What to do with Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida in Week 7 fantasy football

The San Francisco 49ers are rolling right now, and while the defense is the big reason, the ground game has been key. However, the unit has taken some blows in recent weeks. Joe Staley is recovering from a broken leg, and in Week 5, the team lost fullback Kyle Juszczyk and right tackle Mike McGlinchey.

We saw a sizable change in the ground game after the injuries. In Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, and Raheem Mostert rushed a combined 34 times for 245 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, the trio combined to rush 35 times for 94 yards and one touchdown. They made big plays, but it was clearly a different unit.

Fantasy football analysis, 49ers RBs Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida

This week the 49ers face a Washington defense that has some talent mixed in, but is not particularly good. They rank 20th in run defense efficiency and have given up the fifth most fantasy points to running backs. The opponent provides a chance for big fantasy opportunities.

The big question for now is how the 49ers run game will look like without Juszczyk. Fullbacks are going the way of the dodo, but Juszczyk is a key cog in the 49ers run game. They run more I-formation with him in the game, and more one-back sets without him. They’ve got blocking tight ends, with George Kittle a great blocker to go along with his receiving work, but it’s not quite the same. Both players are solid starts this week against Washington, but it’ll be worth watching how they perform without Juszczyk.

Start/Sit Recommendation

Tevin Coleman: Start
Matt Breida: Start