It’s been several years since SF has been considered as Fantasy relevant. Since the departure of T.O. and QB Jeff Garcia after the ‘03 season the 49ers have finished last in total league offense three times. The only year they didn’t finish last they were still an embarrassing 26th (‘06). Dismal QB play, sporadic RB production and virtually no offense from any WR has kept owners from taking a chance on almost every SF player over the past four years. There were some positive happenings in the off-season so let’s see if you can expect a return to Fantasy fortune out of the 2008 49ers.

Coaching: Mike Nolan begins his fourth season as the SF Head Coach. Mike follows in the steps of his Father Dick who coached in SF from 1968-75. Prior to joining SF Nolan tutored under coaching legends Dan Reeves, Norv Turner and Brian Billick. Between 1993 and 2004 Nolan was a Defensive Coordinator with the Giants, Jets, Redskins and Ravens. Mike Martz begins his first year as the 49ers Offensive Coordinator after two years in the same capacity with the Lions. Martz coached the St. Louis Rams to one of the greatest turnarounds in league history. The Rams went from 4-12 in ‘98 to 13-3 and Super Bowl XXXIV Champions in ‘99. Martz guided one of the most prolific Fantasy studs ever when Marshall Faulk was running rough shod over the entire league. Though relatively unsuccessful in Detroit, Martz should help the development of the 49ers offense. It can’t get much worse. Greg Manusky enters his second season as the Defensive Coordinator in SF. Manusky played 12 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with Washington, Minnesota and Kansas City. He began his coaching career as the linebacker’s coach in Washington in 2001 and five years in the same capacity with the Chargers from 2002-06.

Stats Slant: This is a young group of coaches who have crafted their skills with some of the best coaches in NFL history. The 49ers have a long and rich history of legendary coaches. This group however has their work cut out for them.

Quarterback: Since the departure of Jeff Garcia in 2003 the 49ers QB situation has been a mess. SF fans have had to put up with Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, Cody Picket, Trent Dilfer, Shaun Hill, Chris Weinke and now Alex Smith at QB over the past four seasons. Between them they have passed for just 50 TD and 69 INT. Yikes! Alex Smith has thrown the most passes in SF over the past three years. In his 32 starts he has made 800 attempts, with very little success (4676 PYD 19 TD 31 INT 13 Fumbles lost). It’s been more of the same as Smith was 5 of 8 with an INT on the first day of training camp. Shaun Hill is trying to push Smith as the starter but expect the 49ers to open the season with Smith at QB.

Stats Slant: To say “move along, nothing to see here” would be a disservice to Fantasy fans. You should RUN not walk away from this group! If Smith couldn’t pick up a rather ordinary playbook, imagine how he will produce in Martz’s aggressive offensive system. Leave the SF QB’s on the board in all Fantasy formats. If a miracle happens and a SF QB turns it around, you can pluck him from the waiver wire.

Running Back: Frank Gore has been the lone bright spot out of SF when it comes to Fantasy Football in recent years. He has however battled knee, hand and ankle injuries over his first three seasons in SF. He missed two games in ‘05, played in all 16 in ‘06 and missed one game in ‘07. His ‘07 numbers fell off after they spiked in ‘06 (1,685 RYD 8 TD 61 C 485 PYD 1 TD) to ‘07 (1,120 RYD 5 TD 53 C 436 PYD 1 TD) Mike Martz has said he wants to get Gore 25 touches a game (20 R 5 P). That would equate to 400 touches over the course of the season. That’s a pretty lofty goal when you consider LT2 lead the league with 375 touches in ‘07. SF brought in DeShaun Foster. He should be the backup on opening day, as Michael Robinson had his knee scoped on 28/7/08 and may not be ready. If he is fully healthy expect Robinson to win the handcuff role and move to fullback. This is important given Gore’s injury history. Robinson is very athletic and can be an effective lead blocker. He can also pick up the blitz and catch balls out of the backfield.

Stats Slant: The arrival of Martz and the talk about 400 touches has Fantasy owners buzzing about Gore. Martz didn’t turn around the RB situation during his two years in Detroit and that has to be taken into consideration. We would argue that Martz had more talent in Detroit than he is inheriting in SF. Marshall Faulk was a very special athlete who excelled with a group of stars around him. Gore is a top ten RB with upside if he can stay healthy. Expect Gore to go off the board as a low-end #1 RB in the first round of most drafts.

