The 49ers nearly completed one of the best single-season turn arounds in NFL history last season. San Francisco finished 2018 with a 4-12 record and some were expecting the team to show few, if any, improvements in 2019. Remember this extremely cold take from this time last year?
Please, please respond to this in the form of GIFs pic.twitter.com/eTBUwVs4WP
— 49ers HUB (@49ersHub) June 18, 2019
The Niners proved everyone wrong and cruised to a 13-3 record, a division title, and a Super Bowl appearance. They came up just short against the Kansas City Chiefs but there is plenty of room for optimism moving forward. Combine one of the best rush offenses in the league with a defense that allowed the second-fewest yards per game and the 49ers look ready to make another run at a championship.
A balanced offense doesn't mean there isn't plenty of Fantasy value. Let's take a look at who can produce and what some new additions will mean for the offense as a whole in the 2020 Fantasy Football San Francisco 49ers preview.
2020 Fantasy Football San Francisco 49ers Preview
Complete a free five-minute mock draft against industry experts and custom analysis for your team with the FantasyPros Draft Wizard.
Quarterbacks
Garoppolo isn't the flashiest QB in the league but has shown the potential to be a productive Fantasy option. The second-round pick finished 2019 as QB14, just bordering the value of a QB1. However, Jimmy G was very inconsistent throughout the year, finishing inside the top-12 quarterbacks just five times in 16 games. A trio of four touchdown performances (ARI x 2, NO) late in the season boosted his total value.
The run-heavy nature of the 49ers offense limit's Garoppolo's upside as failed to reach 15 fantasy points in 11 games last season. The emergence of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle gives Garoppolo a pair of great receiving threats. The addition of Brandon Aiyuk and the return of Jalen Hurd should help Garoppolo put up more points. However, the Niners' scheme is unlikely to move away from the run and the former Patriot will continue to be inconsistent.
Garappolo has morphed into one of the games' premier game managers and should only be drafted as a QB2 or used as a streaming option against weak defenses.
Running Backs
The injury-prone backfield of Coleman and Matt Breida gave Mostert the perfect opportunity to shine throughout the season. The 28-year-old officially took over as the lead back in Week 13, rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Moster's effectiveness began a week before he was given the reigns, as he had a six-game touchdown streak that began in Week 12 and lasted until the NFC Divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Mostert averaged 5.64 yards per carry and scored 10 total touchdowns in 2019. The undrafted free agent was RB6 from Weeks 12-17 despite averaging just 11.7 carries per game. His efficiency and ability to find the endzone made him a consistent option out of the backfield.
Mostert's value skyrocketed after the NFC Championship game where he rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers. His current ranking leaves plenty of room for upside if he is able to separate himself from the committee behind him.
Coleman began the year as the Niners' lead RB but saw his workload decreased as the season went on. He averaged just four carries and 20 yards per game after Mostert's emergence. Unless something changes, Coleman will be the primary backup and receiving back in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
McKinnon has not played a regular-season snap since 2017 and his ability and role in the offense is a complete mystery after two catastrophic injuries.
Wide Receivers
- Deebo Samuel
- Brandon Aiyuk
- Jalen Hurd
- Kendrick Bourne
- Dante Pettis
The 49ers receiving corps might be more muddled than their backfield. After Samuel suffered a broken foot during a throwing session, he was diagnosed with a Jones fracture, the same bone break that derailed Dez Bryant's career and has been nagging Sammy Watkins for years. Samuel maintains that he'll return better than ever but Jones fractures are notoriously hard to return from, with many athletes not returning to their previous performance benchmarks. His current timetable puts Samuel on track for Week 1, but the injury has already caused his stock to fall.
Aiyuk is a talented receiver who the Niners traded up to draft. While the rookie is a talented deep and yards after catch threat, he'll be the No.3 passing option, at best, if Samuel is healthy. Look for the 25th overall pick to have some big games, but have inconsistent results in a run-first offense.
Hurd, Bourne, and Pettis will fight for playing time as the WR3. Pettis, last year's sleeper, caught just 11 passes in 2019 after playing his way into the doghouse. Hurd is a former running back who missed all of last season with a back injury. The 24-year-old is athletic but may need another year of development before he is a trustworthy Fantasy option.
Tight Ends
- George Kittle
There's not much to say about Kittle. The dominant tight end had his second 1,000 yard season and finished as TE3 last season despite missing two games. His 9.8 points per game were on par with TE1 Travis Kelce.
With Aiyuk around as a deep threat, Kittle should have more room to operate underneath. Until Kittle finds the endzone with more consistency, Kelce will continue to be the top tight end taken in drafts. However, Kittle's target share makes him an easy elite option at tight end.
Final Verdict
San Francisco is a very good real-life team that may struggle to produce elite Fantasy talents (besides Kittle) because of the system they run. The defense will continue to be a strength which is also a limiting factor for all involved in the passing game.
Similar to last season, an injury to any member of the backfield will open the door for one running back to take the reigns and become a late-season league winner.
Visit the F6P Fantasy Football page for more advice to get you prepared for the 2020 season.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Texans | Broncos |
| Dolphins | Bengals | Colts | Chiefs |
| Jets | Browns | Jaguars | Chargers |
| Patriots | Steelers | Titans | Raiders |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Bears | Falcons | Cardinals |
| Eagles | Lions | Panthers | Rams |
| Giants | Packers | Saints | 49ers |
| Washington | Vikings | Buccaneers | Seahawks |
