RADIO
The NFL's championship Sunday will be closed out by a battle for the NFC title! Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Lions vs. 49ers game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for playoff leagues and DFS contests.
This NFC Championship matchup features two franchises with drastically different histories. One of the league's longest-suffering organizations, the Detroit Lions have never made a Super Bowl appearance and this will mark their first NFC Championship game appearance since 1991. On the flip side, the 49ers are one of the NFL's most successful franchises. San Francisco is heading to the NFC title game for the fourth time in head coach Mike Shanahan's tenure.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into an exciting game during Conference Championship Sunday. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
Spread: 49ers -7.5
Implied Total: Lions (22) vs. 49ers (29.5)
Pace: Lions (19th) vs. 49ers (32nd)
Lions Off. DVOA: 26.7% Pass (7th), 8.9% Rush (4th)
49ers Off. DVOA: 57.7% Pass (1st), 17.3% Rush (2nd)
Lions Def. DVOA: 6.5% Pass (16th), -18.0% Rush (1st)
49ers Def. DVOA: -9.4% Pass (4th), -10.1% Rush (15th)
PFF Coverage Grade: Lions (29th) vs. 49ers (3rd)
PFF Rush D Grade: Lions (5th) vs. 49ers (10th)
Offensive EPA/Play: Lions (8th) vs. 49ers (1st)
EPA/Play Allowed: Lions (21st) vs. 49ers (10th)
Matchups We Love
Christian McCaffrey (RB, SF)
The rain was abundant, the Packers were hungry, and Brock Purdy couldn't find his stride. As he has many times before, McCaffrey put the team on his back and willed them to victory. In the second half when things were grim, he scored on a 39-yard run to get them back in it and then again in the fourth quarter to give them their final lead. He also dominated through the air, earning 12 targets, seven of which he hauled in for 30 yards. He earned the second-most targets of any player among the four remaining teams last week. He was and is incredible, making him automatic as the RB1.
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY IS A PROBLEM 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/AIp9TTX9Nu
— PFF (@PFF) January 21, 2024
George Kittle (TE, SF)
Kittle was anointed the king of the mountain last week and came through with four receptions for 81 yards and a score. It was the only passing touchdown Purdy threw. His day could have been bigger if the passing attack had been more efficient. Detroit's passing defense is their primary weakness, plus Deebo Samuel is banged up. We know when one of the two wideouts is sidelined that Kittle's role increases, so he slots in as the TE1 this week in a contest that could feature a lot of fireworks offensively.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR, SF)
Aiyuk made a few timely catches with Samuel out, but after McCaffrey and Kittle, there wasn't much left to go around. It's a fantastic matchup, so Aiyuk deserves the WR2 spot with no shutdown CB to face despite shaping up as the primary wide receiver.
Brock Purdy (QB, SF)
Purdy completed just 59% of his passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. He led them down the field on the final drive to keep their title hopes alive, but he was fortunate not to come away with any turnovers, one in particular that should have been a pick-six to Darnell Savage Jr. While it's fair to question how he'll handle the pressure of the NFC Championship Game, the Lions gave up the second-most passing yards and fifth-most passing touchdowns this year. Purdy is behind the two AFC signal-callers, but he's capable of outproducing them, at least through the air.
Brock Purdy showing up when it matters.
(🎥 NFL, FOX) pic.twitter.com/sjl37bBNAJ
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 26, 2024
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, DET)
The only player who earned more targets last week than McCaffrey was St. Brown with 14. He's been clutch all year, and against the Buccaneers was no different. He caught eight passes for 77 yards and a score, leading the way. He projects to match, if not best, those totals this week in a high-scoring affair. He's the WR1.
Sam LaPorta (TE, DET)
LaPorta looked healthier than the week before for three quarters before seemingly slowing down toward the end of the game. He was excellent, tearing apart Tampa Bay across the middle of the field. He's still on the injury report, which is to be expected, but he drops behind Kelce and Kittle as the TE3.
.@Lions TE @Samlaporta has established a new #NFL record for the most receptions in a postseason game by a rookie TE (8).#AllGrit pic.twitter.com/FsdEYU93Sl
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) January 21, 2024
Jahmyr Gibbs & David Montgomery (RB, DET)
The dynamic duo did it again with 26 total touches for 161 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs accounted for the majority of it with nine carries for 74 yards, a touchdown rushing, and four receptions for 40 yards receiving. Gibbs is extremely dynamic as an all-around player, making him the RB2. Montgomery doesn't possess the same skill set but can grind out first downs and is always a threat near the end zone. He's the RB4.
UPDATE: Starting guard Jonah Jackson has been ruled out as expected while Frank Ragnow, their center is good to go.
Matchups We Hate
None
Other Matchups:
Jared Goff (QB, DET)
Goff threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns, committed no turnovers, and took just two sacks. All in all, he did everything that was asked, sustaining drives and taking care of the football. They'll lean on their rushing attack as usual, but they'll need another mistake-free outing if they're going to knock off the 49ers. The one worrisome factor is that he's on the road, which is where he's really struggled. However, San Francisco's vaunted pass rush has slowed down and they lack an elite secondary. He's the WR4 but has a shot to go off.
UPDATE: Starting guard Jonah Jackson has been ruled out as expected while Frank Ragnow, their center is good to go.
Josh Reynolds & Jameson Williams (WR, DET)
Reynolds followed up his revenge game against the Rams with a trip to the end zone against the Packers. Williams earned more targets (four) and totaled more yards (35), but failed to hit the big plays we know he can. It's worth calling your shot on him in this one while Reynolds is the safer secondary option.
Jauan Jennings or Deebo Samuel (WR, SF)
After Samuel went down, Jennings took his place as the No. 2 receiver. Chris Conley and Ray-Ray McCloud III also saw some snaps, but it was Jennings who became their go-to. He had five receptions for 61 yards, which puts him into that WR6-WR10 range. He'll be near the front of it if Samuel is out. If he's active, then Jennings would be toward the back of it. Samuel could pay off with usage in high-leverage situations if he's on the field, so he's the WR5 assuming he plays.
UPDATE: Samuel is off the injury report and ready to suit up. He'll likely be at less than one hundred percent, but he's still valuable even if his touches are limited.
Kyle Shanahan said 49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel is off the injury report and will play Sunday’s NFC Championship Game vs the Lions. pic.twitter.com/ccTrtlWdqL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 26, 2024
Notable Injuries
Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
Win More With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:More Fantasy Football Analysis
