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Predicting the 2016 San Francisco 49ers Week 17 Starting Lineup

By Peter Panacy

December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) rushes for a 1 yard touchdown during the final minute of the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) rushes for a 1 yard touchdown during the final minute of the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver

Torrey Smith will start at wide receiver for the 49ers in 2016. And he’ll be joined by, well, someone else in a Niners uniform.

In all fairness, San Francisco is doing the right thing by opening up the door for competition on a very young group of wideouts on the team’s current 90-man roster. But it’s difficult to predict who occupies the No. 2 gig alongside Smith in Week 1, let alone Week 17.

Third-year pro Bruce Ellington is a favorite to earn a legitimate role under head coach Chip Kelly this season. And that’s fine. Ellington will probably be the guy whom the 49ers turn to in order to fulfill the slot-receiver role.

And he may start in base formations too.

But what if another one of the young receivers earns this job. DeAndre Smelter, Eric Rogers, Aaron Burbridge, Dres Anderson, DeAndrew White and a number of others are possibilities too.

Let’s go with the hunch Kelly will turn Ellington into something pretty special this season, which will force the Niners to get him on the field as much as possible.

Week 17 Starters: Torrey Smith and Bruce Ellington

Next: Running Back