Who Should I Start? Brandon Allen or Brock Purdy

Friday, November 29, 10:13 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brandon Allen could get a second consecutive start filling in for starter Brock Purdy (shoulder) when the 49ers play at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday that he expects Purdy to play, but "lots of things could happen between now and then." In last week's 38-10 loss to the Packers in Green Bay, Allen completed 17-of-29 attempts for 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In 10 career starts, Allen has only provided two fantasy-useful performances: A two-touchdown, 193-yard, zero-interception performance in his first career start with Denver back in 2019 and a two-touchdown, 371-yard, zero-interception game with the Bengals in 2021. A large snowstorm is predicted on Sunday in Western New York, and although most of the snow is supposed to fall before kickoff, it could still be windy. Even in perfect weather, the career-backup Allen would not be a recommended fantasy starter against a good Buffalo passing defense.

Sunday, December 22, 9:34 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came up short in a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. With the team down to its fifth-string option at running back, Purdy led the team in rushing with 26 yards on four scrambles and threw the football a career-high 40 times. He completed 26 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Purdy's touchdowns included a 16-yard Deebo Samuel Sr. catch-and-run through three tacklers and a two-yard toss to second tight end Eric Saubert. Late in the fourth quarter with San Francisco needing a touchdown for a chance to win, Purdy was hit as he threw to wideout Jauan Jennings and the football ended up in the hands of Miami nickelback Kader Kohou. Over his last four games, Purdy has alternated between two sub-five-point bad-weather games and two 20-plus-point performances in good weather. He'll get the Detroit Lions home in Santa Clara on Monday night in Week 17.