George Kittle Expected to Play Through Illness Against Seahawks

George Kittle waking up sick and deciding to play football anyway is the least surprising news of the NFL weekend.

According to Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers tight end is dealing with an illness but is fully expected to suit up tonight against the Seattle Seahawks.

"Adam Schefter reported Kittle has an illness but is expected to play."

The guy plays the tight end position like a professional wrestler who missed his calling, so a Sunday morning bug was never going to keep him out of a division rivalry game.

But for anyone sweating their fantasy lineups or staring at his receiving yards prop, this is the classic game-day headache. You have a star player active, but you have no idea if he is going to catch six passes or just serve as a very expensive decoy.

Both teams are coming into this matchup with momentum. San Francisco handled Denver 24-14 last week, while Seattle put up 30 points in a win over the Chargers. In a heavy NFC West clash, the 49ers need Kittle on the field to anchor their run blocking just as much as they need him catching passes over the middle.

Keep an eye on his early usage when the game kicks off. If he is out there burying edge rushers on the first drive, the illness is a non-issue. If he is rotating out more than usual, it might be a long night for anyone who trusted him in their lineup.