49ers, Chiefs Fantasy Football Start/Sit Decisions: Should You Start Patrick Mahomes or Brock Purdy? Christian McCaffrey or Isiah Pacheco? Travis Kelce or George Kittle? and More

The Super Bowl is nearly here, which means the final time to enjoy fantasy football/DFS in the NFL is Sunday. 

As we have for each game this postseason, let’s break down the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs and let you know which players are the safest plays.

Most fantasy players know the best options already, but we’ll determine favorites at each position and cover as many offensive skill players as we can!

Quarterback Options

The quarterback matchup is a fascinating one. You have the uber-talented Patrick Mahomes leading the Chiefs while Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy guides the 49ers.

During the regular season, it was actually Purdy that was the better fantasy performer, but things have changed in the postseason.

Mahomes has four touchdowns to no interceptions across three postseason games. He’s thrown for at least 215 yards in each game and has completed over 70% of his passes in two straight. Mahomes has added at least 15 rushing yards in each contest.

While those numbers don’t necessarily wow you, he’s looked much stronger than Purdy. The San Fran QB has two touchdown passes to one interception this postseason - although he’s had a couple other should-be interceptions dropped. Purdy has thrown for 252 and 267 yards and has added 14 and 48 rushing yards in the two postseason games.

Both of these defenses did a nice job of slowing opposing quarterbacks this season. Kansas City’s defense allowed 15 fantasy points per week, while San Fran allowed 14. The Chiefs’ defense has been the stronger one between the two so far this postseason.

Verdict: I’m not going against Mahomes in the biggest game of the year, regardless of who the other quarterback is. He’s been here and delivered time and time again. He should avoid multiple mistakes, and that’s why I like KC to win 27-24. I think Purdy will have a solid fantasy day, but a couple turnovers will hold him back. I also think he’ll lose a score or two to the team’s do-it-all running back.

Running Back Options

Speaking of Christian McCaffrey, let’s talk about him. 

McCaffrey was a fantasy stud all season and has delivered two monster games in the postseason. In the first game, he rushed 17 times for 98 yards and two scores, while catching seven of his 12 targets for an additional 30 yards. In the most recent game, McCaffrey had 90 rushing yards and two scores on 20 attempts, adding 42 receiving yards on four catches and five targets.

Purdy was the only other Niner with a rushing attempt in the first playoff game. Deebo Samuel (who we’ll get into more in a bit), Elijah Mitchell and Kyle Juszczyk also had rushing attempts in the second postseason game. Mitchell scored a touchdown, but only had 7 rushing yards. The backfield will belong to McCaffrey nearly every touch.

Isiah Pacheco has been a workhorse this postseason, with 69 touches over three games. He rushed 24 times for 89 yards and a score in the first game, adding a reception that lost a yard. Pacheco had 97 rushing yards and a score on 15 attempts in game two, with a 14-yard catch added in. He went for 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries last week, adding four receptions on as many targets for 14 yards.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been the only other back with any touches this postseason, but he’s had just 14 total - and eight of those came in the first playoff game. Pacheco should handle just about every touch out of the backfield.

Both defenses were also above average when it came to slowing opposing running backs. Both teams allowed 19 fantasy points per game.

Verdict: Let’s not overcomplicate things here again, the best option in the game is McCaffrey. I like his chances of scoring a couple more touchdowns (possibly every one that San Fran scores) and having another big day. Pacheco should also have a strong fantasy day because he’s the workhorse - I just think he’ll lack the touchdowns. As for the backups, I’d probably lean toward CEH because he’s been involved in all three postseason games - I’d try to avoid both guys though.

Pass-Catching Options

I’m going to combine wide receivers and tight ends this week because the TEs are so involved for their teams.

Kansas City’s top pass catchers are WR Rashee Rice and TE Travis Kelce. Rice had 130 yards and a touchdown on eight catches and 12 targets in the first postseason game, but has only combined for 93 receiving yards on 12 catches and 13 targets over the past two games. Kelce has gotten better each postseason game - 71 yards on seven catches and 10 targets in game one; 75 yards and two scores on five grabs and six targets in game two; 116 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches and targets in the last game.

TE Noah Gray and WR Justin Watson each had 20 receiving yards in the first postseason game. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had 62 yards in the second game, while Gray had 16 yards. In the last contest, MVS had 38 yards, with Watson at 16 yards.

WRs Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are the Niners top two options. Samuel was injured in the first postseason game, but came back with 96 total yards on 11 touches in the team’s last game. Aiyuk had 32 yards on three catches and six targets in game one before 68 yards and a score on three grabs and eight targets in game two.

TE George Kittle is another solid option. He had 81 yards and a touchdown on four catches and seven targets in the first game before just 27 yards on two grabs and three targets in the last game.

WR Jauan Jennings tallied 61 receiving yards in the first postseason game with Samuel banged up. Juszczyk added 33 receiving yards in the last contest.

The Chiefs’ defense was elite at slowing opposing receivers, allowing 28 fantasy points per game. San Fran’s defense allowed 35 points per week. The Niners allowed 12 fantasy points to tight ends, while the Chiefs surrendered just 10.

Verdict: I personally like Kelce the most of all the pass catchers in the game - his connection with Mahomes in crucial moments is just too good to pass on. I then like Samuel, because he should also be involved as a ball carrier. After that, it’s a close call between Rice and Aiyuk, but I’m leaning toward Rice because of the lack of other offensive weapons on KC. The last guy I’d somewhat confidently start is Kittle - he’s just too inconsistent to put any higher.

Those guys should have almost all the catches and targets in this game. If you’re trying to fill out a DFS lineup, you might need to include somebody else. In order, I’d go with Valdes-Scantling, Jennings, Watson, Gray and Jusczyk.

Mecole Hardman, Richie James, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney and Justyn Ross are other options for the Chiefs, but you might as well pick a name out of a hat if you need to use one of them. Ronnie Bell, Ray-Ray McCloud and Chris Conley are other options for the Niners. Check the season recaps for the Chiefs and Niners to see if any of these guys did anything noteworthy during the season. We also covered some of these guys in a DFS lineup story. 

Other Thoughts

If you are able to play defenses or kickers this week, let’s briefly go over the options.

The Chiefs’ defense has been the second-best one in the playoffs in terms of total yards allowed per game (322.7). They’ve only surrendered 13.7 points per game and have four takeaways.

The Niners’ defense has allowed 386 total yards and 26 points per game. San Fran has three postseason takeaways.

I don’t see this as the low-scoring game many people do, but I think each defense will play fairly well. Because I like the Chiefs to win, and the Niners to have a giveaway or two, I’d use the Chiefs’ defense this week.

Another thing that favors the Chiefs is the kicking game. 

KC’s Harrison Butker is 7-for-7 on his field goals across three postseason games. He’s also perfect on his seven extra point attempts.

San Fran’s Jake Moody is 3-of-5 on his field goals in the postseason. He has made all seven of his extra points.

I trust Butker more in this contest because of the couple field goal misses for Moody.

Check back to FantasySP on Monday for a Super Bowl wrap up! Thanks for joining us this NFL season! We'll have plenty of content dropping during the offseason, so keep coming back for more!