San Francisco’s receiver room keeps getting shuffled. Mike Evans has been ruled out again as he deals with Achilles tendinitis and a ribs injury, which means he will miss a third straight game. Demarcus Robinson returned to the lineup last week against Las Vegas, catching three of four targets for 22 yards. But the 49ers also traded for Keenan Allen this week, and Deebo Samuel Sr. is working back from a hamstring injury. Find out whether you should start or sit Demarcus Robinson in Week 10.
Demarcus Robinson Start or Sit Advice for Week 10
The matchup is a good one. Dallas allows 33.6 PPR points per game to wide receivers against a league average of 31.3, along with 159.3 receiving yards per game and nine touchdowns to the position. Receivers are also piling up 60.9 YAC per game against the Cowboys, well above the league mark of 48.7. Dallas has faced the Giants, Washington, Baltimore, Houston, Tampa Bay, Green Bay, Philadelphia, Arizona and Indianapolis, a group throwing right at league average against them, so those numbers are an honest read.
The Cowboys’ secondary is also banged up. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety P.J. Locke have not practiced this week.
This could also be a high-scoring game. San Francisco scores 29.4 points per game and converts 84.6% of its red zone trips, while Dallas puts up 27.3 points per game. Robinson has drawn three red zone targets on just 10 total targets this season, so he has a path to a touchdown if he stays involved near the goal line.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for Demarcus Robinson in Week 10
The volume is not there, and it may shrink further. Robinson has appeared in just three games this season and holds only 4.4% of San Francisco’s targets. Even with Evans out last week, he drew four targets, the same number as Jordan Watkins, who turned his into 86 yards and a touchdown.
Now he has more competition. Allen arrives as an established veteran target, and Samuel has been limited in practice this week after missing Week 9. If Samuel plays, Robinson could slide to fourth or fifth in the pecking order at receiver, and George Kittle already commands 23.2% of the team’s targets.
The 49ers also do not throw much. San Francisco averages 29.5 pass attempts and 28.5 targets per game, both below the league averages of 33.0 and 31.4. In an offense that spreads a small number of targets across several options, a depth receiver has a thin margin for error.
Fantasy Outlook for Demarcus Robinson in Week 10
Robinson is a Start in Week 10, but only in deeper leagues. The matchup and the scoring environment are both favorable, and he has some involvement in the red zone, although his target share is quite small.
Fantasy managers covering Eagles, Buccaneers, Bears and Broncos players on bye can consider him as a deep-league FLEX if Samuel is ruled out. If Samuel plays, Robinson is better left on your fantasy bench.