Fantasy Football Previews - Week 15 - San Francisco 49ers @ New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers @ New England Patriots
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49ers fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
17	1 or bench	Colin Kaepernick
8	1	Frank Gore
35	Flex	LaMichael James
73	Bench	Anthony Dixon
84	Bench	Bruce Miller
--	SUSP	Brandon Jacobs
--	IR	Kendall Hunter
13	1 or 2	Michael Crabtree
64	Flex or bench	Randy Moss
121	Bench	Ted Ginn Jr.
--	DBT	Mario Manningham
--	IR	Kyle Williams
14	1	Vernon Davis
28	Bench	Delanie Walker

Patriots fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
3	1	Tom Brady
22	2	Stevan Ridley
53	Bench	Danny Woodhead
54	Bench	Shane Vereen
78	Bench	Brandon Bolden
7	QUE	Wes Welker
49	QUE	Brandon Lloyd
95	Bench	Deion Branch
--	IR	Donte Stallworth
--	IR	Julian Edelman
4	QUE	Aaron Hernandez
50	Bench	Daniel Fells
--	QUE	Rob Gronkowski

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49ers latest news and notes

49ers | Two to compete for top OLB backup job

San Francisco 49ers LBs Parys Haralson and Corey Lemonier are expected to compete to be the primary backup at outside linebacker. Haralson is better suited for the base 3-4 defensive alignment while Lemonier likely will be used in pass-rush situations.

49ers | Cornellius Carradine expected to be ready for camp

San Francisco 49ers DE Cornellius Carradine (knee) is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. He is still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered his last year in college.

49ers | Would like to use rotation at DL

The San Francisco 49ers would like to rotate players along the defensive line this season to make sure DEs Justin Smith and Ray McDonald do not wear down during games.

49ers | Colt McCoy favorite for No. 2 QB job

San Francisco 49ers QB Colt McCoy is the clear favorite to win the No. 2 quarterback job during training camp.

49ers | A.J. Jenkins looks to have bulked up

San Francisco 49ers WR A.J. Jenkins has worked hard in the weight room this offseason and appears to have added more muscle than last season. Jenkins is expected to be one of the candidates for the No. 3 wide receiver job this season.

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Patriots latest news and notes

Patriots | Rob Gronkowski's back injury new

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski's (back) problem with a disc in his back is not related to the disc problem he had while in college in 2009. Gronkowski underwent a procedure to fix his back problem in college. It is not known when Gronkowski suffered his current injury.

Patriots | Tommy Kelly expected to have a big role

New England Patriots DT Tommy Kelly is expected to receive a big role on defense this season. Kelly could play defensive tackle when the team uses a 4-3 defensive alignment and a defensive end in a 3-4 defensive alignment.

Patriots | Rob Gronkowski's back won't keep him out

Updating an ongoing story, New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski's (back, forearm) "chronic" back problem, even if it does require surgery, won't keep him from participating in training camp, unless his forearm needs several more surgeries. Gronkowski's disc problem is different from the disc problem he dealt with in 2009, when he had the disc shaved down. However, his new disc problem dates back to last season. The star tight end was surrounded by rumors in 2010 that he dealt with spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of the spinal column that can lead to degenerative discs and joint pain. However, those rumors were quickly dismissed.

Patriots | Rob Gronkowski probably will need surgery

Updating previous reports, New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (back, forearm) probably will need to undergo back surgery but is waiting for a second option at this point. His back surgery likely would occur three to four weeks after his upcoming forearm surgery. His back surgery would be delayed if Gronkowski needs two surgeries on his forearm.

Patriots | Logan Ryan contract details

Updating a previous report, New England Patriots CB Logan Ryan's deal is scheduled to pay $2.77 million, including a $563,252 bonus.

