Sunday Night Football Fantasy Versus: 49ers vs. Patriots 

If you’re struggling with some decisions on who to start in the Sunday Night Football game tonight, you’ve come to the right place. The San Francisco 49ers will travel East to take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in what could be a Super Bowl preview. You know you’re starting your studs, Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and Frank Gore, but if you have a choice to start Michael Crabtree or Brandon Lloyd, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s breakdown the most important match-ups for tonight’s game in our Sunday Night Football Fantasy Versus Decision Maker for Week 15:

Quarterbacks

Colin Kaepernick (49ers) vs. Tom Brady (Patriots)

If you’re lucky enough to have both of these quarterbacks on your roster, first off congratulations, second off there’s no reason to ever sit Tom Brady.

Brady is the second highest scoring fantasy quarterback this season, and with RG III out today, he’ll move into first place after today.

Kaepernick has been the model of consistency over his first four starts of his career. He’s not putting up huge numbers, however tonight against a secondary that is giving up the 9th most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, he should eclipse his season high of 19 fantasy points.

I like Kaepernick in this match-up, but Brady is the guy tonight.

Running Backs

Frank Gore (49ers) vs. Stevan Ridley (Patriots)

Gore hasn’t had a 100 yard rushing game since week 7 against the vaunted Seattle defense, that could change this evening though. New England is giving up the 4th most fantasy points to running backs over the past five weeks, including four 100 yard games in the span of six weeks. I think Frank Gore eclipses the century mark and gets into the endzone.

Having scored a touchdown in six straight weeks, it might be hard to imagine you’d be sitting Ridley at any point moving forward. However San Francisco’s defenses has only allowed 2 rushing touchdowns all season, while giving up the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.

Gore over Ridley and I don’t think it’s close.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Lloyd (Patriots) vs. Michael Crabtree (49ers)

Wes Welker over both of these receivers obviously.

Eighty nine yards and a touchdown last week for Lloyd sure looks good, but going up against the stingy 49ers secondary is a cause for concern. If any Patriots receiver is going to have a big game, I think it’s Welker and not Lloyd.

Eighteen receptions with 194 yards in his last two games, Crabtree has begun to gain a nice rapport with the rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick. New England can be thrown on, so look for Crabtree to continue his recent surge in the 49ers offense.

I’ll take Crabtree over Lloyd.

Tight Ends

Vernon Davis (49ers) vs. Aaron Hernandez (Patriots)

Rob Gronkowski (arm) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, but it’s not likely he will play. Even if he does, it’d be hard to trust him.

Three catches, 19 yards, and one fantasy points. Those are the last three games for Vernon Davis.

Give me Hernandez all day over Davis.

Kickers

David Akers (49ers) vs. Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots)

Rain and snow in the forecast for tonight’s game, so it’s going to be hard to make a case for either kicker in this game.

Gostkowski over Akers because he’s actually used to this weather.

Team Defenses

San Francisco 49ers D/ST vs. New England Patriots D/ST

Even with New England’s high powered offense, there’s no way you’re sitting the San Francisco defense this week, they are match-up proof.

49ers over Patriots.