San Francisco 49ers: Frank Gore & 4 Players Who Will Continue Magical Seasons

The San Francisco 49ers have only played six games in 2011 and it might seem premature to invoke the word "magic" to describe them.

However, even the most hardened skeptic must admit that this season has been nothing short of improbable. No one could have guessed that the 49ers would be 5-1 at this point, with a real possibility of being 9-1 by Thanksgiving.

Such an improvement requires old stars to step up and new stars to emerge.

Here are the players that will continue to lead the 49ers to victory.

Frank Gore

It would have been easy to write Frank Gore off after three games. He had ran for only 148 years, and he certainly wasn't getting any younger.

But Gore has made any doubters look foolish in the last three contests. Recovering his trademark explosiveness, he has rushed for 393 yards and three scores on 50 carries.

Gore is now on pace to run for over 1,400 yards, his highest total in five years. More importantly, he's also on pace to make the postseason for the first time in his career.

Alex Smith

Alex Smith's foibles have been well documented since becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Frustrations with the signal caller came to a head last year, when fans at Candlestick Park chanted that they would rather have notable bust David Carr play than Smith.

What a difference a season makes, as Smith is have unquestionably his best year as a pro. With eight touchdowns to only two interceptions, the QB is single-handedly bringing back the term game manager.

Smith has excelled at avoiding mistakes, a trend that should continue; expect his turnover number to be in the single-digits by season's end.

Smith will be outgunned by Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers come playoff time, but Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have shown how valuable a mistake-free quarterback can be on a defense heavy team.

NaVorro Bowman

In 2010, his rookie season, NaVorro Bowman was a backup to Takeo Spikes. When Bowman took over as starting inside linebacker in 2011, he was not expected to set the world on fire. Well, he has.

Bowman leads the 49ers in tackles with 56. He also has three pass deflections and a fumble recovery to boot.

Bowman will always be overshadowed by Patrick Willis, and perhaps deservingly so, but he has been absolutely fantastic in 2011. He will be a stellar player for the rest of this season and many years to come.

Aldon Smith

Many were puzzled by the San Francisco 49ers selecting Aldon Smith with the seventh pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. It was expected they would select a CB like Prince Amakamura, or reach for a QB like Jake Locker or Blaine Gabbert. In retrospect, the San Francisco front office look prophetic for taking a chance on the DE/OLB prospect from Missouri.

Smith played sparingly in 2011's first three games. He then had his breakout breakout game against the Eagles, picking up 1.5 sacks in the defining win. He's only gotten better since.

The LB picked up two sacks against both the Bucs and the Lions, bringing his total to 5.5 sacks in just three games of significant action. At this pace, the sky's the limit for the 6'4'', 258 pound behemoth.

As he garners more experience, Smith will continue to make big plays for the 49ers. He's also becoming a prime candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Andy Lee

Andy Lee has been one of the game's best punters for several years. But he's never had an opportunity to make an impact on a great team.

Lee is having his best year statistically. Not only is averaging over 50 yards per kick, but his net average of 44.4 leads the NFL. The 49ers have needed the field-postion edge Lee provides in a number of close game this year.

Punting doesn't get much ink, but it could make all the difference in a hard-fought playoff game down the road.