NFL Player News
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Brian Robinson Jr. RB | SF
49ers' Brian Robinson: Solid backup effort Monday
Robinson rushed seven times for 40 yards while catching one of two targets for four yards in Monday's 20-9 win over Carolina.
Robinson provided a nice change of pace to starter Christian McCaffrey's 24-89-1 rushing line as the duo helped contribute to a dominant 147-yard effort on the ground against the Panthers. The 26-year-old Robinson has been experiencing greater success in recent weeks, averaging 39.5 rushing yards over his last four contests with both of his touchdowns coming over that span. The bruising runner has yet to reach double-digit carries in any game this season while topping 50 yards just once, so his fantasy value remains tied to deeper formats. Expect Robinson to receive his allotted handful of carries behind CMC when the 49ers face the Browns on Sunday.
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Ricky Pearsall WR | SF
49ers' Ricky Pearsall: Held to eight yards Monday
Pearsall finished with two receptions (on four targets) for six yards while taking one carry for two yards in Monday's 20-9 win over the Panthers.
Pearsall was held to single-digit yardage for the second consecutive appearance since returning from a six-game absence as the result of a knee injury. At least the 2024 first-round selection got more involved than he was in last week's one-catch, zero-yard outing, garnering three combined touches in the primetime win. It is worth noting that QB Brock Purdy was targeting Pearsall on two of his three interceptions Monday, with one of the passes attempting to connect in the end zone. It is hard to feel confident about the 24-year-old wideout following a pair of duds, but it would be shortsighted for fantasy managers to cut ties at this point. Pearsall possesses elite skills and remains a starter for a high-scoring offense, so better days are surely on the horizon.
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Jauan Jennings WR | SF
49ers' Jauan Jennings: Finds end zone Monday
Jennings recorded five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in Monday's 20-9 win over Carolina.
Jennings kicked the scoring off Monday with a 12-yard touchdown grab on the opening possession. The 27-year-old has now made four trips to the end zone this season, with three of those coming over San Francisco's last four contests. Jennings is beginning to hit his stride after attempting to play through broken ribs in the early portion of the schedule. The physical wideout is averaging 4.6 receptions and 50.4 yards over his last five appearances.
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Cade Otton TE | TB
Buccaneers' Cade Otton: Team-high catch total in loss
Otton brought in four of seven targets for 21 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-7 loss to the Rams on Sunday night.
Otton led the Buccaneers in receptions while tying for second in receiving yards for the Buccaneers on the night. Otton logged his usual hefty snap share -- 86 percent (60 snaps) -- but with Baker Mayfield exiting the game early due to a shoulder injury and Teddy Bridgewater similarly struggling to get much going through the air, the tight end's yardage total was his lowest since Week 4. Given Otton's usual shorter-area role, the tight end shouldn't see much of a downgrade in outlook if Bridgewater is forced to make a spot start Week 13 against the Cardinals.
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George Kittle TE | SF
49ers' George Kittle: Leading receiver on MNF
Kittle finished with six receptions (on 10 targets) for 78 yards in Monday's 20-9 victory over the Panthers.
Kittle finished Monday's primetime tilt as the game's leading receiver off a season-high 10 targets. The 31-year-old has really found his groove since going catchless in his return from a hamstring injury Week 7, providing fantasy managers with a 29-304-4 receiving line over his last five starts. Kittle may be asked to utilize his elite blocking skills more than usual Week 13 in order to help the offensive line deal with the unstoppable force that is DE Myles Garrett when the 49ers visit the Browns on Sunday.
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Sterling Shepard WR | TB
Buccaneers' Sterling Shepard: Three receptions in Week 12 loss
Shepard brought in three of five targets for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-7 loss to the Rams on Sunday night.
Shepard tied for second in receptions and was third in targets on the night for the Buccaneers, but he finished with his second-lowest yardage total of the campaign. The veteran logged 41 snaps (59 percent) Sunday night despite Chris Godwin's return from a fibula injury, but Shepard appears the likeliest candidate between him and rookie Tez Johnson to see his role progressively dwindle as Godwin gets back up to full strength.
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Matt Gay K | SF
49ers' Matt Gay: Makes all four kicks in 49ers debut
Gay converted both of his field-goal tries and both of his point-after attempts in Monday's 20-9 Week 12 win over Carolina.
Gay played his first game with San Francisco after being elevated from the practice squad due to Eddy Pineiro dealing with a hamstring injury. Gay did his part to contribute to the 49ers' win, knocking in field goals from 47 and 29 yards out while making both his PATs. Pineiro is considered week-to-week, so Gay could serve as San Francisco's kicker again next Sunday in Cleveland.
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Tez Johnson WR | TB
Buccaneers' Tez Johnson: Five touches, TD in big loss
Johnson brought in three of four targets for 21 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushes for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-7 loss to the Rams on Sunday night.
Johnson logged a hefty 86 percent snap share (60 snaps), just three fewer than Emeka Egbuka, but he put together a modest performance overall in a game Baker Mayfield exited early with a shoulder injury. Johnson still found his way to his fifth career touchdown grab on a 14-yard reception with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. Johnson has multiple catches in four of the last five contests, and it was encouraging to see him retain a robust role even during the return of Chris Godwin (fibula). Johnson could cede some snaps to Godwin in a Week 13 home matchup against the Cardinals as Godwin continues to ease back in, but the rookie should still slot in as no worse than the No. 3 receiver while working with either Mayfield or Teddy Bridgewater as his quarterback.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Off his mark on MNF
Purdy completed 23 of 32 pass attempts for 193 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions while rushing six times for 16 yards in Monday's 20-9 win over the Panthers.
Purdy had a first half he would like to forget after getting picked off by Carolina's secondary on three consecutive possessions. The trio of turnovers followed an impressive 15-play, 72-yard opening drive that culminated in a touchdown strike to WR Jauan Jennings. Head coach Kyle Shanahan gave his signal-caller a vote of confidence heading into halftime, telling ESPN's Lisa Salters that he felt Purdy played well outside of missing his mark on two of the three interceptions. The Iowa State product took better care of the ball in the second half, leading a couple of scoring drives to finish off the Panthers in the primetime victory. Monday's shoddy results coupled with a brutal upcoming matchup against Cleveland's defense Sunday should suppress Purdy's fantasy value Week 13.
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Xavier Legette WR | CAR
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Three catches in Week 12 loss
Legette brought in three of five targets for 22 yards in the Panthers' 20-9 loss to the 49ers on Monday night.
Legette tied with Jalen Coker for second in receptions on the Panthers for the night, although that equated to very modest yardage during what was an uninspiring performance for Bryce Young. Legette was coming off his second-highest receiving yardage total (83) of the season in Week 11 against the Falcons, so Monday night's downturn was particularly glaring. Legette next faces a talented Rams secondary in a Week 13 home matchup Sunday.