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49ers - Week 15 injury report

PROBABLE	CB Chris Culliver (knee), LB Aldon Smith (shoulder), LB Tavares Gooden (ribs), CB Carlos Rogers (knee), CB Tarell Brown (shoulder), PK David Akers (pelvis), DL Will Tukuafu (wrist), FB Bruce Miller (shoulder), RB Frank Gore (wrist), LB Patrick Willis (shoulder), LB NaVorro Bowman (shoulder)
DOUBTFUL	WR Mario Manningham (shoulder)
PUP	LB Darius Fleming (knee)
INJURED RESERVE	RB Kendall Hunter (Achilles'), WR Kyle Williams (ACL), LB Parys Haralson (arm)

Patriots - Week 15 injury report

PROBABLE	LB Jerod Mayo (elbow)
QUESTIONABLE	OG Logan Mankins (ankle/calf), OT Sebastian Vollmer (back/knee), LB Brandon Spikes (knee/ankle), OT Nate Solder (abdomen), CB Kyle Arrington (knee), CB Alfonzo Dennard (hamstring), WR Brandon Lloyd (knee), CB Aqib Talib (hip), LB Tracy White (elbow), DL Chandler Jones (ankle), DL Ron Brace (elbow), OG Nick McDonald (shoulder), SS Patrick Chung (shoulder/hamstring), WR Wes Welker (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm/hip), DL Kyle Love (non-injury), TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle), LB Dont'a Hightower (hamstring), OG Dan Connolly (back)
PUP	TE Jake Ballard (knee), DL Myron Pryor (undisclosed)
INJURED RESERVE	WR Donte' Stallworth (ankle), LB Dane Fletcher (knee), WR Julian Edelman (foot), FS Josh Barrett (undisclosed), CB Ras-I Dowling (quadriceps), TE Brad Herman (leg), FB Spencer Larsen (undisclosed), CB Will D. Allen (undisclosed), OG Jamey Richard (concussion), RB Jeff Demps (leg)

49ers fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Kaepernick, Colin	QB	281.00	2612	14	88	679	8	0	0	0
Gore, Frank	RB	226.00	0	0	289	1406	11	27	260	1
Crabtree, Michael	WR	203.00	0	0	1	8	0	105	1390	12
Smith, Alex	QB	135.00	1737	13	31	132	0	0	0	0
Davis, Vernon	TE	109.00	0	0	0	0	0	53	802	6
Moss, Randy	WR	65.00	0	0	0	0	0	35	546	3
Walker, Delanie	TE	54.00	0	0	0	0	0	26	429	3
Manningham, Mario	WR	49.00	0	0	3	64	0	42	449	1
Hunter, Kendall	RB	48.00	0	0	72	371	2	9	60	0
James, LaMichael	RB	25.00	0	0	38	190	1	5	40	0
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Patriots fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Brady, Tom	QB	423.00	5491	38	26	36	4	0	0	0
Ridley, Stevan	RB	217.00	0	0	323	1415	13	7	64	0
Welker, Wes	WR	195.00	0	0	2	20	0	134	1602	7
Gronkowski, Rob	TE	141.00	0	0	0	0	0	55	790	11
Lloyd, Brandon	WR	124.00	0	0	0	0	0	86	1013	5
Woodhead, Danny	RB	104.00	0	0	80	312	4	41	458	3
Vereen, Shane	RB	92.00	0	0	73	308	4	15	254	3
Hernandez, Aaron	TE	90.00	0	0	2	11	0	66	651	5
Edelman, Julian	WR	41.00	0	0	4	45	0	21	235	3
Bolden, Brandon	RB	37.00	0	0	56	274	2	2	11	0
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49ers depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Colin Kaepernick	Frank Gore	Bruce Miller	Michael Crabtree	Anquan Boldin	Vernon Davis	Phil Dawson
Colt McCoy	Kendall Hunter	Will Tukuafu	A.J. Jenkins	Mario Manningham	Vance McDonald
Scott Tolzien	LaMichael James	MarQueis Gray	Quinton Patton	Kyle Williams	Demarcus Dobbs
B.J. Daniels	Anthony Dixon		Chad Hall	Ricardo Lockette

Patriots depth chart

WR (Left)

WR (Right)