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Fantasy football: 5 49ers players to consider using in Week 8 vs. Cardinals

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a five-yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a five-yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

No. 3: 49ers Defense/Special Teams

Normally, you’d want to avoid the 49ers defense/special teams at all costs during any contest. And if you have better options out there, wasting a roster spot on this unit would be a putrid idea.

But let’s say you’ve got a player heading to injured reserve and your No. 1 defense is going up against an offensive powerhouse, like the Minnesota Vikings hosting the New Orleans Saints.

Feel like taking a gamble? Look at the Niners in Arizona.

The Cardinals offense is bad. Terribly bad. In terms of points scored (92), they rank 31st. And their 1,545 yards on the season is dead last. That’s an average of just over 220 all-purpose yards per contest.

And Arizona has turned the ball over 15 times this season — 27th worst in the league. So maybe San Francisco’s woes generating turnovers this season will go away somewhat this weekend.

Boy, wouldn’t that be nice.

ESPN ranks the 49ers’ defense/special teams 30th among all units this deep in the season, so there’s no reason they should be unavailable on the waiver wire. You’d never want to hold onto this group outside this favorable matchup.

But fantasy football is all about favorable matchups, so make of that what you wish.