The San Francisco 49ers will face the Green Bay Packers in Week 12. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding QB Brandon Allen.
Is Brandon Allen Playing in Week 12?
Brock Purdy will not play in Week after injuring his shoulder against the Cardinals in Week 11. He failed to participate in Friday’s practice after being involved earlier this week.
With Purdy sidelined, Brandon Allen — who beat Josh Dobbs for San Fran’s QB2 role this offseason — would start. We’ve seen nondescript quarterbacks have success in Shanahan’s offense before, but expectations have to be lowered for all of the 49ers’ skill-position weapons.
According to PFN’s Playoff Predictor, San Francisco only has a one-in-four shot of making the postseason in 2024. Facing a team like the Packers without Purdy won’t help those odds. Even if the 49ers can survive Green Bay, they have another daunting matchup against the Bills in Week 13.
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 Brandon Allen in Week 12?
With Brock Purdy’s status up in the air, Brandon Allen is the next man up. The career back-up has thrown just 37 passes since the beginning of 2021 and doesn’t boast the kind of athletic profile that it takes to overcome a career 56.7% completion percentage.
Should Allen take over, Green Bay’s defense could prove to be a slate breaker. They are the third best team at creating pressure when blitzing and you can rest assured that they’d be looking to heat up the 32-year old. The value of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are at risk, though I still think you’re playing them this week despite the lowerd expectations.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 12 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Brandon Allen’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 12
As of early Sunday morning, Allen is projected to score 9.5 fantasy points in Week 12. This includes 149.3 passing yards, 1.1 passing touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. It also includes 16.5 rushing attempts for -6.9 yards and 0 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.
Brandon Allen’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 QB PPR Rankings
1) Lamar Jackson | BAL (vs. CLE)
2) Jayden Daniels | WAS (at DAL)
3) Baker Mayfield | TB (vs. NO)
4) Joe Burrow | CIN (at PIT)
5) Sam Darnold | MIN (at DET)
6) Jared Goff | DET (vs. MIN)
7) Jordan Love | GB (vs. CHI)
8) Bo Nix | DEN (vs. KC)
9) Kyler Murray | ARI (vs. SF)
10) Justin Herbert | LAC (at LV)
11) Drake Maye | NE (vs. BUF)
12) Bryce Young | CAR (at ATL)
13) Russell Wilson | PIT (vs. CIN)
14) Geno Smith | SEA (at LAR)
15) Caleb Williams | CHI (at GB)
16) Aaron Rodgers | NYJ (vs. MIA)
17) Joe Flacco | IND (vs. JAX)
18) Michael Penix Jr. | ATL (vs. CAR)
19) Mason Rudolph | TEN (vs. HOU)
20) Aidan O'Connell | LV (vs. LAC)
21) Mac Jones | JAX (at IND)
22) Tanner McKee | PHI (vs. NYG)
23) Kenny Pickett | PHI (vs. NYG)
24) Cooper Rush | DAL (vs. WAS)
25) C.J. Stroud | HOU (at TEN)
26) Drew Lock | NYG (at PHI)
27) Jimmy Garoppolo | LAR (vs. SEA)
28) Carson Wentz | KC (at DEN)
29) Davis Mills | HOU (at TEN)
30) Tyler Huntley | MIA (at NYJ)
31) Joshua Dobbs | SF (at ARI)
32) Spencer Rattler | NO (at TB)
33) Mitchell Trubisky | BUF (at NE)
34) Taylor Heinicke | LAC (at LV)
35) Bailey Zappe | KC (at DEN)
36) Dorian Thompson-Robinson | CLE (at BAL)
37) Sam Howell | SEA (at LAR)
38) Josh Allen | BUF (at NE)
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.