Fantasy Football Notes: San Francisco 49ers

After finishing the 2007 season with a very disappointing 5-11 record, San Francisco 49ers fans had higher hopes heading into 2008. The high hopes were largely a result of the team bringing in an “offensive genius” in new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was supposed to help the offense make drastic improvements and help turn quarterback Alex Smith into the player the 49ers expected he would become when they drafted him first overall in the 2005 NFL draft.

But, things did not quite work out as expected as Smith injured his shoulder in training camp, leading to a trip to the injured reserved. This left Martz with two journeymen quarterbacks, J.T. O’Sullivan and Shaun Hill to work with.

The result was a rough start to the season. After seven games, San Francisco was just 2-5, leading to the in-season firing of head coach Mike Nolan. Nolan was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Mike Singletary.

Singletary’s reign did not get off to the best start. Not only did the 49ers go on to lose their first two games under the new head coach, but Singletary, also, had an altercation with tight end Vernon Davis that left many people wondering if he was the right choice to take over the team. Singletary, though, would silence his doubters.

After losing his first two games as head coach, Singletary and the 49ers won five of their next seven to finish the season with a 7-9 record, leading the Niners to reward Singletary with a 4-year deal.

While the team would have loved to finish the year at .500, there were plenty of things to be excited about come season’s end. None more important than the fact that team may have found a potential starting quarterback in Shaun Hill.

Hill, who would start the final eight games for the 49ers, led the team to a 5-3 record in those games while passing for 2,046 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In doing so, Hill has earned himself a chance to compete with Alex Smith for the starting quarterback job in 2009.

KEY ADDITIONS

Damon Huard (QB) - Huard was brought in to add some depth to the quarterback position. He is a 12-year pro who has played for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and most recently the Kansas City Chiefs. He started 21 games over the past three seasons for the Chiefs, but has never managed to be consistent enough to hold onto the starting job. He will likely be good training camp competition for Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, but it is unlikely Huard will come out of camp as the starting quarterback.

Moran Norris (FB) - Norris became a casualty of the Mike Martz experiment. He was cut by the 49ers after training camp in 2008 because Martz’s offense did not call for much use for a full back. Norris spent the 2008 season with the Detroit Lions, starting eight games. The addition of Norris back into the 49ers offense could be a big one. He is a big run blocker and was the fullback in 2006 when running back Frank Gore had his best season going for a franchise record 2,180 combined yards from scrimmage.

KEY DEPARTURE

Mike Martz (OC) - The addition of Mike Martz as the 49ers offensive coordinator ended up being a one-year experiment. It would be unfair to say that Martz failed in San Francisco, as the 49ers’ offensive numbers were respectable as the team rose from being the 32nd best offense in 2007 to the 23rd best in 2008. However, after changing head coaches mid-way through the season, Martz became expendable when San Francisco announced that Mike Singletary would become the teams new head coach.

ROOKIES TO WATCH

Michael Crabtree (WR) - Every year there seems to be a player that slips in the first round and is drafted a little later than most people predicted. This year it was Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Ranked as the number one wide receiver prospect by many of the experts, Crabtree was projected to go as high as the fourth overall pick, but whether it was because he wasn’t able to workout for teams because of off-season foot surgery or questions about his attitude, the 49ers were happy to land him with the tenth overall pick. Crabtree, who finished his sophomore season at Texas Tech with 93 receptions for 1,135 yards with 18 touchdowns in 12 games, gives the 49ers a legitimate WR1 for the first time since T.O. left.

He is expected to be fully recovered from foot surgery in time to be ready for the beginning of the 49ers training camp and has a chance to earn a spot as one of San Francisco’s starting wide receivers in 2009. In addition to being an excellent receiver, Crabtree is also an excellent blocker at the wide receiver spot.

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

Isaac Bruce (WR) - When Bruce signed with San Francisco as a free agent prior to the 2008 season, not too much was expected. Many thought that the 14-year veteran from St. Louis would bring some much needed leadership to a young 49ers team, but that was about it. Not only, though, was he a great leader to an otherwise young receiving core, he also contributed 61 receptions for 835 yards with seven touchdowns.

Bruce is expected to be one of the two starting wide receivers for the 49ers in 2009, but it may be a lot to expect 2008 type numbers from Bruce again. He is entering his 16th professional season and San Francisco has some good young talent at wide receiver in rookie Michael Crabtree and second year man Josh Morgan. Bruce shouldn’t be considered much more then a WR4, but after 2008 he is definitely worth a late round flier.

Vernon Davis (TE) - Davis’ statistics were very disappointing in 2008, as he finished the season with 31 receptions for 358 yards with two touchdowns. He did not fit in with Mike Martz offense and had problems with new head coach Mike Singletary. 2009 could bring new life for Davis. Martz is no longer with the team and new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s offense likes to use the tight end as a focal point. Davis and Singletary have also seemed to put their differences behind them. There are still a lot of question marks with Davis who has been a bust thus far in his career, consider him a TE2 heading into fantasy drafts this summer worth a late round selection.

Josh Morgan (WR) - As a rookie Morgan was a pleasant surprise for the 49ers last season. He finished the year with 20 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns in limited playing time. Morgan has reportedly been very good in off-season workouts with the 49ers and will likely compete for a starting wide receiver spot with rookie Michael Crabtree. Keep a close eye on the wide receiver battle in San Francisco throughout training camp, but even if Morgan does not secure a starting role with the team he is worth a late round flier as a potential sleeper wide receiver in 2009. 

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW...*

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