Fantasy rankings point to 49ers' potential lack of offense
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off of a five-win season and haven't done much in free agency to raise expectations.
They do have a new coach, in Chip Kelly, who may be able to pump life into the offense. But based on the recently released ESPN fantasy rankings, we are in wait-and-see mode.
The Niners' two quarterbacks rank No. 29 (Colin Kaepernick) and No. 38 (Blaine Gabbert). The only two potential starters ranked below Kaepernick are Sam Bradford with the Philadelphia Eagles and Robert Griffin III with the Cleveland Browns.Wholesale San
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Carlos Hyde, who is said to be a perfect fit for Kelly's offense, is ranked No. 15 among running backs. He played seven games last season before being placed on injured reserve with stress fracture is his foot. Hyde has dropped weight in preparation for the 2016 season.
The Niners' top-ranked receiver? Torrey Smith at No. 42. He had more the 1,100 yards receiving for the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, but had 33 catches for 663 yards and four TDs in his first season with the 49ers. The Niners do not have a tight end ranked in the the top 30.
Finally, Phil Dawson is ranked No. 18 among kickers. The 41-year-old enters his fourth season with the 49ers after 14 with the Browns.cheap jerseys free shipping
Being the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers comes with a unique set of problems.
After all, you are following in the footsteps of Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young. It can be quite a legacy to live up to, and according to Montana, Colin Kaepernick isn't handling it well.
Montana told SI.com he has concerns about Kaepernick's leadership skills.
“(The quarterback) is usually the leader of the team in most cases," Montana told SI.com. "And people look to (Kaepernick) at this point, and he's a quiet person. You know, he doesn't share a lot, he doesn't talk to a lot of the guys. And that's difficult for an offense to operate because the communication between the quarterback and the receiver is one of the most important things.
"Even with your offensive line, when there's problems, you have to be able to talk to those guys and figure it out while you're out on the field. And when you have a guy who doesn't really want to be there, you don't know whether to put yourself behind him or not."
Kaepernick has a career record of 35-21-1 but he is 10-14 over the past two seasons. Blaine Gabbert replaced Kaapernick, who was subsequently placed on injured reserve, after eight games last season.
Kaepernick had shoulder surgery and asked to be traded this offseason. The Denver Broncos showed interest but the two sides could not make the numbers work.
The 49ers' starting job continues to be up in the air with new coach Chip Kelly taking over.Wholesale NFL
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