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Monday Wrap: Gore gallant, Cardinals drop the ball

Scott Pianowski
Fantasy analyst

Week 14 wrapped with a blowout by the bay – let's take a quick look at it from a fantasy perspective.

With the Niners: Frank Gore(notes) had his good stuff from the opening jump, rolling for 167 yards and a short touchdown. He only caught a couple of passes (for 10 yards), but in today's game, who can complain about 27 touches? Glen Coffee(notes) went nowhere in his mop-up role (6-16) and you have to wonder how he kept touches from Mark Ingram last year at Alabama.

Alex Smith got a rare victory but it wasn't his best statistical night (19-for-35, 144 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT, 4.1 YPA). Michael Crabtree(notes) (5-67) looked like a star in the making whenever he was utilized, and Vernon Davis(notes) made his three catches count (34 yards, TD). Crabtree also dinged his hip during the night but should be fine.

The Niners defense was the story of the game, sacking Kurt Warner(notes) four times and collecting an unreal seven takeaways (two picks, five fumble recoveries). This wasn't a case of the Cardinals being careless with the ball; the San Francisco hitting was ferocious. The Niners defense might not be a good play in Week 15 against Philadelphia, but Detroit and St. Louis are waiting on the schedule after that.

With the Cardinals: The Arizona offense was supposed to be the fantasy savior for the playoffs (the Lions and Rams come next), but did you survive Week 14? This was a stink bomb at the worst possible time.

The pass blocking was a mess and Kurt Warner (16-for-29, 178 yards, 2 picks) seldom had time to get comfortable in the pocket. Warner was dropped four times and was one of five Cardinals who lost a fumble. Larry Fitzgerald(notes) was held to two catches, though he lost a third reception on what looked like a spotty replay decision. Fitzgerald also took a shot to his knee and will get an MRI on it Tuesday, though the Cardinals are whistling a positive tune there. Anquan Boldin(notes) (5-40) had a modest game (his late turnover flipped plenty of fantasy results), and Steve Breaston(notes) (1-15) has been invisible for a month now.

Tim Hightower(notes) lost an early fumble and basically spent the rest of the night in the doghouse (four touches, 16 yards). Beanie Wells(notes) ran well (15-79, TD) but also joined the fumble brigade in the second half. Neil Rackers(notes) appeared to be battling a groin injury and might not be a safe play for the stretch run, tread carefully.