Jauan

Jennings

Jennings’ crafty footwork was on display once again. The veteran WR regularly created space against Bears DBs and Brock Purdy consistently found him over the middle for big gains. The two have a tangibly strong connection. Jennings is WR2-viable against the Rams in Week 15.

Jennings led the team in targets and yardage on a night the two teams were contending with blizzard-like conditions, something that held quarterback Brock Purdy to just 18 pass attempts. Jennings continues to produce with the increased opportunity following the season-ending injury to Brandon Aiyuk and could be tasked with more with the 49ers suddenly two games back for the division lead and expecting to be without running back Christian McCaffrey for the remainder of the season.

Jennings deserves credit for leading the team in targets and winning his lone contested catch but this offense is lost without Brock Purdy under center. Jennings is just a flex option against the Bills next week if Brandon Allen is still piloting the offense.

Kyle Shanahan told reporters Purdy was dealing with soreness in his throwing shoulder earlier this week. He underwent an MRI and GM John Lynch gave reporters a mixed message. He said the team “feels good about where it is” after the MRI but the situation remained “tenuous.” The fact that Purdy was unable to practice in any capacity on Friday and didn’t even get a token questionable tag feels more than ominous for his rest-of-season outlook. For now, Brandon Allen will draw the start in his place. Purdy’s absence is disastrous for all of the pass-catchers this week, though it’s hard to suggest benching any of the big names.

Jennings functioned as the 49ers’ clear-cut passing game alpha, hoarding targets all game long, six of which came on third down. He caught all six and converted four first downs in the process. Jennings’ highlight play occurred on a successful third-and-11 reception in which Jennings dragged four Seahawks defenders past the first-down marker. He is a WR1/2 against the Packers in Week 12.

Jennings picked up an ankle injury in Thursday’s practice but it will not prevent him from playing. He practiced in full on Friday. Fantasy managers should fire Jennings up as a WR2 with high-end upside. The game’s 48.0-point over/under suggests this NFC West showdown will be a high-scoring affair.

Jennings is coming off a contest where he caught 7-of-11 targets for 93 yards in the victory over the Buccaneers in Week 10. The 27-year-old wideout is likely going to be a big part of the passing attack against the Seahawks in Week 11 if he’s able to go, but now it’s something fantasy managers need to keep an eye on until Sunday.

Active for the first time since Week 6 after dealing with a hip injury, Jennings led the 49ers in catches, targets and receiving yards even as Christian McCaffrey also re-joined the fold. Jennings drew four more looks than any other 49er, including five more than both Ricky Pearsall and Deebo Samuel. There will undoubtedly be weeks where Jennings takes a backseat to his more famous teammates, but he has commanded targets at a stunningly high rate this season. He is locked in as a strong WR3 headed into Week 11 against the Seahawks.

The Buccaneers have struggled to slow opposing passing games and Jennings is regularly producing explosive plays when given the opportunity. He is WR3/4-viable here with week-winning upside. Jennings could function as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver with Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib/oblique) playing through injury.

Sidelined since Week 6, Jennings has been quiet when both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were active this season but quite productive when one was out. Aiyuk, of course, is done for the season, but first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is also now in the picture. With the Niners getting the Bucs’ awful pass defense for Week 10, there’s probably a case to be made for jamming Jennings into the top 30.