Opp. Defense | 23.2 | 21 | 28 | 11 | Opp. Defense | 24.7 | 24 | 7 | 14 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| New Orleans Saints | 17 | 22 | 20 | 7 | Chicago Bears | 6 | 15 | 11 | 12 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Gentry | 5 | 3 | 0 | 35 | Thomas | 54 | 35 | 2 | 403 | |
| Wright | 26 | 20 | 1 | 236 | Ginn | 27 | 22 | 2 | 353 | |
| McBride | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | Snead | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | |
| Miller | 33 | 20 | 2 | 236 | Fleener | 19 | 13 | 2 | 151 | |
Notable injuries and suspensions: Markus Wheaton (CHI WR) – Doubtful (Groin) / Benny Cunningham (CHI RB) – Questionable (Hamstring)
CHI Matchup Rating: 3.5
NO Matchup Rating: 6.5
Chicago Bears
Quarterback: Somehow, the Bears have won their last two football games despite the fact that Mitchell Trubisky has not thrown for more than 115 yards in either of them. He completed just four passes on seven attempts last week. It is clear that John Fox wants to try and win games with his running game and defense, and Fox is going to place winning above Trubisky’s development since the head coach is on the hot seat. That’s a bit of a problem in the long-term scheme of things. Trubisky should be forced to the air more this week with the Bears being large road underdogs, but he can’t be counted on for reliable fantasy production at this point.
Running Backs: Jordan Howard has touched the ball at least 18 times in five straight games, and that is even more impressive when you consider that he really isn’t involved in the passing game all that much. He has just 11 receptions on the season. The Bears know that giving him the ball a lot is their best chance to produce offense, and he will get the ball as long as a game stays close. As I mentioned above, John Fox is trying to win football games to save his job, and unleashing Trubisky does not seem to be high on the priority list. I worry about Chicago’s ability to keep this game close as near double-figure underdogs, and that could take Howard out of the game plan by the second half. However, New Orleans ranks 28th in DVOA against the run and sixth in DVOA against the pass, so you can bet that the Bears will run the ball in the early going. Howard is a solid risk/reward GPP option.
Pass Catchers: The wide receivers for the Bears are lucky if they see two targets per game, because they aren’t very good and the team isn’t throwing much. That’s all that needs to be said here. The Bears have acquired Dontrelle Inman from the Chargers, and he might be their #1 wide receiver before long. Zach Miller is a decent cheap target at tight end, especially if you think the Bears will be behind in this game, but there’s not a whole lot of appeal from this group.
The Takeaway: If the Bears are going to compete in this game, it will be because Jordan Howard has a huge day. Howard has GPP appeal with the likely volume, especially on FanDuel where receptions don’t mean as much. You can safely avoid the rest of this team, though that doesn’t mean I like the Saints’ defense. Chicago is going to play it safe and try to limit mistakes, which reduces the upside potential for the opposing defense.
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback: Drew Brees is at home, so play Drew Brees! I am being facetious here, as this narrative is over-played, and Brees actually has better numbers on the road this year. Sample size is a thing on both sides, I get it, but there is more to Brees than home vs. road splits. In general, the Bears aren’t a defense that we want to pick on with reckless abandon, as they are an improving unit, and they look to kill the clock offensively via running the ball a ton. Brees could absolutely come out and throw for 300 yards and three scores in this game and none of us would be surprised, but the margin for error is a little less against the Bears. It doesn’t seem like paying up for him is the optimal play at quarterback this week. If you are searching for a high dollar quarterback, just go get Tom Brady.
Running Backs: If you thought Mark Ingram was going to run away with the running back job after his performance two weeks ago, you are in for a treat. Ingram split snaps almost evenly with Alvin Kamara last week, and that is likely how the Saints will proceed going forward in close games. If they get a big lead in a game, Ingram will likely be used as the grinder in the second half, but both players are going to have a role. Ingram logged over 100 yards rushing last week for the second straight game, while Kamara gained a solid 107 total yards on just 14 touches (nine carries and five catches). Both guys are in play, with Ingram being the safer cash game option and Kamara being the risk/reward GPP play.
