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 QB Joshua Dobbs.
Is Joshua Dobbs Playing in Week 18?
Doubs is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he is on track to start this weekend for Brock Purdy.
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 Joshua Dobbs in Week 18?
Dobbs will get the spot start, with Brock Purdy dealing with an elbow injury suffered late in Week 17’s loss to the Lions. He completed three of his four passes for 34 yards and added a seven-yard rushing score late against the Lions on Monday night, showcasing the versatility that we’ve had an interest in when he has been pressed into duty in the past.
Personally, I’m in no hurry to start him in a meaningless game, but if you’re going to stream the position, he’s as viable as any, provided that the 49ers elect to play their regulars.
Dobbs averages 5.8 yards per pass for his career and had as many touchdown passes as interceptions with the Vikings last season. There is some rushing upside in his profile, but not so much that you need to move heaven and earth to get access to it.
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.
Joshua Dobbs’ Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Sunday, Dobbs is projected to score 8.5 fantasy points in Week 18. This includes 111.1 passing yards, 0.6 passing touchdowns, and 0.5 interceptions. It also includes 2.8 rushing attempts for 15.3 yards and 0.1 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.
Joshua Dobbs’ 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.