Week 15 vs. Atlanta Falcons
George Kittle looked healthy and productive against the Saints last week in a thrilling victory for the 49ers. He had six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown and he was tied for second on the team with eight targets. Kittle has been a steady fantasy option, even playing well while hurt, and if he’s healthy and ready to go, he’s one of the best fantasy assets you can have at the tight end position.
This week, Kittle should be active as usual against a Falcons defense that ranks 21st in aFPA to opposing tight ends this year and just gave up 57 yards and a touchdown to Ian Thomas last week. Kittle is a must-start regardless of matchup, with additional upside against the vulnerable Falcons.
Week 14 at New Orleans Saints
George Kittle has been playing through an ankle issue, but was very productive against the Packers two weeks ago. Last week, however, he struggled against the Ravens in a close loss, finishing with just two catches and 17 yards. Kittle remains the best weapon in the 49ers’ offense, so he should remain active week-to-week as long as he’s healthy.
The Saints have been excellent on defense overall, but they actually rank 19th in aFPA to opposing tight ends this year, giving Kittle upside. The 49ers will likely need to throw the ball effectively if they’re going to rebound from a tough loss last week, and that should bode well for Kittle. Start him.
Week 13 at Baltimore Ravens
Despite coming off an ankle injury, George Kittle took advantage of a nice matchup against the Packers last week, catching all six balls thrown his way for 129 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown. After only one touchdown in his first seven games this season, Kittle has one in each of his past two – albeit with an injury break between outings – and he still leads the team in every major receiving category despite missing two games. When he’s on the field, he typically produces.
This week, Kittle faces a Ravens defense that ranks 17th in aFPA to opposing tight ends this season, while ranking 11th against wide receivers. That means the way to beat them should be through the tight end position, and few are better equipped for that strategy than the 49ers and Kittle. He should be active every week he’s healthy, including this one.
Week 10 vs. Seattle Seahawks
George Kittle had a nice game against the Cardinals last week, catching six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, despite being hobbled by a knee injury suffered in-game. Reports on the injury seem to be favorable, however, so fantasy owners should keep an eye on the injury report but ultimately feel comfortable leaving Kittle in lineups. He’s been super steady this season, despite only two touchdowns.
This week, Kittle faces a Seahawks team that struggled against opposing tight ends. They rank 29th in aFPA to the position this season and gave up six catches, 65 yards and a touchdown to Austin Hooper just two weeks ago. As long as there’s no last-minute injury news heading into the weekend, Kittle should be active in all leagues as an elite option.
Week 9 at Arizona Cardinals
George Kittle had a nice game against the Panthers last week with six receptions and 86 yards. He’s been pretty consistent this year, albeit not spectacular, scoring double-digit PPR points in all but two games on the season. The 49ers emphasize Kittle in the passing game and he has nearly double the targets of anyone else on the roster.
This week, Kittle is a must-start against the struggling Cardinals. Arizona ranks dead last in aFPA to opposing tight ends this season and Kittle should once again be the primary target in the offense. Fantasy owners should have him active in all leagues and he’s our number-one ranked option at the position in a fantastic matchup.
Week 8 vs. Carolina Panthers
George Kittle had a disappointing game against Washington last week, catching three passes for 38 yards. However, the conditions were horrendous, and it’s hard to hold much against any of the offensive players. The game was a 9-0 slugfest that featured defense and only 33 combined pass attempts.
Kittle should rebound this week against the Panthers. Carolina has a very good defense and is tied for 11th in aFPA to opposing tight ends, but the 49ers will need to find some production somewhere in the passing game and Kittle is easily the most talented pass-catcher they have. He should benefit from better conditions and as the focal point of the offense, he should be active every week, regardless of matchup.
Week 7 at Washington Redskins
George Kittle had a nice game against the Rams last week, catching all eight passes thrown his way for 103 yards. Kittle is one of the best in the league at his position, and while he’s only found the end zone once this season, he’s still been fairly consistent in production. He has at least 54 yards in every game and has double-digit PPR points in all but one week.
This week, Kittle should be active in all leagues against Washington. The Redskins rank 26th in aFPA to opposing tight ends this season and gave up three catches and 51 yards to Mike Gesicki last week. Expect Kittle to continue to be heavily targeted and to be a top fantasy option in a great matchup.
Week 6 at Los Angeles Rams
George Kittle finally found the end zone Monday night against the Browns in a lop-sided victory. He ended up with six catches on eight targets, gaining 70 yards. It was Kittle’s first touchdown of the season, but his fourth consecutive game over 50 receiving yards and he leads the 49ers in receptions and yards. Kittle is an elite talent at the position and is clearly the focal point of the San Francisco passing offense.
This week, Kittle faces a Rams defense that ranks 17th in aFPA to the tight end position, making this an above-average matchup for him. Will Dissly gained 81 yards last week against this defense and Kittle should be looking at that as his floor. The 49ers will keep throwing him the ball, and we have him as an elite fantasy option this week in all leagues.
Week 5 vs. Cleveland Browns
George Kittle hasn’t been terrible this season with over 50 yards in each game, but he just hasn’t put up the kind of numbers expected of him. He’s failed to find the end zone and has yet to eclipse 60 yards, despite leading the team with 17 receptions and 21 targets. Kittle is a nice buy-low option, however, as he may be undervalued and should improve his totals given the targets he’s getting. As the 49ers offense continues to improve under Jimmy Garoppolo, Kittle should benefit and get back to scoring at a pace fantasy owners got used to a year ago.
This week, Kittle faces a Browns defense that is tied for 19th in aFPA to opposing tight ends this season. Kittle is still looking for his first touchdown of the season but he remains the best player in the 49ers’ offense and leads the team in receptions, targets, and receiving yards. All that has to equal fantasy numbers soon, and this may be the week for it. He’s a must-start every game.
Week 3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
George Kittle has had 54 yards in consecutive games, and was only targeted three times last week against the Bengals. That’s concerning for a guy drafted to be one of the most elite fantasy players at his position, but it’s still too early to panic. He was targeted 10 times in Week 1, and he remains the best receiving option for the 49ers. Expect quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to look to him more frequently as the season progresses.
The Steelers have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the tight end position through two weeks, including a pair of touchdowns to Will Dissly on Sunday. Kittle is a must-start in a good matchup, with the hope he’ll rebound from a slow first two games of the season.
