Analyze Bam Knight's matchup for week 11
Knight is nursing a fresh ankle injury, averaging 2.8 YPC over his last two games, and faces a 49ers defense that, while vulnerable, still presents more risk than reward for a back who may not be healthy or effective; keep him on your bench.
The 49ers just got gashed by the Rams for 126 rushing yards and 42 points, so the matchup paper looks inviting, but San Francisco will be in bounce-back mode and Knight’s own ankle issue plus season-long inefficiency (2.8 YPC last week) sap most of the upside. With James Conner and Trey Benson still out, opportunity exists, yet Knight’s inability to convert volume into production and the threat of a snap-count limit or in-game re-injury turn a seemingly plus matchup into a fantasy land-mine.
Opportunity is rising—34 snaps in Week 10 nearly matched Emari Demercado—but production keeps falling: 28-10 rushing, 1-4-5 receiving, and a 2.8 YPC that highlights his struggle to create yards after contact.
Knight’s ankle sprain suffered late in Week 10 is the headline; even if active, lateral cuts and pass-pro assignments could be compromised against a 49ers front that, while depleted, still ranks middle-of-pack in yards before contact allowed. The bigger picture is efficiency: among backs with 40+ carries this year, Knight sits in the bottom-five in yards created per touch, yards after contact, and broken-tackle rate, meaning even a 15-touch script may top out around 50 scrimmage yards and no TD upside. Game script also works against him—Arizona is a home underdog likely to fall behind early, turning the backfield into passing-down work where Knight’s 4-target, 1-catch Week 10 line shows he’s not a trusted receiver. If he aggravates the ankle, a zero is in play; if he plays through it, you’re praying for a goal-line fall-in. In 12-team leagues you almost certainly have a healthier, higher-floor option, and in deeper formats Demercado (or even Michael Carter) could siphon the valuable early-down carries. Until we see full practices and proof the burst is back, Knight is a sit in all but the most desperate of desperation spots.