The San Francisco 49ers will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10. 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 10?
George Kittle has gotten off to a terrific start, leading all tight ends with five touchdown receptions. But despite playing 91% of the snaps in the Week 7 loss to the Chiefs, the All-Pro tight end apparently came out of that game with a sprained foot.
The San Francisco 49ers managed Kittle’s practices this week. Indeed, he was a DNP on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, he was a limited participant, which is a great sign. Kittle practiced again on Friday and is officially questionable for Week 9.
Unfortunately, fantasy football managers are in a tough spot because San Francisco plays on Sunday night. Hopefully, we’ll have clarification on Kittle’s status so that managers are scrambling for a TE replacement.
Kittle missed the 49ers’ Week 3 game vs. the Rams, and no San Francisco tight end was usable from a fantasy perspective. Eric Saubert started and had two catches for 41 yards.
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 10?
For the first time since last October, George Kittle has surpassed 80 air yards in consecutive games; with a consistent role for the taking due to Brandon Aiyuk’s injury, he is on the very short list of players who can lead the position in fantasy points during the second half of the season.
I know there is a reflex to want to sell any tight end after any strong run of production, understanding that stable production at the position is nearly impossible to find — but I’m not doing it. You have, for my money, the best TE for the rest of the season, and you should be thrilled about the edge that gives you over your competition.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 9 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
George Kittle’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 10
As of Sunday, Kittle is projected to score 18 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 5.8 receptions for 77.5 yards and 0.7 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 Buccaneers’ Defense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the widest split in their offense and defense, ranking inside the top five on offense and inside the bottom 10 on defense. That defense continues to be a problem, having allowed 102 points in the last three weeks. That has seen them go 0-3 despite scoring 81 points in that stretch.
The Buccaneers’ defense has not done much well. It struggles more against the pass but also has issues against the run. Some of the deeper numbers are not an issue, but the overall picture is that they are allowing 2.44 points per drive (29th) and 5.8 yards per play (27th).
Do you want more insight on all other defensive units across the NFL? Head over to our PFN Defense+ Rankings for analysis on all 32 teams.
George Kittle’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 11:45 PM ET on Saturday, January 25.
Conference Championship TE PPR Rankings
1) Travis Kelce | KC (vs. BUF)
2) Dallas Goedert | PHI (vs. WAS)
3) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at KC)
4) Zach Ertz | WAS (at PHI)
5) Noah Gray | KC (vs. BUF)
6) Dawson Knox | BUF (at KC)
7) John Bates | WAS (at PHI)
8) Grant Calcaterra | PHI (vs. WAS)
9) Ben Sinnott | WAS (at PHI)
10) Quintin Morris | BUF (at KC)
11) Peyton Hendershot | KC (vs. BUF)
12) E.J. Jenkins | PHI (vs. WAS)
13) Anthony Firkser | NYJ ()
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Insights
San Francisco 49ers
Team: The 49ers won six straight games out of their bye last season, outscoring the opposition 207-94 in the process.
QB: In Weeks 1-7 last season, Brock Purdy’s quick pass rate was 74.1%. Since, that rate has been trimmed to 55.4%.
Offense: Settling. The 49ers have kicked a field goal on 26.5% of their drives this season, up from 11.7% a year ago.
Defense: In Weeks 2-6, San Francisco forced their opposition to go three-and-out on 28.8% of their drives, a rate that spiked in the two weeks before their bye (43.5%).
Fantasy: Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, and Purdy were the only QBs to finish Weeks 6-7-8 as a top-10 fantasy signal-caller.
Betting: The 49ers have covered six of their past eight games as a road favorite (those two losses came in Weeks 2-3 this season, outright losses to the Vikings and Rams).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Team: Will their fate depend on how they can produce on the road? Following the Week 11 bye, Tampa Bay plays four of five on the road (all of which are winnable: Giants, Panthers, Chargers, and Cowboys).
QB: Baker Mayfield has the longest active streak of multi-pass games at six straight (Josh Allen is second with four straight).
Offense: Tampa Bay has allowed pressure on just 12.8% of dropbacks over the past two weeks, easily the lowest rate in the league.
Defense: The Bucs have allowed opponents to convert 60% of third downs over the past two weeks (first seven weeks: 37.2%).
Fantasy: Cade Otton is one of four pass catchers to have 15 PPR points in each of the past three weeks, joining Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, and Cedric Tillman.
Betting: Overs are 7-2 in the last nine instances in which a team on short rest faces one on an extended break.