Pass Catchers: The Saints offense can certainly be targeted in this game, as they are always decent options at home against an average to mediocre team. While the Bears don’t have a bad defense, they also aren’t quite as good as their recent play would indicate. Vegas agrees, as the Saints are projected to score four touchdowns in this game. Relatively speaking, it has been a difficult year for Michael Thomas, but he is going to break out sooner or later. His struggles have relegated him to GPP status for now. He did see 11 targets last week, which is a good sign. The generally boom-or-bust Ted Ginn has been surprisingly consistent of late, and he has actually hauled in all 11 of his targets for over 200 total yards in the last two games. I’m not a believer in him sustaining that type of catch ratio, but it’s hard to ignore what he has been doing.
The Takeaway: Mark Ingram is your safest play here, as he has rushed for 100+ yards in both games since Adrian Peterson was shipped to Arizona. Alvin Kamara still has a role, though, and he was electric with his 14 touches last week. Kamara is a strong GPP option along with the passing game core of Brees, Thomas, and/or Ginn. I will opt for some caution here, though, as the Bears will attempt to run the ball a ton and speed up this game. In addition, their defense has been playing much better of late.
| Atlanta Falcons | New York Jets | |||||||||
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| Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -4 | 46.5 | 25.25 | 4 | 46.5 | 21.25 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 21.3 | 16 | 7 | 11 | Offense | 19.6 | 20 | 20 | 19 | |
| Opp. Defense | 21.7 | 13 | 12 | 26 | Opp. Defense | 21.8 | 15 | 14 | 12 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| New York Jets | 21 | 24 | 22 | 23 | Atlanta Falcons | 13 | 28 | 14 | 3 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Jones | 50 | 34 | 1 | 466 | Anderson | 46 | 21 | 2 | 331 | |
| Sanu | 34 | 22 | 1 | 228 | Kearse | 36 | 27 | 4 | 328 | |
| Gabriel | 28 | 16 | 1 | 192 | Kerley | 24 | 21 | 1 | 210 | |
| Hooper | 23 | 18 | 1 | 248 | Seferian-Jenkins | 34 | 26 | 3 | 173 | |
Notable injuries and suspensions: None
ATL Matchup Rating: 7.0
NYJ Matchup Rating: 4.5
SATURDAY UPDATE – I am bumping down the passing games here because of the wet, windy conditions that are expected throughout the game.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback: What is wrong with Matt Ryan? After an impressive MVP campaign and a Super Bowl run, he has clearly regressed in 2017. I am not sure whether it’s a Super Bowl hangover, a true regression, or validation that he simply played over his head last season. Perhaps it is a combination of all three. He was surprisingly bad against the Patriots last Sunday, and the Patriots had allowed every single opponent to throw for 300+ yards before Ryan was held to 233 in Week 7. Even though this is a solid matchup, it’s impossible to trust Ryan right now. We are still paying somewhat of a premium based on last year’s production, and there’s no reason to take the risk. For what it’s worth, the early weather forecast is also calling for 20 MPH winds and a 100% chance of thunderstorms. That’s not conducive to a Matt Ryan breakout game.
Running Backs: Even though the Falcons operate with a time share in the backfield, we can at least respect the fact that they are consistent with their snap counts. Devonta Freeman will start and play on around 70% of the snaps, while Tevin Coleman will man the other 30%. It would not surprise me if the Falcons commit to a run-heavy game plan against a Jets team that is allowing 127 yards per game on the ground. Expect the 1-2 punch of Freeman and Coleman to do some heavy lifting in this game, and Freeman is one of my favorite contarian plays of the week. It’s easy to take Bell or Elliott or McCoy on the high end of running backs, which will leave Freeman with ownership levels that are far too low in Week 8. That is especially true after he burned the 65-75% of people who used him in the prime time slates last week. Use that to your advantage in tournament formats this week.
Pass Catchers: Julio Jones finally scored his first touchdown of the season against the Patriots, but it was a hollow one, as it was a late touchdown in a blowout loss. It was a fantastic play, however, and it reminds all of us that Jones’ athleticism cannot be challenged. Of course, he ended the game just one yard short of 100 receiving yards, but it was still an encouraging performance. The play of Matt Ryan and the possible weather issues downgrade him a bit this week, but there is still 150+ yard upside if things break the right way. Jones is worth a look in GPPs, of course, though I’m not sure he fits the optimal cash game build given these circumstances. The rest of the passing offense looks lost, so it’s hard to trust Mohammed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, or Austin Hooper right now.
