Fantasy Analysis: San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick

In 8 games that he started last year, Kaepernick set the world on fire, showcasing arm strength and running skill. He threw for 1725 yards with a 10:3 TD:INT ratio, with 304 rushing yards and 3 TDs. While the loss of top target Michael Crabtree hurts, Anquan Boldin proved during last year’s playoffs that he can still be a quality No.1 receiver. Speaking of the playoffs, Super Bowl XLVII was Kaepernick’s first time he ever threw for more than 300 yards in a game, so perhaps that was more signs of progress. Jim Harbaugh is entirely committed to him after starting him over incumbent quarterback Alex Smith. He’s a player on the rise with seemingly unlimited potential.

Frank Gore

Gore started off the season strong, but his numbers dipped by 13 YPG and about 1.5 YPC when Kaepernick took over. Granted, 84 YPG and 4.0 YPC still pays the bills in our fantasy leagues, but it’s not what we’ve come to expect from the aging vet. The loss of Michael Crabtree will force the 49ers to turn to the run, so he could still put up value based on volume. The 49ers also have a stable of quality backs behind him, in Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, and rookie Marcus Lattimore. There is some good news here; Gore has never averaged less than 75 YPG, and the 49ers have the 6^th easiest schedule for running backs. Still, Gore is nothing more than an RB2 at this stage in his career. As for the young pups, they will have little to no value unless Gore goes down with an injury. Trying to pick a handcuff, though, is looking for a needle in a haystack.

Anquan Boldin, Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins, Mario Manningham

Boldin was a beast in the playoffs under Joe Flacco, catching 22 passes for 380 yards and 4 TDs in 4 games. Now he goes to a team in which he’ll be the featured receiver under a better QB than Joe Flacco was. A return to the numbers he posted in Arizona (84 receptions, 1074 yards, 6 TDs), could be in line, making him a solid WR2 or strong WR3 in standard leagues. Jenkins, last year’s surprise first round pick, has failed to live up to his draft status, barely making the field last year and getting beat out in spring OTA’s for the second receiver spot by career special- teamer Kyle Williams. Neither should have value this season.  Manningham has proven to be a capable receiver, but is coming off of multiple knee surgeries and is not expected to be available to practice until late August. He may carry some value late in the season if he returns to form, but is still best left undrafted.

Vernon Davis

One of the biggest surprises coming out of the spring OTA’s was the news that Davis was practicing exclusively with the receiving corps. After averaging only 21 yards during the seven games Kaepernick started during the regular season, he put up210 yards between the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. San Francisco beat writers have been calling Davis the most likely to benefit from Crabtree’s injury, and while we here at Fantasy Sparks tend to believe in Boldin, we cannot disagree with the beat writers, as they probably know something we do not. He’s firmly planted in the second tier of tight ends.

Phil Dawson

After a year of enduring David Akers (69% on field goal attempts), the 49ers brass went out and acquired Phil Dawson, another aging vet who has been pretty spectacular throughout his career. He’s kicked 84% of his filed goals for his career, including 29- for- 31 (93.5%) last season. With the 49ers offense, he should easily crack the top 12 at his position.