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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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates kicking the game winning field goal as Marcus Cooper #31 of the Chicago Bears leaves the field at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defetaed the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates kicking the game winning field goal as Marcus Cooper #31 of the Chicago Bears leaves the field at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defetaed the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Kicker Robbie Gould

Yes, kickers are people too. And as any savvy veteran of fantasy football can tell you, your leagues can be won or lost by how well your kicker performs.

We’re likely talking about your last, or next to last pick on draft day. But if you have your choice, don’t sleep on Robbie Gould.

Gould accounted for 145 of the 49ers’ 331 points scored last year (43.8 percent) and also finished atop the NFL in field goals made (39). Ideally, the best offensive teams prefer not to have their kicker provide as much offense as Gould did in 2017.

But for fantasy owners, this is pure Gould (see what I did there? I’ll see myself out, thanks).

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Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein easily tops the list of fantasy targets for this position in 2018. But Gould’s 168 fantasy points put him into a solid third spot on ESPN’s list, just a point behind the New England Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski at No. 2.

So what should you expect from Gould in 2018?

Assuming the Niners offense picks up a bit this season, Gould’s overall numbers might take a bit of a hit. But the double-edge sword states there will be more opportunities with fewer 3-and-out San Francisco drives.

And considering the 49ers finished 2017 with the league’s 27th-ranked red-zone touchdown percentage (47 percent), continued non-touchdowns for San Francisco wind up playing right into Gould’s owners’ hands.

Next: Fantasy football: Top 5 NFL Draft prospects to watch for 2018

Stock: Rising