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San Francisco 49ers: Best and Worst Players at Each Position Entering 2017

By Peter Panacy

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (17) celebrates after a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (17) celebrates after a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver

Best Player: Jeremy Kerley

Worst Player: Torrey Smith

In all fairness to wide receiver Torrey Smith, former head coach Chip Kelly’s scheme wasn’t exactly the kind to put Smith’s best attributes to use.

Smith is a deep threat — a receiver who needs time to break away from coverage and spread the field. Kelly’s offense was predicated more on quick, well-timed throws. These didn’t allow Smith to get open as much as he did with the Baltimore Ravens some years ago.

And the numbers reflected it:

Receiving & Rushing Table
Games Receiving
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch%
2011 22 BAL WR 82 16 14 95 50 841 16.8 7 74 3.1 52.6 52.6%
2012 23 BAL WR 82 16 16 110 49 855 17.4 8 54 3.1 53.4 44.5%
2013 24 BAL WR 82 16 16 137 65 1128 17.4 4 74 4.1 70.5 47.4%
2014 25 BAL WR 82 16 16 92 49 767 15.7 11 53 3.1 47.9 53.3%
2015 26 SFO te/WR 82 16 12 62 33 663 20.1 4 76 2.1 41.4 53.2%
2016 27 SFO WR 82 12 12 49 20 267 13.4 3 53 1.7 22.3 40.8%
Career 92 86 545 266 4521 17.0 37 76 2.9 49.1
4 yrs BAL 64 62 434 213 3591 16.9 30 74 3.3 56.1
2 yrs SFO 28 24 111 53 930 17.5 7 76 1.9 33.2

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/13/2017.

2016 marked a career-low season for Smith. As he’s signed in San Francisco for a while, the Niners better hope the next offensive game plan does more to feature him.

Slot receiver Jeremy Kerley was a pleasant surprise in 2016. He led all 49ers with 64 catches and 667 receiving yards on the season.

Kerley is a free agent, and the Niners could do worse than bring him back to fill a similar role this year.