Fantasy Feast and Famine: San Francisco 49ers
Last season’s NFC West Champions, the San Francisco 49ers, are currently projected by many experts to have the top-ranked offense going into the 2024-25 NFL season. As of now, most of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s key players on offense and defense are returning, trying to make another run at the coveted Lombardi Trophy. Averaging 28.4 points per game last year, the 49ers should have plenty of Fantasy Football relevance yet again. Here’s how I have them ranked, how they will allow your teams to feast, and how they could lead to famine during the Fantasy Football season.
Christian McCaffrey: Running Back One
Fantasy Feast: There’s not much justification that needs to be said about drafting Christian McCaffrey number one overall in your fantasy drafts, especially as the number one running back. He was ranked number one in fantasy production in 2023 and is projected to have similar numbers this year. He is as safe as you can get, with a high floor and high ceiling. He gets plenty of carries and is consistently utilized in the passing game. With the running back position being extremely top-heavy this year, getting someone like McCaffrey could easily allow you to not worry about the running back position during the season.
Fantasy Famine: For Christian McCaffrey, the only thing that could hold him back from yet another productive season, is injury. The 28-year-old has already missed a majority of training camp and preseason, dealing with a calf strain he picked up in early August during practice. He’s only missed one game, inactive for rest, in the last two years, but, in his 2021-22 season, he missed 10 games due to injury. The 49ers have made deep playoff runs with Christian McCaffrey as the primary runner and all those games played could start to take its toll. Younger running backs like Bijan Robinson or Breece Hall may become more appealing due to any health concerns with McCaffrey.
Deebo Samuel: Wide Receiver 13
Fantasy Feast: You might see Deebo Samuel’s picture in a football encyclopedia when referencing gadget players. He can hurt you lining up as a wide receiver, as a running back, on a reverse play, quick screen, or slant. Any way Coach Shanahan feels like using him on that particular play, Deebo can get it done. A yards after catch merchant, it is nearly impossible for defenses to tackle him. He can easily turn a five-yard catch into a 45-yard touchdown, and do it multiple times a game. Ask the Philadelphia Eagles how good Deebo could be in a game. He may be ranked as my wide receiver 13, but I would not be surprised if he easily finished well inside the top 10, outperforming his average draft position. Deebo was able to do it just a couple of seasons ago when he finished as the wide receiver two in fantasy.
Fantasy Famine: Running as hard as Deebo does leaves you susceptible to injury. He is no stranger to putting his head down and trying to run through defenders. He missed two regular season games last year and even picked up a hamstring injury in the Super Bowl. He also missed four games the year prior, so the injury risk is always there with Deebo. The other thing that could hurt Deebo’s fantasy potential is the game script. The 49ers could hurt you in so many different ways with all the weapons at their disposal. There may be games where Deebo gets 10 touches and games where he gets two, so you just have to be prepared for that. If you are looking for players who are the clear number one option on their teams, look at wide receivers Drake London or Michael Pittman Jr.
Brandon Aiyuk: Wide Receiver 17
Fantasy Feast: Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t just emerged as a top wide receiver on the 49ers, he’s emerged as a top wide receiver in the league. He boasts elite-tier route running and may be even better on broken plays and he sees the quarterback scrambling. Aiyuk has led the team in targets in the last two seasons and seems to be Brock Purdy’s favorite target. It’s easy to see why given his ability to get open. It’s also hard to keep him off the field. In the last three seasons, Aiyuk has only missed one game due to injury.
Fantasy Famine: We can come right out and address the elephant in the room. Brandon Aiyuk still hasn’t signed a long-term deal with the 49ers and there is still a strong possibility he gets traded away. This causes uncertainty at several different levels. With him holding out and not practicing with the team, there may be some disconnect and timing issues with the rest of the 49ers offense. Coach Shanahan’s playbook often involves a lot of motion and requires a lot of precision timing. The lack of training camp repetitions could equal early offensive miscues for Aiyuk. The staying put of Aiyuk with no deal could also mean minor injuries take longer to heal. It’s no secret that other players in his contract situation will prolong recovery in order to remain healthy for contract negotiations the following season. If Brandon Aiyuk does get traded, there is no telling if he will be in a better situation than he’s currently in. As previously stated, the 49ers are projected to have the highest-scoring offense in the league this year. If he goes to a new team, that offensive potential for him could take a hit. If you’re looking for more certainty at the wide receiver position, take a look at Nico Collins or D.J. Moore around that same draft spot.
George Kittle: Tight End Seven
Fantasy Feast: George Kittle may be the best all-around tight end in the NFL. He runs routes well, he can catch, he can block, and he picks up a ton of yards after the catch, which may be his best trait. On any given week, he can give you multiple touchdowns and over a hundred yards, without needing a ton of targets. A great example of this was last year against the Dallas Cowboys where he caught three passes for three touchdowns. In the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he also had three catches, but for 116 yards and a touchdown. Kittle’s ceiling could absolutely be the tight end one week in, week out. He finished last year as the tight end two, just behind rookie sensation, Sam LaPorta.
Fantasy Famine: For Kittle, with the boom weeks, unfortunately, comes the bust weeks. In fact, before his three-touchdown game against the Cowboys, he caught one pass for nine yards. The week after the Cowboys game, he caught one pass for one yard. Similar to teammates Deebo and Aiyuk, Kittle is a part of the well-oiled Kyle Shanahan offense and his production is heavily dependent on the game plan from week to week. Tight ends that could potentially provide more week-to-week consistency are Trey McBride and Dalton Kincaid.
Brock Purdy: Quarterback 12
Fantasy Feast: If tight end George Kittle is the definition of boom or bust, quarterback Brock Purdy is the definition of consistent. He finished as the quarterback six last year and finished the season with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had the best passer rating and finished fifth in total passing yards, with one less game than the four quarterbacks ahead of him. Brock is surrounded by talent all over the offense, to go along with one of the best offensive minds in football. He should be a safe fantasy play week in and week out.
Fantasy Famine: Brock’s floor is high, thanks to his amazing consistency. However, his ceiling is just very low. Though he has some scrambling ability, he has nowhere near the upside as other quarterbacks in the league that add that rushing ability. He is almost strictly a pocket passer, and, for pocket passers to succeed in fantasy football, they need to throw a ton of touchdowns. Unfortunately for Brock, they are still considered a run-first offense. With Christian McCaffrey as the running back, it would be hard to stray away from that game plan. Additionally, it is likely the 49ers will be well ahead in a majority of their games this year. This could lead to fewer passing opportunities due to clock management. Brock will almost never lose it for you in a week, but it’s highly likely he won’t win you a fantasy week either. If you need a quarterback with a higher upside to be drafted later on, look at rookies Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams.
Keep an Eye On: Three players on the San Francisco 49ers roster to keep an eye on are running back Elijah Mitchell, running back Jordan Mason, and rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. All three could become extremely fantasy-relevant on the roster should one of the stars go down.
