Our San Francisco 49ers 2022 Fantasy Preview gives you the run down on the teams outlook going into the season. The coaching staff have returned. Instead, the biggest (potential) change is the switch at QB. Jimmy Garoppolo looks like he is on his way out, with Trey Lance looking set to get on the field to lead the team.
Notable Offseason Moves
Additions
- Ray-Ray McCloud (WR)
- Tyler Kroft (TE)
- Malik Turner (WR)
Departures
- Raheem Mostert (RB)
- Trent Sherfield (WR)
- Trenton Cannon (RB)
- Mohamed Sanu (WR)
- Travis Benjamin (WR)
Positional Previews
Notable Players- Trey Lance & Jimmy Garoppolo
While Garoppolo is on the roster, all of the signs are that it’s going to be Trey Lance that is going to be given the nod to play this season.
Lance is a fantastic dual-threat option, able to make plays with his feet and arm. Being drafted into this offense was a bit of a dream for fantasy. A running QB on one of the better running offenses? With the floor created with his feet, even if he were to struggle he will be in the QB1 conversation.
To cover off the Garoppolo situation quickly, it seems likely that he is going to be off the roster at some point in the season. Be that by trade, or being released and picked up. In a Superflex league I’d draft him at the end of my draft and see if I end up getting a starting QB.
Notable Players- Elijah Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jeff Wilson & Trey Sermon
Mitchell was the lead back for the team last year, but had some inactive weeks. If he is given a decent workload, he is an RB2 at a minimum. Ideally, you’d want Mitchell to be more involved in the passing game, as he only got 20 targets last year. That’s what will hold him back, but in an offense that is loaded, he is worth his ADP.
Outside of Mitchell, it’s a case of trying to back the right guy. Sermon was drafted ahead of Mitchell, but didn’t really get going last season and now feels like the forgotten man. Wilson is great when he is on the field, but has struggled with injuries during his time in the league.
So, in my opinion at least, the guy to back is rookie Davis-Price. His skillset should allow him to see the field, and can carry a workload if required.
Notable Players- Deebo Samuel & Brandon Aiyuk
Outside of Samuel and Aiyuk, it’s just not worth considering anyone for fantasy. The target volume between these two, and George Kittle (as well as the backfield) leaves very little remaining.
Samuel had a fantastic 2021 season, but his outlook for this year is a little unclear. During the offseason, Samuel asked for a new contract and then a trade. Neither have materialized, so the threat of a holdout still lingers a little. Samuel was used in a variety of ways last season, but with Trey Lance clearly more mobile than Jimmy Garoppolo that usage could change. He is still going to finish as a WR1, but don’t expect a repeat of 2021.
Aiyuk I feel is undervalued. There was hype around him entering draft season last year, but that role seemed to fall to Samuel. Instead, Aiyuk struggled to get on the field. After he finally convinced the coaching staff to put him out on the field consistently, he really improved. Aiyuk is at his floor a WR3, but he could improve on that if Samuel or Kittle were forced to miss time for whatever reason.
Notable Players- George Kittle
Kittle if he plays is great, shown by this ADP. The issue with Kittle is that he has suffered with injury in recent years. More importantly, he is used to block often in the offense with the team having a strong commitment to the run.
Kittle is still going to finish as a TE1, but it remains to be seen the impact of Trey Lance on Kittle, which could limit his scoring opportunities. I’m going to skip him come draft day, and address the position later in my draft.
Strength of Schedule
Check out the rest of the draft kit. And, as always, if you want something more specific to your league- reach out! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Image Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports
