Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers: Fantasy Football Start/Sit

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Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brian Quick (83) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (95) and cornerback Brian Poole (34) during a NFL football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Start the Atlanta Defense

The Falcons’ defense put up 26 points in Yahoo! Sports standard scoring leagues last week. Consider this game came on the road, against a dysfunctional Los Angeles Rams offense. Now imagine what happens when the same defense takes on a weaker opponent at home on Sunday.

…the Birds’ secondary completely over-matches the 49ers receiving corps.

The 49ers boast the 29th ranked offense in the NFL and have shown no improvement week to week. Colin Kaepernick threw for 133 yards against the Jets in Week 14. The week prior, Blaine Gabbert was San Francisco’s leading passer with 35 yards against the Chicago Bears. Pass defense has been the area of concern for Atlanta’s defense all season. This week though, the Birds’ secondary completely over-matches the 49ers receiving corps.

The little bit of threat San Francisco offers is on the ground, where Carlos Hyde comes off a 193-yard day in Week 14. Kaepernick is also a constant threat to make big plays with his legs in open space. But if the Falcons’ defense does anything consistently well, it’s stuff the run. Atlanta ranks 14th in the NFL against the run, averaging a little over 100 yards per game.

Better yet, take a look at what the Falcons have given up to opposing team’s top rushers in recent weeks:

Todd Gurley: 61 yds
Spencer Ware: 55 yds
David Johnson: 58 yds

All this and no mention of Vic Beasley. At 13.5 sacks for the year, there’s no signs of Beasley slowing down against a putrid San Francisco protection scheme.

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