The Takeaway: It’s all about the running game in this one. Potential bad weather combined with the poor play from the passing game will likely lead to a healthy dose of Devonta Freeman in this game. He will be under-owned compared to the other elite running back options on the board, making him one of my favorite mid-to-high end RB options of the week. I can’t play Matt Ryan right now, but Julio Jones obviously still brings a lot of upside to the table. I’m off the rest of the pass catching group.
New York Jets
Quarterback: I must confess that I have completely missed the boat on this surprise resurgence from Josh McCown. He has tossed seven touchdown passes over his last three games, and he has thrown some decent yardage numbers out there this year, too. Now, that production has also come with some costly mistakes, but we don’t care about those as much as DFS players. Atlanta’s defense ranks in the bottom ten in the league in DVOA against both the run and the pass, so there is potential for McCown to keep it rolling. However, I think he has been playing a bit over his head, and the weather forecast is scaring me off for now. Remember to keep an eye on that as we get closer to Sunday, though I likely won’t be McCown anyway.
Running Backs: Last week’s snap distribution for this unit was 50% for Matt Forte, 38% for Bilal Powell, and 12% for Elijah McGuire. With limited upside and three players involved, this is generally a position to stay away from. I’m not playing Forte at this stage of his career, and I prefer targeting Powell when Forte is out or in extreme negative game scripts where his passing game presence is necessary. On a full week slate, this is an easy fade spot.
Pass Catchers: No Jets wide receiver cleared 35 receiving yards last week, and the floor is pretty low with this whole group. Forte and Powell will eat up targets, and the most reliable pass catcher is tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who doesn’t come super cheap in DFS these days. Anderson is the leading receiver at 47 yards per game. You could opt for a low owned stack with McCown and Anderson or McCown and Kearse, but that just doesn’t feel optimal. Then again, take my thoughts with a grain of salt, as I have missed the boat with this group a few times this year. However, I am not one who is going to board the ship when it starts to sink.
The Takeaway: On paper, this isn’t a bad matchup, but I have trouble figuring out who I love from this group. With potential bad weather on tap and a three-headed backfield committee, I can’t get too excited. I don’t mind the Falcons defense as a low owned GPP dart this week, either.
| San Francisco 49ers | Philadelphia Eagles | |||||||||
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| Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Spread | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.5 | 47.5 | 17.5 | -12.5 | 47.5 | 30 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | Offense | 28.4 | 5 | 8 | 4 | |||||
| Opp. Defense | 20.3 | 9 | 27 | 1 | Opp. Defense | |||||
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 24 | 8 | 24 | 26 | San Francisco Niners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Garcon | 63 | 38 | 0 | 483 | Jeffery | 54 | 26 | 2 | 354 | |
| Goodwin | 43 | 20 | 0 | 349 | Agholor | 35 | 24 | 5 | 366 | |
| Taylor | 31 | 19 | 1 | 149 | Smith | 26 | 14 | 1 | 210 | |
| Kittle | 33 | 22 | 1 | 228 | Ertz | 58 | 39 | 5 | 494 | |
Notable injuries and suspensions: Marquise Goodwin (SF WR) – Questionable (Back)
SF Matchup Rating: 3.0
PHI Matchup Rating: 8.5
SATURDAY UPDATE – I am bumping down the passing games here because of the wet, windy conditions that are expected throughout the game.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback: The C.J. Beathard experience didn’t go all that well last week, and that is at least one of the few land mines that I actually managed to successfully dodge in Week 7. The 49ers have nothing to lose by giving the rookie playing time at this point, but he is clearly not completely polished and ready for a starting job NFL. The good news is that the likely game script in this game will feature plenty of passing attempts for Beathard, as the 49ers are almost two touchdown underdogs, and he does have some ability to run. If you want to try to get by on the volume, I can understand using him as a cheap play at quarterback, but be aware that the floor is low despite the likely volume. There is a reason the 49ers have an implied team total of just 17 points in this spot.
