San Francisco 49ers Week 11 Stock Report

Stock Down: San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Geep Chryst.

Chryst’s offense currently ranks 32nd out of 32 teams in total points, total yards, yards per play, points per play and yards per pass attempt.

Chryst is one of the least aggressive play-callers in the NFL. He rarely takes shots downfield and still hasn’t figured out how to use offseason free-agent acquisition Torrey Smith. Chryst seems more comfortable designing and calling plays for backup tight end Garrett Celek.

Before becoming offensive coordinator this offseason, Chryst was the 49ers quarterbacks coach from 2011-2014. He wasn’t good at that job, either. Colin Kaepernick regressed every season under Chryst.

Chryst may not find another job in the NFL if the 49ers fire him this offseason.

This is the Week 11 stock report.

Stock Up: Wide Receiver Quinton Patton

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Third-year wide receiver Quinton Patton caught just six passes the first two seasons of his career. He was a non-factor.

He became a factor this season as the Niners’ No. 3 receiver, but he still didn’t contribute much through the eight weeks. Patton was averaging just 21.6 receiving yards per game.

Then, Week 9—Blaine Gabbert’s first game at quarterback for the Niners—Patton started in place of Anquan Boldin, who was inactive due to an injured hamstring. Patton played the best game of his career. He had three catches for 70 yards, and he led the team in receiving.

All of a sudden, Patton seems like the most reliable receiver on the team.

Maybe Patton just needed a new quarterback. Maybe Kaepernick was holding him back.

Stock Down: Running Back Shaun Draughn

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Twenty-eight-year-old running back Shaun Draughn made his first start in the NFL Week 9 just a few days after he signed with the 49ers.

Draughn was solid in his debut. He gained 96 yards from scrimmage—nothing to sneeze at. But he struggled with his primary job—running the ball. He ran 16 times for 58 yards, and 30 of those yards came on one carry when a defender whiffed. The other 28 yards came on 15 carries. Not good.

And Draughn was even worse in pass protection. He blew his assignment 66 percent of the time, according to 49aus.com's Adam Jowett.

Look for the 49ers to bench Draughn during passing situations from now on.

Stock Up: Running Back Travaris Cadet

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The Niners need a change-of-pace running back who specializes in the passing game to complement starting tailback Draughn.

So on Nov. 10, the Niners signed running back Travaris Cadet, who caught 38 passes for the New Orleans Saints last season. Expect the Niners to play Cadet and not Draughn when they call a pass with a running back in the pattern.

But the Niners may not ask Cadet to block. He’s small (6’1”, 210 lbs), and linebackers could push him around.

When the 49ers use max protection schemes, they may play Kendall Gaskins at running back. Gaskins is the biggest, most powerful back on the team at 6’1”, 238 pounds, and he’s perfect in pass protection this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Stock Down: Outside Linebacker Ahmad Brooks

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Ahmad Brooks is the sixth-worst outside linebacker in the NFL this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

He’s still decent against the run, though. Stopping the run always has been the strength of his game—he used to be a middle linebacker. He can read running plays.

But he’s a terrible pass-rusher with terrible technique. He used to get by on sheer athleticism, but not anymore. Now, he’s 31 and the third-worst pass-rushing outside linebacker in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

It’s time to bench Brooks. He is not a part of the 49ers’ future, nor is he helping their present. Aaron Lynch and Tank Carradine should be the 49ers edge-rushers on passing downs.

Stock Up: Cornerback Dontae Johnson

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Second-year cornerback Kenneth Acker outplayed fellow second-year corner Dontae Johnson during training camp and preseason. Johnson started the regular season as the 49ers’ No. 3 corner.

It shouldn’t be a surprise Johnson fell behind Acker initially. Acker played corner in college—Johnson played safety. He still is learning what Acker already knows.

But Johnson seems to be closing the gap. He started at cornerback Week 9—Acker was injured. And Johnson played well. He even broke up a pass intended for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones in the end zone during the fourth quarter.

Johnson quietly has played well all season. According to Pro Football Focus, he has been targeted 17 times, has allowed only six catches and has broken up three. Impressive. Johnson seems like a future staple of the San Francisco secondary.

Follow @grantcohn.