3 matchups that will decide 49ers vs. Cardinals showdown

It’s a familiar matchup for the 49ers as they take on the Arizona Cardinals just 17 days after their win in Arizona.

It’s a familiar matchup for the 49ers as they take on the Arizona Cardinals just 17 days after their win in Arizona. The 49ers escaped Arizona on Halloween with a 28-25 victory that saw Jimmy Garoppolo carry the offense with four touchdown passes, and a defense that barely held on long enough to get the job done. The two division rivals will close out their season series Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

Here are the three matchups that could decide whether the 49ers sweep or Arizona can earn a split:

Deebo Samuel vs. Patrick Peterson

With George Kittle out and Emmanuel Sanders questionable for Sunday, Samuel could be the best receiver on the field for the 49ers. With that comes a matchup against one of the better cornerbacks in league. Samuel had the best game of his career against Seattle with eight receptions for 112 despite having a couple of drops that could have added to his numbers. If Sanders can’t go, expect Jimmy Garoppolo to target Samuel a bit but with that comes throwing at Peterson, a three-time All-Pro corner.

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6 players to watch on banged up 49ers offense vs. Cardinals

The 49ers offense needs a bounce-back game, but won’t have a couple key players.

The 49ers offense has been a ‘Jekyll and Hide’ tale the past two weeks. The offense was hitting on all cylinders two weeks ago against Arizona, putting up 28 points en route to a victory. Then the offense struggled and couldn’t get into a rhythm, leading to their first loss of the season against the Seahawks on Monday night.

The offense faces the same Arizona team it rolled over two weeks ago, and looks to bounce back with a repeat performance. Here are the six players to watch:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

The biggest question entering Sunday is which Garoppolo will show up? The one who lit Arizona up to the tune of 317 yards and four touchdowns, or the one that looked skittish in the pocket all night against Seattle? If Garoppolo looks like he did against Seattle, the 49ers could head into their key game against Green Bay with back-to-back losses.

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49ers vs. Cardinals ultimate Week 12 preview

The Arizona Cardinals will look to even the score against the 8-1 49ers as the team travels to Santa Clara this Sunday.

Halloween night was heart-breaking for many Arizona Cardinals fans. Quarterback Kyler Murray and company very nearly pulled off an epic comeback against one of the top teams in the NFL on prime-time television. It certainly would have been great for the Cardinals, though Sunday presents a chance at redemption.

The San Francisco 49ers are down many starters due to injury, while the Cardinals are coming in relatively healthy. LT Joe Staley and DT D.J. Jones have been ruled out, with many others questionable.

The biggest storyline is tight end George Kittle, who is officially listed as doubtful (even though head coach Kyle Shanahan told Arizona media he wouldn’t play earlier in the week). Another big injury is WR Emmanuel Sanders, who is in a ton of pain due to a rib injury sustained in Monday Night Football’s loss to the Seahawks. He is officially questionable.

Some other names for the 49ers on the injury front is RB Matt Breida (doubtful) and K Robbie Gould (doubtful).

The Cardinals must capitalize on San Francisco’s injury-plagued roster. They owe them one for the loss on Thursday Night Football.

Read on for our game preview:

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Fantasy football: 5 sleepers to start, 5 starters to sit in Week 11

Fantasy football starters, sleepers, sits ahead of Week 11.

It’s crunch time in fantasy football.

A little scouting and you can avoid a crucial late-season loss or do just enough to cross the finish line with a win this week. We’ve got you covered with a quick scouting report to help you out.

Here are five sleepers to start and five starters you’ve got to sit in fantasy football Week 11:

Starts

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

QB Sam Darnold

Since returning from mono, the Jets and Sam Darnold haven’t have the best go of things. But he’s fresh off a very solid game in their meeting with the Giants in Week 10. An upcoming meeting with the Redskins suggests that could continue. Washington allows the highest completion rate (72.5 percent) and seventh-highest touchdown rate (100.7) to opposing quarterbacks. Darnold also has thrown at least 30 passes in every game this year.

RB Melvin Gordon

The Chiefs are known for the offense and known for their shaky defense. That shaky level starts with their run defense, the second-worst ranked run defense in the NFL. That plus Melvin Gordon is kind of back? In his last two games, he’s combined for 188 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Good idea for the Chargers to get him the ball this week.