Wide Receiver: While most people point to the QB as the root of the 49ers passing woes of late, some of the blame must be shouldered by the mediocre WR’s that they have employed. Gore (53 C) Vernon Davis (52 C) Arnaz Battle (50 C) and Darrell Jackson (46 C) caught the bulk of the balls in SF in ‘07. That is a RB and TE leading the way in receptions. Between them they had 2,032 PYD and 13 TD. There could be six or seven receivers in the NFL that post that many TD’s in ‘08 on their own. Isaac Bruce came over from St. Louis and Bryant Johnson came over from Arizona in the off-season. They become the starters with Battle, Jason Hill and (perennial Fantasy bust) Ashley Lelie competing for the #3 spot. Expect Battle to win the battle and move to the slot where he could be an excellent ‘08 sleeper pick.

Stats Slant: The 49ers should line up with Bruce at flanker (as he was with the Rams) Johnson would then become a poor man’s version of Holt by playing in the split end spot with Battle in the slot position. If they get any decent play out of the QB, Battle could lead this entire group. As it is, Bruce is old, Johnson will experience being the go to guy for the first time in his career and everyone is learning a new and complicated playbook. We also don’t like either Bruce or Johnson moving to the track in SF because it’s a much more treacherous and slower turf than they have been accustomed to over their careers. Watch to see how the 49ers use Battle in the preseason. He is said to be unhappy with his demotion but Martz may try to smooth it over by getting him the rock on a regular basis from the slot. Consider all three of these guys as nothing more than a #3 WR who are all in the low end of the top 50 or even top end 60 receivers.

Tight End: Many expected a breakout year from TE Vernon Davis in ‘07, but along with the rest of the 49ers offense, nothing really materialized (52 C 509 PYD 4 TD). Martz expects his TE to block first so it remains to be seen if Davis can buy into that. We expect similar numbers in ‘08 for Davis.

Stats Slant: Given all that is going on in SF, we are very surprised by the top six or seven TE positions Davis is getting in most preseason rankings. We are not even prepared to give him a #1 TE rating. As with virtually all SF players, owners should let Davis be someone else’s problem. If you have roster space, consider him as a #2 TE and possibly a decent bye week replacement.

Place Kicker: Joe Nedney begins his fourth season with the 49ers and 13^th overall with six different NFL teams. Nedney was accurate in ‘07 as he missed just two FG’s and both of them were over 50 YD attempts (17 of 19 FG 22 of 22 XP) Poor Joe doesn’t get enough chances to be considered as an option in any way, shape or form.

Stats Slant: Move along, there is nothing to see here.

Defense/Special Teams: Anytime an offense is in shambles, the defense usually isn’t too far behind. This is certainly the case with the 49ers. They are young and they are improving but they still don’t crack the top 20 overall DF/ST rankings list. They did re-tool in the off-season and the addition of return man Allen Rossum will help, just not enough. Keep an eye on this unit for ‘09 if they can get their offensive woes solved.

Stats Slant: Move along, there is nothing to see here.

Red Flag: You can’t move past the QB situation when you look at this group of players. As is always the case, in virtually every instance, the QB makes or breaks the rest of the players around them.

Keep a pre-season eye on: The health of Gore and Robinson. How much more Davis is used as a blocker and how he adapts to it.

Stats Sleeper: WR Arnaz Battle

Last word: One has to wonder why Favre wouldn’t want a shot at the system in SF! He would fit perfect in Martz’s crazy, chuck and duck system and would enjoy having Gore behind him. They wouldn’t even have to keep Davis in to block. Everyone’s value would spike instantly. Farve would also be sticking it to Green Bay by moving to the San Francisco Bay Area and joining Packer archenemies Martz and Bruce. StatsGuru would find humor in this but just wants the whole Favre saga to end. Until the QB position shows improvement and consistency, just avoid the 49ers all together.

Up Next: Seattle Seahawks On Deck: St. Louis Rams In The Hole: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

StatsGuru