Fantasy Football Week 6: 49ers look to keep up strong performances vs. Giants

Last week, the 49ers eviscerated the Buffalo Bills and just about everyone on the team put up massive fantasy numbers, especially Alex Smith and Frank Gore. This week they'll face the Giants, who allowed Brandon Weeden to pass for almost 300 yards and two touchdowns. Let's examine which players will be the best for fantasy purposes this week.

START: Alex Smith. He is, amazingly, the top-rated passer in the league with a rating of 108.7. He is not the top ranked fantasy quarterback, but that's not what anyone was expecting of him. He is clearly a starter level fantasy player at this point. The Giants will occasionally give up huge days to quarterbacks due to the relative lack of healthy stars in their secondary, and this week is a prime candidate.

START: Frank Gore. At this point in the season we understand that Frank Gore is an RB1 and an every week must-start player. He is seventh in the league in rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns, behind only Arian Foter in that category. The Giants have a good defensive front, but Gore will not be denied no matter whom he is facing.

START: Vernon Davis. The Giants have no superstars at linebacker, and the ones they do have are pass rushers. They have nobody who can keep up with Davis on any level of their defense and I expect a big day from him.

I considered suggesting you bench the Niner defense because Eli Manning and Ahmad Bradshaw have been playing so well lately, but that would be foolish. The Niners played lights out against both Green Bay and Detroit this year and shut down the normally potent Bills offense. I wouldn't suggest sitting any Niners you would normally start this week.