Finding Hidden Gems on 49ers 2016 Roster

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Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) catches the ball during warm ups before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Bruce Ellington – Wide Receiver

Wide receiver Bruce Ellington has failed to really wow us or the coaches in his two-year career so far. He will occasionally flash some brilliance with his speed and elusiveness, and there are other times he becomes invisible.

Nineteen receptions for 215 receiving yards and two touchdowns is pretty underwhelming stuff. When you throw in a total of 325 return yards and zero TDs, for a player of his ability, you just shake your head.

Indeed, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him at a plus-62.9 (from a zero to 100 scale) where his only over-70 grade (plus-71.3) was for run blocking. These numbers are quite average and the Niners coaches and general manager Trent Baalke would have been hoping for more.

Ellington seems primed to have a big 2016 season. During the OTAs and minicamp, he excelled. His fellow receiver Torrey Smith was particularly impressed, as he explained to 49ers studios (h/t David Fucillo of Niners Nation):

"Especially Bruce, I mean he’s really stepped it up. He’s playing better than ever, and he’s always had the talent, it’s just about having the opportunity, and I think right now, it’s his time and he’s taking advantage of it."

Head coach Chip Kelly likes his speed receivers, and he said back in February that he was intrigued by him. With Kelly’s quick-fire inside-zone scheme, Ellington is the perfect fit for the slot receiver role, and he has been working there throughout camp so far, as Niner Noise’s Sequoia Sims points out.

If Ellington can have a strong training camp, he will rise from the up-and-coming class of player to a bona fide Niner star.

Next: Tank Carradine