49ers Beat: Signs point to Blaine Gabbert starting

Aug 15, 2016

Chip Kelly has to pick somebody to play QB for the 49ers on Sept. 12 against the Rams, and every available sign points to Gabbert.

As it has from the start of this camp... or, really, from the spring, when it was clear that both 49ers management and Colin Kaepernick preferred for him to play in Denver, except no deal could be hammered out.

It's kismet, then, that the Gabbert-Kaepernick duel could end in two practices and then a game Saturday against Denver.

If Kaepernick can't participate this week, it's almost impossible to imagine he could make up that time; if Kaepernick can participate but is flat, it's just as hard to see him leaping over Gabbert as long as Gabbert is healthy and avoiding major offensive cataclysm.

Fantasy Impact:

It's just one opinion, but it certainly makes sense. Gabbert is simply the guy able to play right now while Kaepernick is injured. The story pointed out that Kelly said the exhibition season would be the largest determining factor so it's easy to see why this author is drawing this conclusion. Keep in mind, for a good stretch last year, Gabbert resembled an NFL-quality quarterback, playing at a 4062-yard, 20-TD pace. In the final nine weeks (eight games), he averaged 16.2 fantasy points, which is more than what Ryan Tannehill, Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan and Teddy Bridgewater averaged over that span. That sort of production puts him in the QB2/streaming conversation, and we haven’t even talked about how Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense stands to help his overall numbers.

yesterday

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo (foot) listed as DNP Tuesday

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 6:31 PM EST

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his team’s pre-practice injury report at a Tuesday press conference and it was the same as Monday’s estimated one, so several key players are on the sideline ahead of Thursday’s game against the Rams.

Among them was RB Isaac Guerendo.

Related players: Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda

Fantasy Impact:

Guerendo had a great game in Week 14, but left with a sprained foot. Guerendo said afterward he felt great and it was just precautionary. However, we know by now we can't always trust when a player talks about his status for the following week. The DNPs for both Monday and Tuesday are not a great sign for Guerendo's chances to play in Week 15, which is a short week against the Rams on Thursday Night Football. Guerendo's practice status for Wednesday will hopefully will give us a better idea. Taylor would likely be next up for the 49ers if Guerendo can't go.

Moore: Eagles want to 'increase the likelihood' WR A.J. Brown gets the ball

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:49 PM EST

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s comment that the team’s passing offense needs to improve in the wake of Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Panthers has been the biggest topic of conversation of the week in Philadelphia and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got his chance to weigh in on it Tuesday.

Moore said he speaks to Brown and other members of the offense every week and said “the flows of seasons” call for weekly conversations about how to get the most out of the passing offense. Part of that process for this week is working on ways to get the ball to Brown after he was targeted four times against Carolina.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him,” Moore said, via a transcript from the team.

Fantasy Impact:

Brown came out and criticized the passing game after just getting by the Panthers in Week 14. The Eagles, thanks to Saquon Barkley, have been a run-first team this year, and it's largely worked, thanks also to an improved defense. DeVonta Smith has also voiced frustration recently. The Eagles aren't likely to stop giving Barkley the ball, but we've had a few stories in the news this week featuring unhappy WRs, and there can often be a bit of a change in the game plan to keep players happy. The Eagles host the Steelers this week, so things may not come easy again for the offense.

Steelers call WR George Pickens doubtful, outside chance to play

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 12:37 PM EST

The Steelers did not have receiver George Pickens for their Week 14 victory over the Browns and they are likely to be without him again against the Eagles on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference that Pickens could be characterized as doubtful for Week 15, but there is still an outside chance he’ll play.

Fantasy Impact:

The Steelers thought Pickens would play last week but was eventually ruled out. After Sunday’s contest, Pickens underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury was more significant than initially believed, the story said. Reports from those who follow the team on Monday mentioned it was unlikely Pickens would play, and that's certainly looking like the case.