[h=1]Should fantasy players like Kaepernick?[/h]Eric Karabell
ESPN Senior Writer
ESPN INSIDER
There certainly was a time when a combination of Colin Kaepernick at quarterback and Chip Kelly at coach would have made fantasy owners salivate at the possibilities. That was probably two years ago, perhaps three, when Kaepernick looked like a fantasy star for the San Francisco 49ers and Kelly was the well-regarded, offensive-minded “genius” leading the Philadelphia Eagles to supposedly great things.
But that time sure has seemed to pass, and now the desperate 49ers are going back to Kaepernick at quarterback. While they can’t be faulted, I can’t see how fantasy owners should get excited about this.
Kaepernick, 28, has kept himself in the spotlight for the past six weeks or so, and not because people were anxiously awaiting his return to starting duties. Is he better thanBlaine Gabbert? Well, he wasn’t last season. Not that Gabbert is the future himself, but Kaepernick, fantasy owners probably recall, was pretty bad. One could view that as ancient history, in theory, since it’s a new coach with a new system that should favor players of his skill set, and I won’t completely rule out the possibility of fantasy relevance for deeper formats. Kaepernick makes things happen with his legs and that can’t be ignored.
However, he is neither an accurate quarterback nor one who has been able to read and adapt to defenses. Ever. Oh yes, he can throw the ball from one end of the football field to the other -- well, he used to, before the shoulder problems -- and he can do terrific things when he runs. But for all his physical gifts, Kaepernick hasn’t been a good football player for a while. If the 49ers thought he was, they wouldn’t have waited until Week 6 to start him. He is unlikely to be a relevant fantasy option anytime soon, even in Kelly’s offense, and frankly, I’m not sure that Kelly’s offense really means anything anymore except that it runs more plays than every other team and tires out its own linemen.
The 49ers have lost four consecutive contests not because of anything Gabbert was doing wrong. They lost to better teams: the Panthers (well, that’s their lone win), Seahawks, Cowboys and Cardinals. Gabbert is tied for 17th in fantasy points among quarterbacks with Eagles rookie Carson Wentz, whom everyone loves, and each has outscored Blake Bortles and Eli Manning. Gabbert, in a possible preview to Kaepernick, even rushed 10 times for 70 yards and a touchdown in the latest loss. I think part of the reason Gabbert wasn’t playing great was because he’s clearly not great, but the 49ers also lack weapons.
Sure, running back Carlos Hyde is a reasonable RB2 and has played well, but veteran wide receiver Torrey Smith is invisible, and one can only wonder where the passing game would be sans August acquisitionJeremy Kerley, a fun slot guy who was doing nicely with Gabbert. Kaepernick is less accurate and more prone to mistakes, and it should be an adventure with him in the zone-read offense. When he was good, he had better receiving weapons, for sure, plus a standout defense, and according to his own coach he was in better condition as well. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis are gone, so now we’ve got a quarterback in a new offense being asked to make quick decisions -- that’s not his strength! -- and there’s a leaky offensive line and underwhelming weapons. I don't alter Hyde's ranking with the change at QB, and by the way, no other 49ers were worth ranking, except Kerley in PPR formats. That doesn't change, either.
The quarterback position is fantasy’s deepest, with so many reasonable options sitting on most waiver wires that fantasy owners can’t help but find bye week fill-ins with little trouble. Could Kaepernick be one of those fellows, like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Dak Prescott -- all younger, and better -- plus veteran pocket passers like Joe Flacco, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Hoyer? One should never say never, and the 49ers do boast looming home games against the poor defenses of the Buccaneers and Saints, but it’s tough to view Kaepernick’s reinsertion in the starting lineup as attractive for fantasy. As for this week, a road tilt at Buffalo, I can’t fathom ranking him among my top 20 quarterbacks. The 49ers are desperate. Fantasy players aren’t.
ESPN Senior Writer
ESPN INSIDER
There certainly was a time when a combination of Colin Kaepernick at quarterback and Chip Kelly at coach would have made fantasy owners salivate at the possibilities. That was probably two years ago, perhaps three, when Kaepernick looked like a fantasy star for the San Francisco 49ers and Kelly was the well-regarded, offensive-minded “genius” leading the Philadelphia Eagles to supposedly great things.
But that time sure has seemed to pass, and now the desperate 49ers are going back to Kaepernick at quarterback. While they can’t be faulted, I can’t see how fantasy owners should get excited about this.
Kaepernick, 28, has kept himself in the spotlight for the past six weeks or so, and not because people were anxiously awaiting his return to starting duties. Is he better thanBlaine Gabbert? Well, he wasn’t last season. Not that Gabbert is the future himself, but Kaepernick, fantasy owners probably recall, was pretty bad. One could view that as ancient history, in theory, since it’s a new coach with a new system that should favor players of his skill set, and I won’t completely rule out the possibility of fantasy relevance for deeper formats. Kaepernick makes things happen with his legs and that can’t be ignored.
However, he is neither an accurate quarterback nor one who has been able to read and adapt to defenses. Ever. Oh yes, he can throw the ball from one end of the football field to the other -- well, he used to, before the shoulder problems -- and he can do terrific things when he runs. But for all his physical gifts, Kaepernick hasn’t been a good football player for a while. If the 49ers thought he was, they wouldn’t have waited until Week 6 to start him. He is unlikely to be a relevant fantasy option anytime soon, even in Kelly’s offense, and frankly, I’m not sure that Kelly’s offense really means anything anymore except that it runs more plays than every other team and tires out its own linemen.
The 49ers have lost four consecutive contests not because of anything Gabbert was doing wrong. They lost to better teams: the Panthers (well, that’s their lone win), Seahawks, Cowboys and Cardinals. Gabbert is tied for 17th in fantasy points among quarterbacks with Eagles rookie Carson Wentz, whom everyone loves, and each has outscored Blake Bortles and Eli Manning. Gabbert, in a possible preview to Kaepernick, even rushed 10 times for 70 yards and a touchdown in the latest loss. I think part of the reason Gabbert wasn’t playing great was because he’s clearly not great, but the 49ers also lack weapons.
Sure, running back Carlos Hyde is a reasonable RB2 and has played well, but veteran wide receiver Torrey Smith is invisible, and one can only wonder where the passing game would be sans August acquisitionJeremy Kerley, a fun slot guy who was doing nicely with Gabbert. Kaepernick is less accurate and more prone to mistakes, and it should be an adventure with him in the zone-read offense. When he was good, he had better receiving weapons, for sure, plus a standout defense, and according to his own coach he was in better condition as well. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis are gone, so now we’ve got a quarterback in a new offense being asked to make quick decisions -- that’s not his strength! -- and there’s a leaky offensive line and underwhelming weapons. I don't alter Hyde's ranking with the change at QB, and by the way, no other 49ers were worth ranking, except Kerley in PPR formats. That doesn't change, either.
The quarterback position is fantasy’s deepest, with so many reasonable options sitting on most waiver wires that fantasy owners can’t help but find bye week fill-ins with little trouble. Could Kaepernick be one of those fellows, like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Dak Prescott -- all younger, and better -- plus veteran pocket passers like Joe Flacco, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Hoyer? One should never say never, and the 49ers do boast looming home games against the poor defenses of the Buccaneers and Saints, but it’s tough to view Kaepernick’s reinsertion in the starting lineup as attractive for fantasy. As for this week, a road tilt at Buffalo, I can’t fathom ranking him among my top 20 quarterbacks. The 49ers are desperate. Fantasy players aren’t.
