San Francisco 49ers: Identifying the best player at each position after 10 games
By Peter Panacy
Quarterback
Best Player: C.J. Beathard
This was also a bit tough to call, as the 49ers haven’t exactly received top-tier quarterbacking from either the rookie, C.J. Beathard, or former Niners QB Brian Hoyer (now with the New England Patriots):
CJ Beathard’s hits/pressure problem hasn’t just been the OL. It’s been self inflicted. His 8.6% sack rate is 6th highest.
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) November 9, 2017
Hoyer’s 7.2% sack rate, with roughly the same OL, put him at 14th.
League average is 6.4%
Hoyer’s passer rating, including limited time with New England, currently stands at 75.0 — 31st out of all qualifying quarterbacks. Meanwhile, Beathard’s passer rating comes in at 70.8, which is ranked 33rd.
So one could argue Hoyer was actually the better option for San Francisco before being released.
But we’ll give Beathard the nod here based on two factors — one, he’s a rookie and still developing, while we essentially know everything about Hoyer’s ceiling. Two, Beathard has flashed a little more of the big-play capability, especially evidenced in the Niners’ lone win of the season against the Giants in Week 10.
Next: Pros & cons for re-signing Carlos Hyde this offseason
Neither QB pops off the charts here. Yet San Francisco made the right call going with Beathard until its new acquisition, Jimmy Garoppolo is ready to take the field.