Running Backs: After saying that he would use a “hot hand” approach at running back, Kyle Shanahan has given Carlos Hyde over 75% of the snaps the last two weeks even though he really hasn’t had an opportunity to be the hot hand. Hyde logged 14 carries for 68 yards against the Cowboys in a blowout loss. While that is solid per touch production, the workload will always be a question mark with the 49ers always at risk for a blowout. That does not change this week, as they check in as almost two touchdown underdogs to the Eagles. You can consider Hyde as a risk/reward GPP option, but I can’t stomach him in cash games at this point.
Pass Catchers: Pierre Garcon was very popular last week given Dallas’ struggles against top wide receivers, but his performance let a lot of people down as he logged just five catches for 49 yards in the game. The Eagles have a middle of the pack pass defense, so this grades out as a relatively neutral matchup for Garcon. The aforementioned game script does likely feature plenty of passing, so Garcon should see plenty of volume here. He is the only pass catcher I am interested in on this team. I’m not going to chase points with Marquise Goodwin, and tight end George Kittle played on less than 50% of the snaps last week.
The Takeaway: The Eagles defense will likely be a popular play, and the chances for a defensive score increase if the 49ers fall way behind. Carlos Hyde is a reasonable play if you think the 49ers can stay close, while you could consider C.J. Beathard and/or Pierre Garcon if you think they will fall way behind. Nobody qualifies as an elite play, though, as the 49ers are massive road underdogs in this game for a reason.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback: The San Francisco defense could very well be the worst defense in the NFL, and they are definitely trending in the wrong direction after giving up 40 points to the Cowboys a week ago. Carson Wentz has blasted himself into the MVP conversation with fantastic numbers this season, and he now leads the league with 17 touchdown passes. Though his price has come up in DFS and it might be scary to roster him at these elevated price points, it’s time to start treating him as a top quarterback in the league, especially in this offensive system. That doesn’t even take into account the juicy matchup, and the Eagles have a projected team total of 30 points in this game. Wentz is a top option in all formats.
Running Backs: There will be opportunity here with the Eagles checking in as the largest favorites of the week, but the problem is figuring out who is going to get the touches. That is even more true right now with Wendell Smallwood back in the mix. Blount and Smallwood split the snaps almost evenly last week against Washington, while Corey Clement mixed in on a handful of plays. I would expect a split like that to continue, making both Blount and Smallwood viable as reasonably priced options. Blount would seem to benefit most if this turns into a blowout win, and he is definitely my preferred play on FanDuel with the half point PPR scoring. In full PPR formats, it’s really difficult to distinguish between the two, but there will be opportunities for both to produce this week.
Pass Catchers: Alshon Jeffery has been one of the biggest fantasy football disappointments of the year, but we can attribute a lot of it to some difficult matchups in the early going. That excuse can’t be used for last week, as the Redskins were playing without Josh Norman and with a banged up Bashaud Breeland. I really thought Jeffery would break out on Monday, but he was held to a 2/37 line on six targets, while Mack Hollins of all people caught a 64 yard touchdown. I still expect Jeffery to rebound over the rest of the season, and this is another matchup in which we should expect production. I may be a glutton for punishment, but his price is discounted based on his struggles, and this matchup is fantastic. I will definitely be over-weight on him in GPP formats. The rest of the wide receiver crew can be left alone, though Zach Ertz could arguably be the top fantasy tight end this year. He continues to produce on a weekly basis, but San Francisco has largely contained tight ends well this year, as they lead the league in DVOA against the position. However, Ertz’ talent is on another level, and Jason Witten did score against the 49ers a week ago. I will likely pass on Ertz at his elevated price point, but I wouldn’t actively talk you out of rostering him.
The Takeaway: Fire up your Eagles this week, as they carry one of the highest team totals on the board. Carson Wentz is an elite QB option, while I will be using a lot of Alshon Jeffery as well. Hopefully this is the breakout week for him in a Philadelphia uniform. There should be plenty of opportunity for the running backs, too, but it’s difficult to choose between Blount and Smallwood while they are splitting snaps. Zach Ertz has the potential to be the highest scoring tight end on a weekly basis, but the 49ers have actually done a good job against that position for much of the season.
