2023 statistics (ranking)
Points per game: 28.9 (3rd)
Total yards per game: 398.4 (2nd)
Plays per game: 60.2 (27th)
Pass Attempts + Sacks per game: 30.9 (32nd)
Reduce EPA per play: 0.3 (1st)
Rushing attempts per game: 29.4 (7th)
Rush EPA per play: 0.03 (1st)
Coaching team
Kyle Shanahan enters his eighth season as head coach of the 49ers, boasting four double-digit winning campaigns in the last five seasons. This all ended with at least a trip to the NFC championship game. The 49ers are once again the favorites to win the NFC at +250 according to DraftKings. Very little has been done offensively at the top of the depth chart as Shanahan is basically reloading and focusing to make another run. One impact Shanahan and John Lynch made was selecting Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall late in the first round as a luxury pick. This selection should lead to what was already the fourth-best offense in the NFL in terms of passing yards per game (257.9). Additionally, the 49ers appear to continue to be one of the most efficient offenses at keeping the ball, as they were 20th in turnovers per game (1.1) last season. Fantasy coaches will continue to have a field day calling up 49ers players to their fantasy football rosters.
As has always been the case, Shanahan will continue to direct the 49ers’ offense. They don’t officially have an offensive coordinator in the title, but Chris Foerster has been the team’s running game coordinator since 2022, when he replaced Mike McDaniel. Last season, the 49ers ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 140.5. Foerster also serves as offensive line coach. Together, Shanahan, Foerster and the rest of the 49ers’ offensive staff continue to have one of the most dominant and high-statistical offenses in the NFL.
Passing game
QB: Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen
Authors: Brandon Aiyuk, Ronnie Bell
Authors: Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings
Authors: Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing
TE: George Kittle, Logan Thomas
In 2023, with Purdy finishing as QB6 in total fantasy points, the 49ers will look to continue to be efficient in the passing game. Despite only attempting 27.7 passes per game last season, Purdy still managed to throw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The secret was that he completed almost 70% of his passes and the entire squad around him made plays with the ball. He was also pretty consistent from a fantasy standpoint, scoring fewer than 15 points just four times during the season. In 2024, Purdy will have all of his favorite weapons back in the saddle to make another run to the Super Bowl and fantasy football glory. It’s hard to imagine Purdy being as efficient given how automatic the 49ers’ offense was last season, but he shouldn’t be considered worse than a top QB2 option in fantasy. He’s the ultimate “stack your roster and wait for a quarterback” kind of guy. Purdy isn’t flashy, but if you blink a few times, the box score will fill up.
Receivers are obviously a huge factor in Purdy being able to do what he does effectively. Aiyuk entered an All-Pro season after finishing as WR15 in fantasy based on points per game last season. Samuel entered WR13 as he continued to develop his universal skill set. While Jennings isn’t a guy you typically have on your fantasy roster, he is important when it comes to making crucial plays and moving the chains on offense. Aiyuk’s contract situation has a strange vibe and who knows what’s coming next, but the 49ers are making sure they have a backup plan. Pearsall being drafted in the second half of the first round is important, but the importance will be judged by the moves the team makes at receiver. He’s worth late-round play now, but if the 49ers move on from Samuel or Aiyuk, Pearsall could instantly become a FLEX player. The speedy Cowing is a long shot right now in fantasy and would be considered a solid dynasty option.
Kittle got back on track in 2023, finishing as TE5 in overall fantasy points. Last season was the first time he had 1,000 receiving yards since 2019, but it came with risks. In seven games last season, Kittle failed to score double-digit fantasy points, but the records were high. He had four games where he scored at least 20 fantasy points (and one at 19.6) like the great player he is. The 49ers who brought in Logan Thomas just confirmed that they want a solid backup in case something happens to Kittle. He should be in the top seven tight ends ever this season.
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Racing game
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo, Jordan Mason, Patrick Taylor
OL (LR): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano, Colton McKivitz
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, if you play fantasy football, you probably already know all the flashy 2023 CMC stats. RB1 in fantasy, NFL rushing title (1,459 yards), OPOY, it goes on and on. The question is: can he do it again? Armed with a new contract, good health and a scheme centered around him, I’d say yes. The biggest reason McCaffrey is the consensus pick in fantasy today is that he is the epitome of when elite talent meets opportunity. Despite having other top-notch playmakers on offense, the 49ers make a point of involving McCaffrey early and often. He has the opportunity of Marshall Faulk of the Rams and runs an elite offense. In 2023, McCaffrey has outscored the second-best running back by more than 100 fantasy points and scored fewer than 20 in just four of 17 games played. He will be supported once again by Mitchell, who is one of the best reserves in the league. Rookie sprinter Guerendo will compete with Mason and Taylor, but he can also return kicks.
The offensive line will be strong once again and should always be this way, as long as it is anchored by the eternal Williams. The 49ers drafted Dominic Puni in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft and he will be a name to watch. The unit is filled with veterans and is coming off a season in which only the Ravens and Bears had more rushing yards. Brock Purdy was sacked just 28 times last season, behind this line that ranked 26th in the league. These guys won’t score fantasy points, but they will be a big reason for the guys mentioned above to do so.
Total wins
With the 49ers O/U for wins set at 11.5 (via DraftKings), it’s hard not to dwell on this one. They have achieved double-digit wins in four of the last five seasons and 12 or more wins in the last two. They will be tested early on by teams like the Jets, Rams and Cardinals, but there’s a chance they won’t see their first loss until Week 7 against the Chiefs. If you watched two of their last three games in the 2024 postseason against the Packers and Lions, you would realize that they are not invincible and can be acquired. A decisive loss against the Ravens at the end of last season also showed this. While they still have a collection of All-Pro talent at almost every position and are still NFC class, getting to 11 wins doesn’t seem unrealistic. Teams like the Packers, Dolphins and Lions will be more prepared to beat them this season. I’m assuming the value is less than -125.
