The San Francisco 49ers will face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding TE George Kittle.
Is George Kittle Playing in Week 18?
Kittle did not practice on Wednesday with ankle and hamstring injuries but returned to a limited session on Thursday and Friday. Kittle was listed as questionable on the final injury report, but with a meaningless Week 18 game remaining, it’s possible the 49ers will hold out anyone who isn’t 100% healthy.
We’ll continue to monitor the 49ers injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit George Kittle in Week 18?
Kittle earned a 37.5% target share in Week 5 against these Cardinals (8-64-1 stat line) and his role seems stable, even with the 49ers simply playing out the string of the season.
It’s been a weird relationship for fantasy managers and Kittle over the past two seasons – his ceiling has proven to be nothing short of elite, but the floor can be maddening. This year, however, we got more consistency. It stands to reason that 2025 could look a lot like 2024.
Kittle is 31 years old, and that introduces some age-curve concerns, but I expect to be in line with the consensus on him this summer. That means I’ll be investing should my roster construction point in that direction.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
George Kittle’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Sunday, Kittle is projected to score 10.8 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 3.5 receptions for 46.2 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Cardinals' Defense
The Cardinals' defense played well enough to win on Saturday night vs. the Rams. Arizona recorded a 76.0 (C) grade, which doesn't sound like much but has typically been good enough to win for this team.
Entering Week 17, the Cardinals were 6-1 when the defense recorded a "C" grade or better. That record is 6-2 after the offense couldn't finish enough drives to put away the Rams. Arizona had one of its more well-rounded games against both the pass and run this year and ended up allowing their fifth-fewest yards per play this season (4.8).
The Cardinals took a step forward in 2024, but the end will feel like a disappointment after Arizona was the clear midseason favorite to claim the NFC West. The lack of defensive talent beyond Budda Baker was a well-known roster flaw entering the season and one that will need a serious commitment of offseason resources to fix for 2025.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
George Kittle’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Sunday, January 5. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 TE PPR Rankings
1) Brock Bowers | LV (vs. LAC)
2) Sam LaPorta | DET (vs. MIN)
3) Trey McBride | ARI (vs. SF)
4) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (at DET)
5) Mark Andrews | BAL (vs. CLE)
6) Jonnu Smith | MIA (at NYJ)
7) Tucker Kraft | GB (vs. CHI)
8) George Kittle | SF (at ARI)
9) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN (vs. HOU)
10) Pat Freiermuth | PIT (vs. CIN)
11) Zach Ertz | WAS (at DAL)
12) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. CAR)
13) Hunter Henry | NE (vs. BUF)
14) Will Dissly | LAC (at LV)
15) Isaiah Likely | BAL (vs. CLE)
16) Jake Ferguson | DAL (vs. WAS)
17) Mike Gesicki | CIN (at PIT)
18) Juwan Johnson | NO (at TB)
19) Noah Gray | KC (at DEN)
20) Brenton Strange | JAX (at IND)
21) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at NE)
22) Dalton Schultz | HOU (at TEN)
23) Cole Kmet | CHI (at GB)
24) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (vs. MIA)
25) Austin Hooper | NE (vs. BUF)
26) Noah Fant | SEA (at LAR)
27) Foster Moreau | NO (at TB)
28) Grant Calcaterra | PHI (vs. NYG)
29) Jordan Akins | CLE (at BAL)
30) Stone Smartt | LAC (at LV)
31) Daniel Bellinger | NYG (at PHI)
32) Ja'Tavion Sanders | CAR (at ATL)
33) Payne Durham | TB (vs. NO)
34) Dawson Knox | BUF (at NE)
35) Michael Mayer | LV (vs. LAC)
49ers at Cardinals Trends and Insights
San Francisco 49ers
Team: The 49ers have lost six of their past seven games -- they lost five games during the entire 2023 regular season.
QB: In Weeks 1-16, we didn't have a single game where a QB threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for a score -- Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy both did it in Week 17.
Offense: The 49ers lost on Monday night despite scoring 34 points -- they were 25-1 when scoring 34+ points in a regular season game over the past decade prior to this setback.
Defense: San Francisco is 6-1 this season when they allow 2.0 or fewer points per drive (0-9 otherwise).
Fantasy: Entering Monday night, twice did a receiver have multiple rush attempts, 40 receiving yards, and a touchdown catch in the first half of a game this season -- Ricky Pearsall and Jameson Williams both did it in Week 17.
Betting: Since the beginning of 2021, the 49ers are 7-3-1 ATS in road divisional games and overs are 9-2 across those spots.
Arizona Cardinals
Team: Since 2022, the best point differential for a team with double-digit losses in a season is -15. The 7-9 Cardinals have been outscored by two points this year.
QB: Kyler Murray is averaging a career-low 5.9 yards per blitzed pass attempt this season. His career rate is 7.1, highlighted by an 8.9 average a season ago.
Offense: Saturday was the ninth time this season in which Arizona had at least as many FGM as offensive TDs scored (they’ve done it in three straight).
Defense: The Cardinals have allowed a touchdown on just 50.9% of opponent red zone trips this season, pacing for their best season since 2014.
Fantasy: On Saturday, Trey McBride recorded his third game with 12+ catches in a game this season – he’s the first tight end ever to do that and just the 11th player to do so. A fourth game would tie him atop the all-time list for such games in a single season with Cris Carter (1995) and CeeDee Lamb (2023).
Betting: Arizona is just 1-5 ATS in their past six games played on extended rest.