After a Thursday Night game to remember thanks to Baker Mayfield, we have renewed interest in the NFL’s mid-week offering. The Week 15 Thursday Night contest pits divisional rivals San Francisco and Seattle against each other in a game that could have important ramifications for the NFC playoff picture. While that’s all well and good, we’re more interested in the ramifications for the fantasy playoff picture. In the vast majority of leagues, you’re either in Week 1 of playoff season, or the final week of the regular season. Either way, you need wins, which means you need points. This figures to be a tricky matchup in which to find those points, but we’ve got you covered.

Note: All point totals and rankings are PPR unless otherwise noted. Odds and betting information are courtesy Quarter4.

Week 15 Thursday Night Preview: 49ers’ Offense

It’s rare that a team can lose its starting quarterback and remain a playoff contender. Even rarer for a team to lose their top two quarterbacks and remain competitive. But the 49ers are trying to one-up even that. San Francisco lost Trey Lance for the year in the season’s second game. Then, they lost his backup Jimmy Garoppolo two weeks ago to a broken bone in his foot, most likely for the year. But in the almost two full games without them, backup-to-the-backup (and this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant”) Brock Purdy has performed like a seasoned vet. Purdy has thrown for 395 yards and four scores against just one interception in that timeframe. Oh, yeah- he’s also rushed for a touchdown. Suddenly, “Mr. Irrelevant” is anything but.

The 49ers have beaten the then-AFC East-leading Dolphins and the NFC South-leading Buccaneers in those two games with Purdy at the helm. They’ve put up 30+ points in each. San Francisco has now won six straight and overtaken the Seahawks for the NFC West lead. Purdy’s performance hasn’t just been good for the ‘Niners in the standings. He’s managed to keep their myriad fantasy weapons relevant as well. Christian McCaffrey is still McCaffreying all over the place, with 185 rushing yards, 114 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in the two games. Both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel have scored in that span.

49ers’ Offense Big Question

Alas, Purdy suffered an oblique injury in Sunday’s game, threatening to push the 49ers to DefCon-4 in their quarterback room. No one wants to find San Francisco in “in case of emergency, break glass for Josh Johnson” mode. Least of all, fantasy managers of the 49ers’ pass catchers (which is essentially everyone on offense not playing guard or center in San Fran.) Purdy is questionable, and the team has said it may not know his game status until right before the game. Hopefully, you’re not relying on a third-string, seventh round draft pick at quarterback in the first round of the fantasy playoffs anyway. But who ends up playing quarterback will go a long way toward determining the value of the rest of the 49ers’ offensive weapons.

It’s even more important in light of the injury to Deebo Samuel. While the team is optimistic they’ll have him back before the end of the regular season, he’s out Thursday for sure. No one else can do what Samuel can for the 49ers’ offense.

Wait…

Scratch that. McCaffrey can do almost exactly what Samuel does for the offense. It’s the beauty of having them both. If Purdy plays, I don’t see the ‘Niners missing a beat. CMC is obviously a high-end RB1 play. George Kittle is a TE1. Aiyuk is a WR2. Jauan Jennings is a deeper FLEX possibility in Samuel’s absence. Jordan Mason may even come into play after a nice performance in Week 14, but I don’t recommend him fantasy-wise just yet. Downgrade all but McCaffrey if Johnson is under center.

Week 15 Thursday Night Preview: Seahawks’ Offense

Geno Smith and the Seahawks just keep moving forward. Despite losing three of their last four, Seattle still finds themselves with a 55 percent chance of making the playoffs. Beating the 49ers in the Week 15 Thursday Night game would improve those chances, and move them only a game behind San Francisco for the divisional lead. They have everything to play for, and with Kenneth Walker expected to play after missing time with an ankle injury, they should be at full strength. And they’ll need it.

Seahawks’ Offense Big Question

While Seattle’s defense is generally a good matchup for opposing fantasy players, the 49ers are on the opposite end of that spectrum. The 49ers are in the bottom five of points allowed to opposing fantasy players at quarterback, running back, tight end, and kicker. They’re the absolute best fantasy DST against running backs and kickers. It’s a tough matchup even if Walker plays. So, is there anyone on the Seahawks you want to play against the super San Fran DST?

For starters, Geno Smith is still a low-end QB1, even with the tough matchup. He’s played well enough to earn our trust, so stop being stubborn. He’s got multiple touchdowns in seven straight. Give the man his respect. Walker is a shaky RB2 coming off the injury against fantasy’s toughest running back matchup. And as much as I’m sure Noah Fant and Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson are good people and their mothers love them, I don’t love them. For fantasy purposes. Fantasy football.

The best matchup against the 49ers is at wide receiver, where they’re giving up the 11th-most points in fantasy. That bodes well for Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, both of whom are startable in any week. I like Lockett, who’s been on an absolute tear, as a possible WR1 play, with Metcalf not far behind.

Betting Lines (Courtesy of Quarter4):

Favorite: 49ers (-1)

Over/Under: 41

Notable Props: D.K. Metcalf receiving yards (83.9); Tyler Lockett receptions (5.6); Christian McCaffrey receptions (4.9); McCaffrey rushing touchdowns (0.7)

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