By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard
RB: Carlos Hyde, Matt Breida, Joe Williams, Raheem Mostert, Jeremy McNichols
FB: Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Marquise Goodwin, Pierre Garcon, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne, Aldrick Robinson
TE: George Kittle, Garrett Celek
2018
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QB: Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard
RB: Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida, Joe Williams, Raheem Mostert, Jeremy McNichols
FB: Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Marquise Goodwin, Pierre Garcon, Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne, Aldrick Robinson, Richie James
TE: George Kittle, Garrett Celek
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The no-doubt best move this team made came last season when it traded to get Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots. Garoppolo started the last five games of 2017, and the 49ers won all five while he put up strong numbers with a weak receiving group. We’ll see what he can do for a whole season, but there’s no doubt that he elevates this offense and the fantasy players within.
San Francisco made a strong move when it signed Jerick McKinnon from Minnesota, as he fits Kyle Shanahan’s offense well and showed that he can be a force at multiple levels last season. The 49ers let Carlos Hyde go, which I understand, but he is an above-average player, although not the right for Shanahan’s speed-driven offense. McKinnon will fit the role of lead back similarly to Devonta Freeman in Atlanta, while Matt Brieda should see something similar to the Tevin Coleman role in the offense. Both should have value, but I like McKinnon to flourish in this offense and stand out in PPR leagues.
I expected the 49ers to go after a wide receiver in free agency to help Garoppolo but they didn’t. They will get Pierre Garcon back from injury, and Marquise Goodwin had a strong connection with Jimmy Garoppolo, but there is still a need for a true No. 1 receiver. As it is, we can lock Goodwin and Garcon into the fantasy picture along with George Kittle.
Post-Draft Update
The 49ers didn’t look to upgrade defensively early in the draft, instead beefing up the offensive line and then trading up to take wide receiver Dante Pettis with the 44th-overall pick. Pettis set a NCAA record with Washington when he returned nine punts for touchdowns and then backed that up with four last season. He should be able to beat out Trent Taylor for the No. 3 job behind Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, and could have immediate fantasy value with Jimmy Garoppolo throwing him the ball.
The 49ers didn’t take another offensive skill position until the 240th-overall pick when they grabbed wide receiver Richie James out of Middle Tennessee State. James had profiled as a better pick until he broke his collar bone last year and missed much of the season. He’ll be a project, but his upside is there with the earlier-round picks.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: None
Solid: Jimmy Garoppolo, Jerick McKinnon, Marquise Goodwin
Sleeper: George Kittle
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Dec. 13
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
