Week 2 vs Raiders
Sanders caught a touchdown pass in his first game with the Saints, but other than that, was fairly quiet, with just three catches for 15 yards. He even played less snaps than Tre'Quan Smith (44-33). That workload will obviously increase and both will now get plenty of opportunities with Michael Thomas out of the lineup.
Sanders also is pretty familiar with facing the Raiders, thanks to his time in Denver. He's averaged 91 yards and 0.5 touchdowns in his last two games against the silver and black. We have him as WR32 for this week, making him a WR3/Flex option.
Emmanuel Sanders begins his first season in New Orleans and first full season in the NFC after spending half of last season in San Francisco, scoring three touchdowns in 10 games. He's facing an unfamiliar foe as this will be only the second time Sanders faces the Buccaneers. But if that first game is any indication, Sanders could fare well against Tampa, as he posted a line of 8-88-1 in 2016 when he was with the Broncos.
For Week 1 in his new digs, it could be about getting used to the offense and getting a sense of how Sanders will be utilized in the offense since there was no preseason. We currently have him ranked No. 42 this week for wide receivers, making him a deeper flex play until we get a better feel for him in New Orleans.
Fantasy Upside
Sanders has consistently been a very solid receiver over the past few years, whether he was in Pittsburgh, Denver or San Francisco. Now he is in New Orleans and will continue to be a very solid fantasy option. He gives Drew Brees something he hasn't had in a bit and that's a legit receiver opposite Michael Thomas (no offense to Ted Ginn or Tre'Quan Smith, the latter of which is still developing). Sanders should see plenty of targets from Brees and eat into some of Thomas' workload.
Fantasy Downside
Sanders is starting to get a bit up there in age, as he enters his age-33 season. He's also cooled off a bit after a strong start to last season with the Broncos, before being traded to the 49ers. In total, he had 10 games with under 50 yards receiving during the regular season and totaled just five catches for 71 yards during the 49ers' playoff run. It's quite possible he posts some quiet games with all the mouths to feed in New Orleans.
2020 Bottom Line
Sanders is going to be a very nice compliment to Michael Thomas and should be a nice compliment to your fantasy rosters as a flex play or WR3. He could end up in the 70-80 catch range with the high amount of opportunities he's bound to receive in the Big Easy.
Week 17 at Seattle Seahawks
Emmanuel Sanders had three catches for 61 yards last week against the Rams in a close victory for the 49ers. Sanders has been a nice outside threat for Jimmy Garoppolo since arriving during a midseason trade, but his fantasy numbers have been largely inconsistent. He’s three games removed from a big game against the Saints, and only two removed from a nine-yard stinker against the Falcons.
This week, there’s some upside against the Seahawks, who rank 21st in aFPA to opposing wide receivers, and he should be considered a fringe WR2 option in a good matchup. He’s far from a sure thing, but the 49ers are going to need to win this game to have a shot at a first-round bye, so expect both teams to come out fighting. Sanders has playoff experience, and this game should play like a postseason matchup.
Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Emmanuel Sanders followed up a great game against New Orleans in Week 14 with a terrible game against the Falcons last week. He finished with just two catches on four targets for nine yards as the 49ers were defeated for the third time in their last six games. Sanders has been a nice addition for the 49ers but he’s been inconsistent as a fantasy option through much of the year.
The Rams are seventh in aFPA to the wide receiver position this season and they held Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup to just two catches and 25 yards combined last week. The 49ers would be wise to follow the same gameplan the Cowboys did last week and just call 38 running plays against a defense that has struggled to stop the run for two seasons now. Sanders has upside as a starter, but coming off a tough game in a difficult matchup, fantasy owners should look elsewhere if possible. We have him ranked as a low-end WR3 option.
Week 15 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Emmanuel Sanders had a great game against the Saints last week in a thrilling game that ended in a 48-46 victory for the 49ers. Sanders caught seven balls or 157 yards and a touchdown, led the team with nine targets and even threw a 35-yard touchdown pass. It was good to see Sanders looking healthy and productive and fantasy owners should consider him a quality fringe WR2 option for the rest of the season.
The Falcons have been playing better defense over the second half of the season and actually rank 14th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers, so they’re not quite the cake-walk they’ve been in the past. Still, Sanders should be featured heavily in the passing game and has WR2 upside after amassing so many targets a week ago.
Week 14 at New Orleans Saints
Emmanuel Sanders caught four passes for 41 yards last week in a tough matchup against the Ravens. He did play 98% of the team’s offensive snaps, which was good to see after being eased back into action following an injury. Still, he’s hasn’t put up double-digit PPR points in any of his last four games and he faces a tough Saints defense that ranks sixth in the league in aFPA to opposing wide receivers this week. Sit him.
Week 13 at Baltimore Ravens
Emmanuel Sanders has struggled since getting hurt against the Seahawks three weeks ago. He’s been active, but he’s only had four catches and 48 yards over his past two games and was only targeted once Sunday night against the Packers. Part of that was game script as the 49ers trounced Green Bay and only attempted 20 passes, but part of it is Sanders being questionable heading into the game and possibly not being 100%.
This week, Sanders will try to get back on track against a Ravens defense that ranks 11th in aFPA to opposing receivers and decimated the Rams last week. Sanders has some upside with the targets he receives when healthy, but he should be avoided this week if possible given the matchup and his unclear health.
Week 12 vs. Green Bay Packers
Emmanuel Sanders played last week at less than 100% and wound up with only 33 yards on three receptions. He didn’t look right and he’s still dealing with a rib injury, so his status is up in the air heading into a Week 12 matchup against the Packers. Green Bay ranks 17th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers this season, so there could be some space to operation for Sanders if he’s active and healthy, but fantasy owners should probably take a wait-and-see approach with him until he seems back at full strength. We have him ranked as a fringe WR3 option this week.
Week 11 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Emmanuel Sanders left the game last week against the Seahawks with an injury suffered early on, so fantasy owners should check his status as he’s day-to-day. If he’s healthy, however, he’s a must-start as a quality WR2 option every week. Not counting last week’s injury-shortened outing, he has two touchdowns in two games as a 49er, and he’s easily the best wide receiver in San Francisco.
Sanders had seven catches, 112 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals just two weeks ago, and if George Kittle misses the game as expected, there should be plenty of targets headed Sanders’ way. If he’s active and there are no questions about his health, he should be in all lineups.
