Monday Maybes - Week 6

This week the Monday Game sees the 2-2-1 Green Bay Packers face the 1-4 San Fransisco 49ers at Lambeau Field in a rather one-sided looking event.

The 49ers with CJ Beathard at the helm coughed up 4 turnovers against Arizona last week to go with 2 the week before and that’s not a good thing to be doing this week with Aaron Rodgers on the opposite side to punish you. Beathard hasnt actually been that bad since taking over from Jimmy Garoppolo and with 673 all purpose yards and 5 TDs the stat line is only made ugly by the turnovers and losses to injury. Last week he was QB10 with the 7th highest passing yards despite losing 28-18. The problem is he still not elite and he injuries have kept on coming. Any optimism and hope there was in the camp keeps being eroded away.

At running back the latest hit to the 49ers hopes occurred with Matt Breida, the rushing leader going into week 6, going down last week. He is said to be pushing to play this week but if he does he’s surely got to be on a snap count as they really shouldn’t want to risk their major bright spark. Alfred Morris is there and ready to take the load and has been able to be the every down back in the past but in the modern NFL where that involves a large amount of pass catching he may not quite be able to do it all. Somewhere the 49ers are going to need pass catching help to spell Morris but he should get plenty of rushing touches. If Breida is ruled out then it Fullback should be a 6-7 point running back KyleJuszczyk could see some of the workload and may be a decent quick plugin.

The wide receiver corps have been bitterly disappointing this season with neither Garçon, Goodwin, Pettis or Bourne getting things together. Goodwin has been dogged with injuries, Pettis is out for some time, Bourne never expected to ascend to WR2 this quickly and Pierre Garçon can’t cope with the coverage he’s getting, especially considering the service from Beathard. Trent Taylor was looking like a rare bright spark last week but is doubtful for this game with a back injury. Only the tight end George Kittle is giving them an edge in the passing game and preventing fully stacked boxes but he’s a little bit dinged up himself. Kittle should play and is perhaps the only other player of value along with Morris, purely through volume and big play ability.

The 49ers defence hasn’t been one to own, even in good weeks and when you are playing Aaron Rodgers, this is not a good week. They have a few injuries on this side of the ball and they may be on the field a fair bit which is never a good sign. They may get exploited quite badly unless they’ve done an exception job in game planning.

For the Packers, Aaron Rodgers has a questionable mark against him but should play. He had a setback in his rehab form the knee injury in week 2 and I have a feeling (along with many others) that over time you will find that he has ACL damage of some sorts affecting him. For the moment he is still looking like playing through it with a knee brace but there is that risk that one bad tackle will see DeShone Kizer coming into the game.

The running game is showing signs of life again and may become more critical if Rodgers does indeed have an injury that needs to be nursed. Aaron Jones should begin to take over that backfield now he’s been filtered back into the game plan and really he is the only Packers RB you should be starting. Williams and Montgomery might have value one day but good luck trying to predict that day and having the guts to pull the trigger and play them.

Allison and Cobb both had limited practices this week while recovering from their injuries. Allison still has a hamstring issue after making it through the Concussion protocol and has now been ruled out. Randall Cobb has also been ruled out so that means Marquez Valdes Scantling should see some work. Jimmy Graham had a question mark on him but he should play. He is really a TD upside play but you will struggle to find a good streamer to play over him at this point so long as he’s fit he’s in. Davante Adams has no injury worries and should have a huge day, although be aware that he will probably see a lot of coverage.

The Packers defence will be looking to feed off the 49ers barren offence and have been a streaming candidate for a lot of analysts.


Point predictions:
QBs:
Aaron Rodgers (GB) 27
CJ Beathard (SF) 9

RBs:
Aaron Jones (GB) 17
Alfred Morris (SF) 15
Matt Breida (SF) 7
Ty Montgomery (GB) 6
Jamaal Williams (GB) 5
Kyle Juszczyk (SF) 4
Raheem Mostert (SF) 3
WRs:
Davante Adams (GB) 19
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB) 12
Pierre Garçon (SF) 6
Marquise Goodwin (SF) 3
Kendrick Bourne (SF) 2

TEs:
George Kittle (SF) 18
Jimmy Graham (GB) 9

DST:
Packers (GB) 15
49ers (SF) 0


On a very minor side note, I can see both kickers having decent games. Ignore last week if you can (if you’re playing one of these two at this stage you must have done) they should be fine. If you have a choice between the two I’d always lean towards the one with the better offence although Gould could still be the highest point scorer for the 49ers.

I have a number of games riding in the result of this one so it’s going to be an interesting game even if it’s something of a blowout. That being said, the way this NFL season has been going can you rule out a 49ers upset?