The 49ers held the Browns to 180 yards and three points on Monday and will face the Rams in Week 6.

Analysis: Cleveland was coming off its best offensive performance of the season, but the San Francisco defense responded by allowing a mere nine first downs and forcing four turnovers and four sacks. Through four games the 49ers rank top-four in total defense (257.5 YPG) and scoring defense (14.2 PPG), but the Rams' offense will provide a significantly more difficult test Sunday. Los Angeles is averaging 29.2 PPG, but QB Jared Goff has struggled with ball security as the team is tied for the league lead…read more

The 49ers are giving up 18 PPG and 283.3 YPG entering Monday's game against the Browns.

Analysis: San Francisco has held the Buccaneers, Bengals and Steelers to 20 points or fewer to begin the season, while also generating seven takeaways and nine sacks despite playing only three games. Meanwhile, the Browns busted out for 530 yards and 40 points last week after scuffling to start the year. The 49ers have looked significantly improved after putting out a bottom-of-the-barrel defense in 2018, but if the Browns have found their groove offensively it makes this a much more difficult matchup.

Dee Ford is dealing with a knee injury that may jeopardize his status for Sunday's matchup with Pittsburgh.

Analysis: The 49ers may be alright without Ford this week, as they face a Steelers offense that has logged 569 yards and 29 points through two games this season, good for fifth- and fourth-least in the league, respectively. To top it all off, Pittsburgh will need to rely on second-year-pro Mason Rudolph under center after Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury, and running back James Conner could be limited by a knee injury if he plays Sunday. San Francisco has been phenomenal against…read more

The 49ers had two defensive touchdowns in Week 1 and will play the Bengals on Sunday.

Analysis: San Francisco managed only seven takeaways in the entirety of 2018, but they had three takeaways against the Buccaneers, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Cincinnati put up nearly 400 yards on Seattle but lost three fumbles, so the turnover potential is certainly there in Week 2. The 49ers took a step forward defensively against a Buccaneers offense that led the league in turnovers last season, and they could be a high-risk, high-reward play against the Bengals given how poor the…read more

DE Nick Bosa (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday as the 49ers will take on the Buccaneers in Week 1.

Analysis: The rookie first-round pick suffered a high ankle sprain about a month ago and could end up not missing regular season action. The 49ers were 28th in scoring defense (27.2 PPG) and dead last in takeaways (seven) last season, so the offseason additions of DE Dee Ford and LB Kwon Alexander may not be enough to turn the defense into a productive fantasy unit. Tampa Bay finished third in total offense (415.5 YPG) but also led the league with 35 giveaways in 2018, though QB Jameis Winston turned…read more

DE Nick Bosa (ankle) still has a chance to play Week 1 against the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Bosa suffered the ankle sprain in training camp and was quickly ruled out for the preseason. The addition of DE Dee Ford has the 49ers primed for an improved pass rush once Bosa is healthy. San Francisco ranked 13th in total defense (346.6 YPG), 28th in scoring defense (27.2 PPG) and dead last with only seven takeaways last season. LB Kwon Alexander signed a $54 million deal and will play a major role in the middle as the 49ers look to make a major turnaround in 2019 defensively. CB Richard…read more

The 49ers have allowed 31 passing touchdowns this season, ranking 28th in the league. They play the Rams in Week 17.

Analysis: The 49ers defense has showed up lately, averaging 17 points against in the last three games. The Rams need a win to secure a bye week, however, so they'll get no breaks with rested players. Still, RB Todd Gurley is battling a knee injury and the team won't want to take any chances, but backup C.J. Anderson was more than serviceable with 167 rushing yards versus the Cardinals in Week 16. That's not to mention that the 49ers were lit up for 39 points by the Rams in Week 7 without forcing a…read more

The 49ers haven't forced a turnover in the last six games. They play the Bears in Week 16.

Analysis: Although the Bears are turnover prone with 11 in the last five games, the 49ers look hopeless to take the ball away. Their only chance at fantasy relevance would be keeping the Bears off the board, but even that seems unrealistic given that Chicago has surpassed 23 points in 10 of the last 11 games. The 49ers aren't well-equipped to stymie that trend since they've allowed over 100 rushing yards in four straight contests while the Bears rank second in the league with 119.7 rushing yards per…read more

The 49ers rank 12th in the league by allowing 107.8 rushing yards per game. They play the Seahawks in Week 15.

Analysis: The Seahawks run the ball more than any team in the league, so the 49ers look well-equipped to handle their strongest attack. However, QB Russell Wilson can heave the ball to a variety of targets like he did when he racked up four touchdowns just two weeks back. The Seahawks don't provide much on the turnover front with just one in the last three weeks, but the 49ers haven't been capable of consistent takeaways at any point this season. Hanging your fantasy season on the 49ers D/ST would be a…read more

The 49ers haven't forced a turnover in four weeks. They play the Broncos in Week 14.

Analysis: The Broncos don't provide much hope for the Niners to shift their turnover woes, as they've only coughed it up once in the last three weeks. The 49ers have allowed at least 27 points in each of the last three weeks, and the Seahawks torched them for 168 yards on the ground in Week 13. Expect rookie RB Philip Lindsay to be ready for this outing and continue to expose defenses with his shifty speed. Although the Broncos still aren't a high-powered offense, they're smart with the ball and leave…read more

The 49ers have allowed 24 or more points in nine of 11 games this year. They play the Seahawks in Week 13.

Analysis: The 49ers are in the cellar of fantasy defenses with a league-low five turnovers while allowing the sixth-most points per game (26.6). The Seahawks enter the matchup on a roll with at least 27 points in six of their last seven games and haven't coughed up the ball more than once in a game during that span. QB Russell Wilson has a career 10-2 record against the 49ers and is on pace this year for 36 touchdown passes, so he's set up well to exploit the weaknesses that are so common in the 49ers'…read more

The 49ers have forced a league-low five turnovers this season. They play the Buccaneers in Week 12.

Analysis: The Buccaneers have turned the ball over a league-high 29 times, and now they have switched from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick back to QB Jameis Winston yet again. Both offer plenty of upside to opposing defenses. Winston has turned the ball over 12 times in five games and two of those outings weren't even starts. Nevertheless, the Bucs are one of the highest-powered offenses, averaging a league-high 458.5 yards per game and 26.7 points (eighth in the league). That makes it tough to measure the Bucs'…read more