San Francisco 49ers Week 13 Stock Report

Stock up: San Francisco 49ers former All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman

Bowman may never be an All-Pro again—he tore his ACL and MCL almost two years ago and struggles planting and changing directions in pass coverage. But, he does other things well.

Bowman may be the league's best run defender among inside linebackers. When the Niners defensive line plays reasonably well and keeps blockers away from Bowman, he can run straight to the ball-carrier and tackle him at the line of scrimmage.

On pass plays, the Niners often work around Bowman’s coverage limitations by asking him to rush the quarterback. Bowman has become one of the league's best blitzers at his position. Only the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews is better.

This is the Week 13 stock report.

Stock Up: Anquan Boldin

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin averaged just 31 receiving yards per game the first quarter of the season. He seemed cooked. Put a fork in him.

Then, Boldin had back-to-back 100-yard-receiving games Weeks 5 and 6 and didn’t seem cooked anymore. Un-fork him.

But, he pulled his hamstring toward the end of the Week 6 game, limped through the next game against the Seattle Seahawks and sat out the next two games. Re-fork him.

Boldin could have sat out the rest of the season—he’s not invested in the 49ers’ future. He will be a free agent after this season.

But, he didn’t sit out. He returned to the lineup Week 11 and caught five passes for 93 yards. Then he caught eight passes for 93 yards Week 12. He looked like vintage Boldin. The first quarter of the season seems like a fluke.

Get the fork out of here.

Stock Down: Bruce Ellington

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The 49ers don’t seem to trust Bruce Ellington as a wide receiver. He has caught only eight passes all season.

After Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, the Niners probably can’t trust Ellington as a punt returner, either. He let a punt bounce off his fingers, and the Cardinals recovered the ball.

Ellington always seemed unnatural fielding punts. He returned only three of them in college—he primarily returned kicks at the University of South Carolina. He’s learning on the job in the NFL

And he isn’t very good at his job. This season, he’s averaging a mere 7.6 yards per punt return.

Every other team in the NFC West has an explosive punt returner. The Niners need one, too.

Stock Up: Mike Purcell

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Defensive lineman Mike Purcell was inactive the first eight games of the season.

He played in his first game Week 9 and has received more playing time every game since then. He even started in the Niners’ most recent game in place of Glenn Dorsey, who tore his ACL Week 11 in Seattle.

Purcell started over 21-year-old rookie first-round pick Arik Armstead, who doesn’t yet seem strong enough to stuff the run in the NFL. He’s a pass-rush specialist at this point in his career.

Purcell has been in the NFL three years; he’s strong. And he may be an upgrade over Dorsey. Purcell was a force against the run Week 12 and the only 49ers defender who sacked Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Purcell should have been playing way before Week 9.

Stock Up: Blake Bell

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Rookie tight end Blake Bell is a former quarterback who is not a good blocker. He needs to get stronger and improve his blocking technique.

For most of this season, Bell has sat on the bench, while Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek have gotten most of the playing time at tight end. McDonald and Celek both seem much stronger than Bell.

Celek is a solid No. 2 tight end who’s having the best season of his career, but he injured his ankle Week 12 and had to leave that game.

Bell replaced him and made three catches, including a 48-yarder. Bell seems like a big-play tight end who could be an upgrade over Celek if he improves his blocking.

Stock Down: Blaine Gabbert

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Maybe Blaine Gabbert raised our expectations too high after he beat the Atlanta Falcons in his first start with the 49ers.

Gabbert in that game reminded us why he was a first-round draft pick. He’s big (6’4”, 235 lbs), fast (4.66 40-yard dash) and has a cannon. He seems like franchise-quarterback material.

After three starts, it’s clear he’s just a backup—a good backup, but a backup nonetheless.

Gabbert is a poor downfield passer—always has been. Despite his strong arm, his quarterback rating on passes that travel 10 or more yards downfield this season is a meager 75, according to Pro Football Focus.

The quarterback search continues.

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