Niner Noise
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Fantasy football: Early stock watch for 49ers roster in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Blake Countess #24 of the Los Angeles Rams chases George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers on a short pass play during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Blake Countess #24 of the Los Angeles Rams chases George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers on a short pass play during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Tight End George Kittle

There are far too many tight ends you’d want to consider for your starter on draft day than 49ers 2017 rookie George Kittle.

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Jameson Williams' fantasy value is teetering on the edge of going in the tank
Jameson Williams' fantasy value is teetering on the edge of going in the tank /

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    • That said, Kittle is easily worth a look in deeper leagues, flex play and as a bye week reserve.

    Niner Noise’s Chris Wilson explained why:

    "From 1970 — the year of the AFL-NFL merger — to 2016, NFL teams didn’t have a lot of luck drafting tight ends late in the draft, and immediately placing them into prominent roles. … Kittle finished the 2017 season with 43 receptions and 515 receiving yards — more than any tight end, drafted in the fifth round or later, in the history of the league."

    Kittle’s 2017 efforts accounted for 106.5 ESPN fantasy points last year, which isn’t worth a starting slot. But it’s time to take some things into account.

    For starters, Kittle had quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and C.J. Beathard throwing him the ball for all but five games. That didn’t help his production much, yet all that changed with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. In the 10 games pre-Garoppolo, Kittle averaged just 29.1 yards per game. That number jumped to 44.8, including a 100-yard performance in Week 17, when Garoppolo took over starting duties in Week 11.

    If you subscribe to the notion players make their biggest pro-level leaps between years one and two, you’d be wise to consider Kittle as a sleeper option.

    Stock: Rising