Week 10 Start/Sit: Monday Night Football Matchups Analysis

We got a good one on Monday night folks. Both for the NFC West division and, more importantly, for fantasy.

Two of the top teams in the NFL matchup at Levi's Stadium. We can finally find out if the 49ers are for real, or if they were just beating up on bad teams all season. It is a bit of both I suspect. Plus, in reality, Seattle is not exactly a true 7-2 team in their own right.

Despite concerns over the validity of the records of both of these teams, one thing is certain: They both have fantasy firepower which will be on display in this one. So, if you need a miracle comeback on Monday night, this may be the week you could get it.

Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers

Game Time: Monday, November 11, 2019 @ 8:15 pm
Game Line: San Francisco 49ers -6.5 O/U 47
Team Records:
Seattle Seahawks 7-2
San Francisco 49ers 8-0
Seattle Offensive ranks: Pass 9th, Run 8th Defensive ranks: Pass 28th, Run 13th
San Francisco Offensive ranks: Pass 22nd, Run 2nd Defensive ranks: Pass 1st, Run 14th

Must Starts

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA) - Five touchdowns in a comeback win last week was just the latest in a remarkable season for Wilson. If he is not the league MVP, he is certainly in the top two. Sure, the 49ers come into this game with the best pass defense in the NFL. But Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, and company will still perform in this one. He is a top-five play each and every week. This week is no different.

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF) - Sure, the 49ers are a run-first team. But ever since the addition of Emmanuel Sanders, the passing game has opened up a bit. The four touchdowns against a bad Cardinals team notwithstanding, Garoppolo is still good enough to beat a diminished Seattle defense who is no longer the great Legion of Boom. If you have slightly better options, fine. But if not, he is a sure-fire start in this matchup.

Chris Carson (RB, SEA) - In a tough game last week, Carson still broke the 100-yard barrier against a good Buccaneers run defense. The 49ers are not nearly as good against the run as they are against the pass. This bodes well for another good game in this one as Seattle will need all facets of the game clicking to pull off the victory. He should also continue to get looks in the passing game which makes him even more likely to find himself in the top 10 at the end of the week.

Matt Breida (RB, SF) - Despite barely being active against Arizona, Breida still managed over 70 yards rushing. It is hard to decipher weekly which running back for San Francisco will get the majority of the work. But we do know it only takes one play for Breida to make it worth your while. With the 49ers being one of the run heaviest teams in the league, there is room and good reason to start both he and Tevin Coleman in this one.

Tevin Coleman (RB, SF) - He did not do much in Arizona after coming off a monster game against Carolina. Maybe he just needed a rest. Well, now he has had a nice 11-day break and will be set to flourish in this pivotal division matchup. If the 49ers want to keep their season rolling, it will be on the back, or more so the legs, of the run game. And it is clear that Tevin Coleman is the main guy in the equation.

Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA) - His 13 receptions and two touchdowns last week were amazing. Although his touchdown efficiency took a major hit, his 13 receptions was far more what we want from him. Having four receptions and maybe a touchdown each week is great. But we all know touchdowns are fluky. With this said, the receptions are the true key to success. If he can continue to garner more of them, he will finish as a top-five receiver on the season. Of course, 13 catches is not realistic on a weekly basis. But if he can remain around the seven or eight range, we will all be very happy. This is what should be expected in this one. This game should be a high-scoring affair and Lockett will be a part of the fireworks.

Emmanuel Sanders (WR, SF) - Since coming over from Denver, Sanders has clearly taken over as the No. 1 receiver on the 49ers. In a passing game that is only averaging 219 yards per game, he is also the only one to consider playing, outside of George Kittle of course.

The fears of him needing to get accustomed to the offense were unfounded. He is running the same scheme here as he did in Denver only with a better quarterback. And it is clear he can excel for the team. This game should be another solid one for the aging, but still good Sanders and it should continue his top-20 performances this season. That is a streak that should continue through the rest of the fantasy season.

George Kittle (TE, SF) - The touchdowns are down but not the production. We can count on a similar line each and every week from Kittle. And this is sometimes just as important as getting a boom week every now and then.

When the touchdowns finally start to arrive, this could be another magical season for the tight end. His 26% target share in this offense is the highest among all tight ends and this is something we love to see out of a position with so much mediocrity as of late. He is a true set it and forget it in all lineups. Both this week and in upcoming weeks against even lesser opponents like Arizona next week. If you have him, you are quite happy and there is no chance you would think about sitting him in any week.

Note: Kittle is looking doubtful this Monday after missing the entire week of practice with ankle and knee injuries. Ross Dwelley will pick up most of Kittle's snaps if the latter ultimately ends up sitting. Dwelley would be just a desperation play if Kittle is out.

Consider Sitting

Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA) - The run game in Seattle has been great this season. Rashaad Penny has been far from it though. Injury has kept him off the field and prevented him from reaching his first-round potential. Ok, enough laughing. But seriously, he has been a true disappointment this season and he should not be considered in this game except under the direst of circumstances.

There are much better options this week and you should find one rather than taking a risk on Penny.

Marquise Goodwin (WR, SF) - The Olympic speed is nice but the production leaves a lot to be desired. Add in the fact that the 49ers run game is far more useful than the passing game and Goodwin becomes even more of a sit in this one, especially given his recent and recurring health issues. If not named Kittle or Sanders, all pass catchers for the Niners should be sitting in this one. This includes Goodwin, Dante Pettis, and anyone else.

Potential Sleepers

D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA) - I know he has had some great weeks lately. Two touchdowns against the Falcons and another against the Buccaneers were great. But they were against the Falcons and the Buccaneers.

He is certainly on the fringe of a must-start in this one. But with the pass defense being No. 1 in the league for San Francisco, he slides ever so slightly into the sleeper category. Mainly because it will be even more run-heavy than normal in this one. But he will be right back into start territory in the next game.

More Week 10 Lineup Prep