The San Francisco 49ers welcome the Arizona Cardinals to town on Sunday looking to further lock in their division lead and solidify their chances for a first round bye. The Cardinals bring a struggling defense that has been abysmal against the run and pretty bad against the pass. It could open the door for some significant opportunities on the fantasy football front.
The big news for the 49ers has once again been the health of running back Frank Gore. He missed most of the second half last Sunday against the New York Giants and Kendall Hunter came on with a very solid effort. Gore missed Wednesday's practice but was back Thursday and expects to be starting on Sunday. If you are short a running back, Kendall Hunter is actually not the worst start in the world on Sunday. He isn't great, but not that bad.
The most interesting player this week is Alex Smith. He faces a Cardinals pass defense that has struggled for much of the season. They have shown some potential, but this provides Smith with a solid opportunity. Aside from Matt Schaub going down with an injury, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees are both on bye this week. If you have not found a decent backup, might I recommend Alex Smith?
Must Starts: Frank Gore (if active), Vernon Davis, 49ers D/ST, David Akers
Situational Starts: Michael Crabtree, Delanie Walker