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Fantasy Football: Early San Francisco 49ers Stock Watch for 2016

By Peter Panacy

Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) during a player injury against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) during a player injury against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 NFL season is a few months away, and fantasy football owners will begin putting research together on players who should be targeted for their respective teams. Let’s take an early look at some San Francisco 49ers and how their stock is looking so far this offseason.

Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning 71 yard touchdown during the overtime against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The 49ers won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning 71 yard touchdown during the overtime against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The 49ers won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

If you had any San Francisco 49ers players on your fantasy football roster last season, chances are you came away with more than your fair share of disappointments.

After all, the 2015 49ers ranked dead last, offensively, with just 238 points scored. And the Niner defense was in the bottom tier of yards allowed as well.

You might have had a player or two from San Francisco on your fantasy team — either a fill-in guy in a pinch or some reserve guy to cover a bye week — but that pretty much summed up every fantasy player held from the 49ers roster.

While we shouldn’t expect the Niners to suddenly become an offensive powerhouse over one season, fans should consider San Francisco to make some positive moves in the right direction.

A lot of this has to do with the 49ers’ hiring of head coach Chip Kelly.

Let’s take a look at 2013 — the first year Kelly took over the Philadelphia Eagles — as a brief gauge of what could happen in San Francisco this season. According to Football Outsiders, the Eagles offensive DVOA came in that year at 22.9 percent — No. 3 in the NFL. This number was up from minus-10.8 percent (25th in the league) the previous year before Kelly was hired.

One might argue the rest of the NFL has made its adjustments to Kelly’s offense, so we shouldn’t expect the same sort of leap from the 49ers this year.

But if Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney is right, San Francisco will be a lot more fun to watch this season.

So let’s take an early stock watch on some 49ers fantasy options this offseason and try to gauge where these players/units might work into your fantasy draft.

Next: 49ers Defense/Special Teams