Disclaimer
These contests are intended to be fun as you’re watching the game. It’s incredibly difficult to get a real edge as there are so few options, and in MME contests, there are often many duplicate lineups. One play or one penalty can change the entire outcome of the game.
Game Strategy
- Over/Under: 42.5
- Spread: 49ers -4
- 49ers Implied Team Total: 23.3
- Jets Implied Team Total: 19.3
Two good teams with strong defenses will go at it in the first Monday Night game of the season. Expect both offensive game plans to feature the run as they try to go right at these defensive fronts in order to minimize defensive playmaking ability. However, both offenses have enough firepower to put points on the board, making this an intriguing Showdown Slate.
Captain Consideration
- Christian McCaffrey
- Breece Hall
- Garrett Wilson
- Brock Purdy
- Deeob Samuel
San Francisco Showdown Players
Quarterback
Brock Purdy - Captain/Flex
Brock Purdy is at home in this matchup and he was downright phenomenal last season. He ranked fifth in passing yards per game (267.5), fourth in pass touchdowns per game (1.9), and first in Expected Points Added per Play (EPA/Play) at the quarterback position last season. He also led a 49ers offense that ranked first in EPA/Play. This is a tough matchup against a strong Jets defense but if deciding on one quarterback to put into your lineup, it's Purdy and it's not close.
Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End
Christian McCaffrey - Captain/Flex
Look for Kyle Shanahan to run the rock right at this Jets defensive front with his star running back. Christian McCaffrey ranked second in opportunities per game (22.2), first in total yards per game (126.4), and tied for first in total touchdowns (21). McCaffrey is a lock in every lineup. Don't overthink it.
Brandon Aiyuk - Fade
Brandon Aiyuk missed the entire offseason during his contract dispute and will see Sauce Gardner on the outside at times. He's a fade.
Deebo Samuel Sr. - Captain/Flex
The player that benefits the most early on in the season from Brandon Aiyuk's expected slow start is Deebo Samuel. The dual-threat Samuel ranked 15th in DraftKings points per game (16.8) last season and should see an increased workload while Aiyuk continues to get back up to speed.
George Kittle - Flex
George Kittle's weekly opportunities are always tough to predict but at least we know what he's capable of when he touches the ball. Kittle is electric. He ranked third in the entire league in NextGenStats' Yards After Catch Per Reception (7.7) and fifth in the entire NFL in NextGenStats' Yards After Catch Above Expectation (+2.8).
Jordan Mason - Tournament Flex
Elijah Mitchell is on Injured Reserve, meaning Jordan Mason is the clear-cut number two running back behind Christian McCaffrey. Mason is a talented player who had a strong preseason. He projects to see the field and receive at least a few touches on Monday night, especially since Kyle Shanahan projects to call a run-heavy gameplan. Mason is on the tournament radar in large-field GPPs.
Jauan Jennings - Tournament Flex
Brandon Aiyuk is still working to get back up to speed and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall is out for at least the first four games after getting shot. This puts Jauan Jennings on the map. Last season, he played a respectable 429 snaps during the regular season and had a strong Super Bowl performance.
NY Jets Showdown Players
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers - Flex
Aaron Rodgers is 40 years old and coming off a torn Achilles. The matchup is a tough one on the road against a 49ers defense that ranked 11th in EPA/Play Allowed and sixth in Dropback EPA Allowed last season. Look for Robert Saleh and Nathaniel Hackett to lean on Breece Hall and their ground game in this one. Rodgers is a flex play but not a priority one.
Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End
Breece Hall - Captain/Flex
Coming off a torn ACL, Breece Hall still ranked 17th in opportunities per game (17.4) and 19th in total yards per game (87.2) last season. He's the engine of the offense. Look for the Jets' offensive gameplan to revolve around him on the ground and through the air on the road against a tough opponent.
Garrett Wilson - Captain/Flex
Garrett Wilson ranked tied for second in team target share last season. Aaron Rodgers is going to funnel him targets all year and on the road as four-point underdogs, it would be a surprise if Wilson didn't see double-digit targets.
Tyler Conklin - Flex
Outside of Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, the weapons in the passing game are a bit barren for the Jets. That boosts Tyler Conklin's outlook. He's a reliable pass catcher who played the majority of snaps in every game last season and totaled 772 snaps on the year.
Xavier Gipson - Flex
While your competition plays Malachi Corley, we're going to play the true starting slot receiver to begin the season in Xavier Gipson. Gipson played on a respectable 496 snaps as a rookie last season and caught 21 passes for 229 yards. Gipson's role could grow this season. Look for him to be involved ni the short and intermediate passing game in this one as the Jets emphasize getting the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hands quickly in order to keep him healthy, unlike last year's Monday Night opener.
Allen Lazard - Flex
Aaron Rodgers is back so that means we once again have to think about his favorite target: Allen Lazard. Lazard played on 685 snaps last season but was shut down at the end of the year with the Jets' season going nowhere. Mike Williams will be active, but he projects playing very little as he continues to work his way back from last year's torn ACL. That means Lazard projects to soak up the majority of Williams' snaps as the de-facto number two wide receiver in this one.