RB JD McKissic

Also a potential sleeper to find on the wavier wire, JD McKissic has plenty of value for the Lions this week. With Kerryon Johnson out, Ty Johnson was the No. 2 but struggled while No. 3, McKissic, did better. Now Ty Johnson is injured and form considered, McKissic is the starter against the Cowboys this week for Detroit. McKissic has more carries and features in the pass game even with Matt Stafford out. The Cowboys have struggled against opposing backs in the air in recent weeks as well.

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Can’t win them all: Studs and duds from 49ers 1st loss of 2019

Monday night was an incredible football game between two rival teams with plenty ramifications for later in the season.

Monday night was an incredible football game between two rival teams with plenty ramifications for later in the season. Unfortunately, the 49ers came up on the short end and suffered their first loss of the year at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers came in with several key injuries and had several more during the game that hindered the team, but they still had plenty of chances to keep their undefeated season alive.

There was a lot to unpack following the 27-24 overtime loss that dropped the 49ers to 8-1. Here are the studs and duds from a back-and-forth Monday night contest:

Dud: QB Jimmy Garoppolo

With all the circumstances around the game tonight, Garoppolo had a chance to put himself in the top tier of quarterbacks. Without tight end George Kittle entering the game, and losing wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders during the . contest, made things hard on the quarterback, but he could have taken the opportunity to step up and make plays. He unfortunately couldn’t do it.

There were too many mistakes from him Monday night, including several bad throws and two costly fumbles that led to two Seattle touchdowns. His 66.2 passer rating Monday night was the third-lowest number for Garoppolo as a 49er. Tonight shouldn’t call into question about Garoppolo’s viability as a starting quarterback, but it could lead to questions about his ceiling.

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8 fantasy football waiver wire claims to make ahead of Week 11

Fantasy football waiver wire claims to make ahead of Week 11.

Need a fresh face for your fantasy football roster this week?

It’s never too late for a few extra points to add to your win column.

Here are eight waiver wire claims to make in fantasy football ahead of Week 11:

Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Hill. Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

QB Nick Foles

Big man on campus, quarterback Nick Foles, in back in the fold for the Jaguars in Week 11. Foles hasn’t played since injuring his collarbone in the team’s season opener and he now might be a good add for a late-season run. He does have a tough meeting this week against the No. 9 pass defense in the Colts, but he has meetings against bottom-feeders such as the Bucs, Raiders and Falcons in the coming weeks.

Percent owned in ESPN fantasy leagues: 9.7%

RB Brian Hill

Devonta Freeman was lost by the Falcons in their Week 10 upset of the Saints. Without him, it’ll be Brian Hill as the No. 1 back. Ito Smith’s season is already over due to a neck injury as well. In relief last week, Hill had 20 carries for 61 yards with one catch. The No. 29 Panthers’ run defense awaits this week as well.

Percent owned in ESPN fantasy leagues: 1.1%

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49ers vs. Seahawks: 3 things that stood out in the 3rd quarter

The 49ers will have some work to do in the fourth quarter after Jimmy Garoppolo turned the ball over twice in the third quarter.

The 49ers will have some work to do in the fourth quarter after Jimmy Garoppolo turned the ball over twice in the third quarter. Seattle was able to capitalize on both turnovers, and turned both into touchdowns and a 21-10 lead.

Here’s what stood out in the third quarter.

Another forced fumble for the defense

After ending Seattle’s final drive of the first half with a fumble, the 49ers did it once again on Seattle’s opening drive of the second half. The Seahawks were moving the ball well against the San Francisco defense for the first time, but K’waun Williams punched the ball out of Rashaad Penny’s hands and DeForest Buckner picked it up. Seattle has started to move the ball against the 49ers defense, but the turnovers have now slowed Seattle twice.

🦈🦈🦈

K'Waun Williams forces the fumble and @DeForestBuckner recovers it 🙌 #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/xzwb7OJxfB

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2019

49ers can’t take advantage of the takeaway

The offense had a huge chance to take control of the game following the fumble recovery, but couldn’t take advantage. They got into a decent spot with a fourth-and-2 in plus territory, but Jimmy Garoppolo overthrew Deebo Samuel for a turnover on downs. The offense hasn’t done much all night, and put a lot of pressure on the defense.

Off of Bourne’s hands, into Diggs’ and Seattle leads

Turnovers have played a huge role in the game, and Jimmy Garoppolo’s second interception of the contest led to Seattle taking the lead. On first-and-10, Garoppolo threw a pass that was high, intended for Kendrick Bourne, that Bourne could have caught, but it tipped off his fingers into the hands of Quandre Diggs who returned the ball to the 49ers 16-yard-line. The play proved costly as Seattle took the turnover and turned it into points with a touchdown to take their first lead.