Fantasy: 2019 Projections - Is the 49ers' offense an untapped gold mine?
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With training camps approaching, theScore's Justin Boone is releasing his player projections for all 32 teams, including his thoughts on every fantasy-relevant player.
Projections are based on the following point values in PPR leagues:
- Passing Yards: 1 point per 25 yards
- Passing TDs: 4 points
- Interceptions: -2 points
- Rushing Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
- Rushing TDs: 6 points
- Receptions: 1 point
- Receiving Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
- Receiving TDs: 6 points
- Fumbles Lost: -2 points
- Two-point Conversions: 2 points
AFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI
| Fantasy Points | 248.42 |
|---|---|
| Attempts | 536 |
| Completions | 321 |
| Pass Yards | 4313 |
| Pass TDs | 26 |
| INTs | 15 |
| Carries | 14 |
| Rush Yards | 39 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 3 |
| 2PT | 2 |
A torn ACL suffered in late September robbed Garoppolo of the chance to prove whether he's the franchise passer San Francisco's front office expects him to be. Prior to the injury, Jimmy G struggled in the opener against the stout Vikings defense but rebounded with 467 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions over his next two contests. He returns to a team that's stocked up at the skill positions and ready to execute in Kyle Shanahan's ultra-productive offense. Despite his massive upside in this system, the depth at fantasy quarterback makes Garoppolo a wait-and-see option.
Quarterback depth: In Garoppolo's absence, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens held the offense together and impressed along the way. Now the two friends will compete for the No. 2 job. They're both competent backups, but as we learned last season, they're streamers at best in fantasy.
Tevin Coleman, RB| Fantasy Points | 166 |
|---|---|
| Carries | 172 |
| Rush Yards | 826 |
| Rush TDs | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 |
| Targets | 28 |
| Receptions | 26 |
| Rec. Yards | 234 |
| Rec. TDs | 2 |
| 2PT | 0 |
Coleman has reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Shanahan, who helped him to a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2016 while sharing the Falcons' backfield with Devonta Freeman. If Coleman does emerge as the clear lead back, this projection could be on the conservative side since he's scored at least eight times in each of the last three campaigns. He's a borderline RB2 with a chance to finish in the top 20.
Jerick McKinnon, RB| Fantasy Points | 126.7 |
|---|---|
| Carries | 113 |
| Rush Yards | 418 |
| Rush TDs | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 |
| Targets | 54 |
| Receptions | 38 |
| Rec. Yards | 209 |
| Rec. TDs | 1 |
| 2PT | 0 |
McKinnon was supposed to be the star of this backfield, but a torn ACL ended his 2018 season before it even began. He wasn't able to participate in OTAs and his status for training camp has yet to be determined. If he can return to full health and hold off Matt Breida, McKinnon can be an excellent complementary pass-catching weapon and a flex play in fantasy.
Running Back depth: Not giving Breida a section with his projections is disrespectful to a player coming off a breakout season that included 1,075 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. Unfortunately for him, a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him for the majority of the offseason program and his availability for training is also unknown. Breida is still worth drafting in the later rounds since we know Shanahan's rushing attacks always produce and he already showed he can deliver when called upon.
Dante Pettis, WR| Fantasy Points | 193 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 89 |
| Receptions | 53 |
| Rec. Yards | 1040 |
| Rec. TDs | 7 |
| Carries | 0 |
| Rush Yards | 0 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 0 |
Pettis was featured as one of our breakout candidates for 2019, and if you don't want to go read another article, you can also listen to me talk him up here. If it weren't for an early-season injury, Pettis might have completed his breakout last year. He averaged 72 yards and almost a touchdown per contest when the 49ers played him on at least 70 percent of the team's snaps. Positive reports continued to flow out of San Francisco over the offseason and everything is pointing toward Pettis smashing his seventh-round ADP.
Deebo Samuel, WR| Fantasy Points | 101.7 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 62 |
| Receptions | 36 |
| Rec. Yards | 477 |
| Rec. TDs | 3 |
| Carries | 0 |
| Rush Yards | 0 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 0 |
The fantasy community's initial excitement at Samuel's second-round selection has been tamped down by the Pettis hype. Samuel also sat out a portion of minicamp with a hip injury, losing valuable reps. We should eventually see the rookie step into a high-volume slot role, but that might not happen right away. With an opportunity in the 49ers' receiving corps, Samuel will be a name to monitor throughout the preseason.
Marquise Goodwin, WR| Fantasy Points | 92.8 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 51 |
| Receptions | 27 |
| Rec. Yards | 459 |
| Rec. TDs | 3 |
| Carries | 2 |
| Rush Yards | 19 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 0 |
Goodwin displayed legitimate chemistry with Garoppolo down the stretch in 2017. With Pettis ascending, Goodwin will become a field-stretcher, making him a more intriguing pick in the second half of your best-ball drafts but not someone to invest in for re-draft leagues.
Receiver depth: In addition to Samuel, San Fran also drafted the versatile Jalen Hurd, whose position might be fluid as we approach the season. Hurd combines a ball-carrier background with natural receiving skills, and the 49ers have suggested he may ultimately end up as a tight end. For now, Hurd remains off the fantasy radar, but keep him on your watchlist in the event playing time opens up due to injuries.
George Kittle, TE| Fantasy Points | 235.9 |
|---|---|
| Targets | 128 |
| Receptions | 83 |
| Rec. Yards | 1149 |
| Rec. TDs | 6 |
| Carries | 0 |
| Rush Yards | 0 |
| Rush TDs | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 2PT | 1 |
Kittle set the NFL record for single-season yards by a tight end and he did it in just his second campaign. With more competition for targets, Kittle's receptions and yardage should regress, but there's room for his touchdown total to rise given his volume. At worst, he's a top-three fantasy tight end and one of the few who could dethrone Travis Kelce.
Tight End depth: Injuries reportedly could prevent Garrett Celek from maintaining his roster spot, which would leave rookie Kaden Smith and free-agent signing Levine Toilolo to battle it out for backup duties. Toilolo has shown a couple of fantasy flashes, but neither tight end would make a significant impact if Kittle misses time.
2019 Fantasy ProjectionsAFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI
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