Is George Kittle playing tonight? Last-second fantasy football replacement

The San Francisco 49ers travel to the Emerald City to take on the Seattle Seahawks Thursday Night Football. But will they – and fantasy football managers – be able to call on All-Pro tight end George Kittle in a matchup between NFC West opponents?

Kittle has been dealing with a rib injury lately. Because of the issue, he appeared on the Week 5 injury report and missed two training sessions leading up to the contest. Ultimately, he managed to post a 91 percent offensive snap share rate and catch eight passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. The eight-year NFL professional, who goes unnamed into the upcoming battle for first place in the division standings, is apparently in full swing.

Even though Kittle had overcome the illness and thrived despite it all, the team monitored his reps as they prepared for their Week 6 showdown in Seattle. On Wednesday, the 49ers gave us a slight scare when they promoted fellow tight end Brayden Willis to the active roster. But barring any setbacks, the former should be there when San Francisco takes the field under the primetime lights.

However, fantasy football players have learned over the course of the 2024 season that we cannot take anyone's availability for granted. While Kittle is on track to play, managers should have a contingency plan in place.

You certainly won't find anyone with Kittle's weekly benefits on the waiver wire. Still, more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues have multiple tight ends available, who should consider a plug-and-play solution, especially in an emergency.

First, Tyler Conklin (35 percent in the squad) the New York Jets is a worthwhile Kittle alternative. No tight end has run more routes in five weeks than the 29-year-old, which has gained fantasy relevance. He has shot at least six targets in three consecutive contests, surpassing double-digit PPR points twice. Unlike most other players at the position, his combination of effort and volume gives him a reasonable combination of floor and ceiling.

Like Conklin, Cade Otton has He attracted a lot of attention in his role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2022 fourth-round pick is a distant third fiddle in the passing game behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but his 23 targets over the last three games rank fourth among tight ends.

Not least, Zach Ertz Maybe he's no longer the three-time Pro Bowler he once was in his prime. Regardless, he has established himself as a safety valve in the middle of the field for the Washington Commanders' outstanding rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The aging veteran has scored at least four goals in all but one game this season. While there isn't a ton of potential, his position as the team's de facto No. 2 receiver gives him added value.