Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking Each Position in 2016 by Strength

By Peter Panacy

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek (88) is congratulated by tight end Vance McDonald (89) and wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) for scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek (88) is congratulated by tight end Vance McDonald (89) and wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) for scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports /
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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 /

Wide Receiver

Best Player: Torrey Smith

Worst Player: Jerome Simpson

X-Factor: DeAndre Smelter

There aren’t too many concerns about veteran wideout Torrey Smith being named the No. 1 option in 2016. But who plays alongside him is an entirely different matter altogether.

Perhaps the job goes to third-year pro Bruce Ellington, who may be a primary beneficiary of head coach Chip Kelly. It’s feasible the task falls into the hands of fellow wideout Quinton Patton — inconsistent but talented.

Or, maybe, a dark-horse candidate like 2015 redshirtee DeAndre Smelter or rookie wideout Aaron Burbridge gets the nod.

It’s hard to say for certain.

This could be a good, or bad, thing right now. On the positive side, the 49ers are trying to develop a young receiving corps together. On the flip side, this group is very inexperienced, as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out:

Aside from Smith, the 49ers don’t have proven commodities here. And this could come back to haunt them in a big, big way.

Tier 5

Next: Running Back