2024 San Francisco 49ers Team Outlook
Throughout the 2024 offseason, there have been more rumors surrounding the San Francisco 49ers receiver room than a Fleetwood Mac album.
Brock Purdy (4,280/31/11) is banking on the availability of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, who played a pivotal role in his 2023 MVP contention as the QB6 in fantasy, with an impressive average of 19.6 fantasy points per game. His statistical prowess was evident as he outperformed NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in yards, touchdowns, passer rating (113), completion percentage (69.4), and yards per attempt (9.7).
The presence of receivers like Samuel (60/892/7) and Aiyuk (75/1,342/7) significantly boost the 49ers' offensive output. For the offense to thrive, their pass catchers must excel in both yards after the catch and yards after contact. Samuel concluded the season with 527 yards after the catch, 172 of which were after contact. Aiyuk, on the other hand, also ranked in the top 20 among receivers in both categories, contributing 382 yards after the catch and 94 after contact.
In the first round, San Fransisco added insurance through the draft in former Florida Gator standout Ricky Pearsall. If the 49ers were to deal with one of their prized pass catchers, Pearsall could find himself locked into an every-week flex option. Pearsall's addition is all about the future, but for now, it gives San Francisco one of the best wide receiver trios in the league.
Beyond the receivers and quarterback position, the 49ers have one of the best tight ends in the league in George Kittle (65/1,020/), who had yet another Pro Bowl season, finishing 5th in fantasy points among tight ends in PPR formats with 203.2 while averaging 12.7 fantasy points per contest. Kittle's 13.6 yards per catch are still tops among active tight ends, and even with Samuel and Aiyuk, he still saw a 17.9% target share.
Christian McCaffery is a fantasy cheat code. Not only did he average 5.4 yards per carry on his way to 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, but he also had 67 receptions on 83 targets, adding up to 545 yards receiving with seven touchdowns. If you separate the rushing and receiving numbers, as a runner, he would have finished as the RB10. Again, that's taking away all his receiving numbers. Meanwhile, his production in the passing game would have him as a top-40 receiver.
QB Brock Purdy, SF - Sleeper (undervalued)
In his first full season as an NFL starter, Brocky Purdy led the NFL in QB Rating (113.0), yards per attempt (9.6), air yards per attempt (5.01), and finished as fantasy's QB6. Purdy is efficient, holding a career 44-to-15 TD-to-INT ratio. He also aggressively pushed the ball downfield while ranking second with a 70.4% completion rate in the red zone. That makes Purdy the ideal fit in Kyle Shanahan's scheme. With reigning fantasy MVP Christian McCaffrey joining an elite tight end and a wide receiving corps, Purdy has one of the deepest and most talented supporting casts in the league. Purdy looks like one of the top values to target at quarterback in 2024 fantasy football drafts. ADVICE: Excellent value target
RB Jordan Mason, MIN - Fantasy Handcuff
With Elijah Mitchell set to miss the entire 2024 campaign, Mason becomes THE handcuff to target in San Francisco, Mason has outplayed Mitchell this summer and shown some burst when given opportunities. He averages a healthy 5.6 yards per rush figure in two seasons. Considering McCaffrey's workload last year, Mason is one of the top handcuffs to target in all formats. Should CMC miss time, Mason offers huge upside as a difference-making RB2.
RB Christian McCaffrey, SF - Stud (low risk)
The clear 1.01 in all leagues, McCaffrey averaged over 20 fantasy points per game for the fifth time in his career. He led the NFL in all-purpose yards (2,023), yards after contact (1,110), breakaway yards (595), and posted fantasy RB1 numbers in 13 of 16 regular-season contests. McCaffrey also set a career-best average of 5.4 yards-per-carry, proving to be the perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense. He will continue to take the lion's share of attempts and targets out of the backfield and play a prominent role in the red zone. He's the safest bet in fantasy football and should be selected first in every format. ADVICE: Don't overthink it.
RB Elijah Mitchell, PHI - Not Draft Worthy
After an impressive rookie showing, Elijah Mitchell has battled injuries and now could fall further down the depth chart after he was outplayed by Jordan Mason and the 49ers added Isaac Guerendo as more competition. Christian McCaffrey also played 94.6% of San Francisco's snaps, so there are not many touches left for Mitchell, who saw his elusiveness and speed decline in 2023. Mitchell has scored fewer fantasy points per game in each of his three seasons and is no longer a lock to even be the team's RB2. ADVICE: His hold on San Francisco's RB2 job is shaky at best. Mitchell is no longer a must-have handcuff for McCaffrey managers UPDATE: Mitchell will miss the 2024 NFL season.
WR Ricky Pearsall, SF - Dynasty Only
ADVICE: An elite route-runner, Pearsall has more value in dynasty than in redraft leagues because the nature of San Francisco's offense doesn't feature the No. 3 wideout often. However, If Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk were traded or injured, Pearsall has weekly WR3 potential.UPDATE: Pearsall suffered a gunshot would on the eve of Week 1. He's stable but that uncertainty, and San Francisco's lack of role for their WR3/4, put Pearsall off the fantasy radar.
