San Francisco 49ers 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Advice

Quarterback

2018 Stats

2019 Players (MFL ADP, Aug 21)

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB20)

Jimmy Garoppolo is a full participant at the start of training camp. He only played 9 games through two seasons with the 49ers, fantasy owners are skeptical. If he is healthy enough, then draft the talent and system. Garoppolo could prove to be a bargain as a late drafted QB.

Yikes, I wrote that first note awhile ago and Garoppolo has been nothing short of terrible. Not that we want to put very much weight on the preseason but it sure doesn’t give a lot of confidence. Fantasy players are now questioning Garoppolo’s job security. This is one of my bigger preseason surprises.

Running Back

2018 Stats

2019 Players (MFL ADP, Aug 21)

Tevin Coleman (RB30), Matt Breida (RB49), Jerick McKinnon (RB59)

Jerick McKinnon came off the PUP list to join training camp… and promptly suffered some knee pain. To me, this looks like Tevin Coleman’s job to lose at this point. They can’t trust McKinnon to stay on the field.

Update: And he hasn’t stayed on the field.

Wide Receiver

2018 Stats

2019 Players (MFL ADP, Aug 21)

Dante Pettis (WR36), Deebo Samuel (WR63), Marquise Goodwin (WR75), Jalen Hurd (WR80), Trent Taylor (WR107)

Rookie Deebo Samuel missed some offseason work with a hip injury but expects to be ready to participate in training camp. Or a groin injury? An early report indicates a tweaked groin. Any missed time is a negative to rookies to get up to speed making this noteworthy considering many expect Samuel to be a significant contributor early in his career.

Jalen Hurd, former RB turned WR and whose tail-of-the-tape is 6’4″, 230 lbs., impressed in the 49ers preseason opener. Trent Taylor is out indefinitely after requiring foot surgery. Hurd is a longer-term project given the position switch but his playing time could accelerate. Taylor was the projected starting slot receiver.

Tight End

2018 Stats

2019 Players (MFL ADP, Aug 21)

George Kittle (TE3)

Draft Strategy

a.k.a., what are we doing with these guys?

Now somewhat cheaper on draft day due to his training camp and preseason struggles, I am still willing to draft Garoppolo as a backup with some breakout upside. I am just not seeking it out very aggressively. He showed a lot of promise prior to the knee injury, so this journeyman QB persona now he is healthy is very strange. Still putting faith in him as a talented QB and the system is proven to be very good.

It is the Tevin Coleman show at running back, mostly. I would be happy to draft Coleman around where he is going, in the RB 25 to 30 range. Again, proven system, and one Coleman knows well. Jerrick McKinnon is a non-factor at this point because he can’t stay healthy.

The only slight trepidation on Coleman is the presence of Matt Breida. Breida is a gamer, a hard worker. He isn’t any coach’s first choice for significant RB touches, but he’s also a player coaches love. When the depth chart gets thin and Breida is still standing, he gets the call and does well with it, like last season.

Breida will cap Coleman, and I don’t even mind drafting Breida mid to late rounds given it is now a short line to prime opportunity for him. I’m just not sure he will hold up if/when he gets there, so he isn’t a must-have by any stretch. More like decent RB depth when stockpiling guys because you started your draft heavy at receiver.

Dante Pettis, not unlike Garoppolo, has the fantasy community quickly turning their backs on him before the season even starts. Slated as the number one guy (even though admittedly, this is only his second season), coach Kyle Shanahan challenged Pettis to do better. Rookies Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd are outplaying him in preseason.

I still say, draft Pettis. Enjoy the discounted price from drafts back in June and July. The challenged by his coach news, it does seem like a motivational tactic by Shanahan to which fantasy players are overreacting. The number one receiver in Shanahan’s offense performs well historically, and that is still Pettis unless Samuel really beats the odds and breaks out as a rookie.

Between George Kittle, a number one receiver I believe is Pettis, Garoppolo’s struggles and all-in-all not expecting this to be a high flying offense, that doesn’t leave much for any other receiver. To that end, I am not really targeting Samuel or Jalen Hurd or Trent Taylor in drafts. Deep, flier type guys, sure. Dynasty targets, absolutely. Expected redraft contributors, not very good odds.

I didn’t even mention Marquise Goodwin, last year’s projected number one receiver. He’s never stayed healthy and seems more like a poor man’s DeSean Jackson. High yards-per-catch but not many receptions, and not enough consistency to know when to start him. Pass.

George Kittle is, or was, usually the third TE off the board. Kittle ranks number two for me, mostly because I don’t think Zach Ertz can meet expectations with more receiving options on the Eagles. So Ertz is a tier down for me, meaning Kittle is even a little more valuable – he’s in more exclusive company.

In TE premium leagues (1.5 points-per-reception versus 1 PPR or less for RB and WR) I would go as early as mid to late-2nd for Kittle. Otherwise in regular PPR leagues I kind of see how the board falls to decide if I want to pay a premium for Kittle or not. It is really nice having an advantage at this position. Kittle certainly provides that.