49ers vs. Seahawks Picks, Lineup Tips for Daily Fantasy FanDuel, DraftKings
The NFC West division champion could be crowned Thursday night. And considering how well the San Francisco 49ers have been playing, there's a decent chance it will happen.
The 49ers have won six consecutive games to improve to 9-4, and they can clinch their first NFC West title since 2019 with a road victory over the Seattle Seahawks to open Week 15.
Seattle (7-6) needs a win to stay alive in the race, as it already lost to San Francisco once this season (a 27-7 defeat in Week 2).
It's also the first week of the fantasy football playoffs in most leagues, so managers will hope to get off to a good start with any 49ers and/or Seahawks players in their lineup. But if your season is already over, now could be a great time to head over to DraftKings or FanDuel and submit a daily fantasy lineup for Thursday night's contest.
Here's some DFS advice for the San Francisco-Seattle matchup that could get you started on the right track.
McCaffrey Is Must-Play RB Worthy of Captain/MVP Consideration
It should come as no surprise that Christian McCaffrey has the highest DFS price of any player in Thursday's game ($17,100 on DraftKings; $17,500 on FanDuel).
In order to have a chance to earn winnings, though, you'll need the 49ers running back in your lineup. And it may even be wise to make him your captain/MVP pick.
The 26-year-old is having a tremendous season and has provided a huge boost to San Francisco's backfield since arriving in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. He's also no longer having to share much of the workload, with Elijah Mitchell out due to a knee injury.
Last week, McCaffrey had 153 total yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And with San Francisco having to start third-string quarterback Brock Purdy the rest of the way, it will likely continue to lean heavily on the Stanford product.
The 49ers are also going to be without star wide receiver Deebo Samuel (knee and ankle injuries) on Thursday. So, this seems like it will be a game in which McCaffrey is going to get a ton of touches out of necessity, and he should translate those into big numbers.
Goodwin Is Strong Value Play to Consider
Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf may be the Seahawks' top two receivers, but Marquise Goodwin has served a key role in their offense as well. He has scored four touchdowns over his past six games and is getting his fair share of targets.
Last week, the 32-year-old set season highs in catches (five), targets (six) and receiving yards (95) while also getting into the end zone again in Seattle's loss to the Carolina Panthers. That type of production makes him a potential high-value DFS play on Thursday because of his affordable price ($9,600 on DraftKings; $8,000 on FanDuel).
It's going to be difficult for the Seahawks to move the ball on the ground against the 49ers, which are allowing an NFL-low 75.1 rushing yards per game. So, Seattle should rely on its passing attack, especially if it starts to fall behind at any point in the night.
Lockett and Metcalf are likely stronger starts if you have room for them in your budget. But Goodwin has the potential to have a solid showing at a lower price, making him an intriguing option for one of your WR slots in DFS.
McCloud Has Sleeper Potential in Samuel's Absence
McCaffrey won't get the ball on every San Francisco offensive play. Somebody from the 49ers' receiving corps will need to step up with Samuel out, and there's a chance it could end up being Ray-Ray McCloud.
Last week, the 26-year-old had only one catch for 11 yards, which was consistent with the minimal production he's had throughout the year. But it's worth noting he was on the field for 44 percent of San Francisco's offensive snaps, his second-highest total of the season.
The Seahawks will likely try to focus on shutting down Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers' clear top receiving threat with Samuel not on the field. That could open things up for other playmakers, and maybe McCloud will find a way into the end zone for the second time this season.
It's worth taking a flier on the Clemson product ($1,800 on DraftKings; $7,500 on FanDuel) because of his low price, especially on DraftKings. He doesn't have to have a huge showing, either, to be a solid DFS contributor, which is a reasonable expectation.
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