Camp Notes, Volume Eight: San Francisco 49ers
Dynasty fantasy football is our beloved stripped-down approximation of the NFL. We are the head coaches and general managers of our teams, choosing who stays or goes, and who plays or sits. NFL Training Camps are perhaps the best opportunity we have on the dynasty calendar to project how useful our assets will be in the coming season, particularly when it comes to managing the bottom third of our roster. The better you know the rosters of every NFL team, the more prepared you’ll be to execute the corresponding dynasty moves when camp news breaks. I’m mining all the beat reports, team websites, and post-practice press conferences to bring you a comprehensive overview of what’s going on this summer in all 32 training camps.
San Francisco 49ers
Our eighth stop on the 2017 DLF Training Camp Tour is with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are beginning a full rebuild and aren’t too dissimilar from a dynasty orphan takeover project. New head coach Kyle Shanahan will be installing the best version of his offense that he can, albeit with a patchwork group of veterans in year one. While the 49ers are devoid of high end dynasty talent, their roster is still one to know for this season because there are going to be some unsexy, yet productive players who could help you win games in 2017. Why do I say that? Kyle Shanahan’s track record as an offensive coordinator speaks for itself.
Kyle Shanahan Average Yearly Finish (Nine Years’ Experience)
San Francisco 49ers Average Yearly Finish 2014-2016 (Three Different Head Coaches)
Based on Shanahan’s longstanding track record, I am expecting a significant uptick in passing game production this season versus what we’ve seen from San Francisco over the past three seasons. Shanahan has never had a passing offense finish lower than 20th in the NFL in yards. This makes Brian Hoyer, Pierre Garcon, and even Vance McDonald attractive speculative dynasty plays for the coming year.
San Francisco rookies have been in camp since July 26 and veterans arrived on July 27.
Journeyman Brian Hoyer is the clear starter at quarterback and there is no competition. Pierre Garcon has been noted as being impressed with Hoyer’s deep ball ability early in camp. At some point this season I expect to see rookie C.J. Beathard on the field. The 49ers project to have an early first round draft pick next season in what should be a strong quarterback class, but it would be nice for the front office to know exactly what they have at the position before they commit a top-of-the-draft pick to another signal caller. “It’s a good battle for us. I look at it every day,” Shanahan said of the No. 2 quarterback race. “We evaluated (Beathard) through OTAs to see if he’d be ready to run with the (second string) more in training camp, and he earned that.”
Carlos Hyde has been the subject of circling off-season rumors. Post-NFL Draft reports suggested he would be a cut candidate because Shanahan “pounded the table” for GM John Lynch to select Joe Williams. Talent usually wins out though, and Hyde finds himself firmly atop the 49ers running back depth chart with no competition from Williams, Tim Hightower, or Matt Breida. In fact, Williams had drawn the ire of the coaching staff for a “sluggish” start to camp, failing to exert the effort in finishing plays that they expected. Hyde has been getting the third-down and two-minute-drill work early in camp and appears headed for a bell cow role this season. Another notable observation: Kyle Juszczyk has been splitting time between the fullback and tight end position groups.
Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin are slated at the starting wide receiver positions and both figure to draw considerable target numbers this season. Garcon will almost certainly outperform his dynasty ADP for the next two seasons in a familiar scheme. Goodwin has caught multiple long touchdowns in camp as he does his best impersonation of 2016 Taylor Gabriel. Some light buzz is stirring on rookie Trent Taylor; he could be a name to file away for later in the season if the 49ers begin to look to evaluate the full depth of their rosters.
Vance McDonald had a similar off-season to Hyde. The team drafted George Kittle and reportedly tried to trade McDonald during draft weekend. There were also rumors from beat reporters that McDonald could be a cut-candidate entering camp. However, fast forward to early August, and McDonald is listed as the starting tight end on the team’s initial preseason depth chart. Kittle is running with the fourth string. McDonald displayed game-breaking ability on several long touchdowns last season prior to his injury and could be a post-hype sleeper.
Possible Cuts (among dynasty relevant players): Vance McDonald
Projected ADP Risers
Players Who Will Rise 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Brian Hoyer
Projected ADP Fallers
Players Who Will Fall 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Joe Williams
Waiver Wire Watch List (players with ADP >240): Vance McDonald, Marquise Goodwin, Tim Hightower, C.J. Beathard
- Mount Bust-More? Historical Context for 2017’s Early First Round WRs - December 28, 2017
- The Return of Josh Gordon - December 2, 2017
- Player Value: Two Wide Receivers Who Might Never Be Cheaper - September 15, 2017
