Fantasy football: Should you draft 49ers receivers?

San Francisco 49ers receivers have not been relevant in fantasy football for some time. Will that change this year? Niner Noise tells you if you should draft S.F. receivers.

There’s a general rule that you’re not supposed to have your team’s players on your fantasy football team.

What do I do? Every year, no matter how bad the 49ers are, I say, “Screw it” and draft as many Niners players I can. The excitement triples when the Niner, who just scored a touchdown, is a player on your fantasy team.

Because my fantasy roster has been full of Niners the past few years, I’ve unfortunately found little success in my leagues, as the 49ers have been putrid as a whole, recently, but primarily at the receiver position.

Two years ago, the 49ers’ starting receivers were Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton and Rod Streater. None of these players should have been even usable in fantasy, but now times have changed as general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have took control of the team.

SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The 49ers’ starting receivers for the upcoming 2018 season are Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, both whom are easily draftable in the mid to late rounds of fantasy drafts. Garcon is a proven veteran possession receiver, who will serve as the No. 1 receiver for the team, while Goodwin is an up-and-coming receiver who proved in 2017 that he is more than just a deep threat.

However, I’m not going to go into detail into any of the receivers on the team because I don’t think that it would be wise to draft any 49ers receiver.

Now before you swear and close the article, hear me out. I am in no way saying that the 49ers offense will be bad. In fact, I have a good feeling that it will become a top aerial attack in the league.

CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks for a 30 yard first down run after a catch in fron of Cre’von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

But this will be a spread-the-ball offense. There are simply too many weapons Shanahan has in his pocket, and he is going to want to use every single one of them. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo can regularly throw to: running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida, receivers Garcon, Goodwin, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Richie James, tight ends George Kittle and Garrett Celek and last, but not least, fullback (or offensive weapon) Kyle Juszczyk.

That’s 11 weapons Garoppolo has at his disposal. They are all extremely talented and all players Shanahan will want utilized on the field.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 14: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball and stiff arms defender P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 14, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

This offense looks like it will be too good for fantasy purposes, which doesn’t sound like it makes sense but will negatively affect the fantasy outlook on 49ers’ receivers because none of them will singlehandedly eat up the target share on the team.

Assume that the 49ers offense will look the same as it did once Garoppolo went under center in 2017. Yes, Goodwin had great fantasy finishes in each of those games, but on the field at that time, there was no McKinnon, Garcon, Pettis, etc.

Make no mistake — again, this 49ers’ offense will be lethal in the 2018 season.

Next: 3 fantasy football sleepers to target in your 2018 draft

However, for fantasy purposes, the receivers don’t have a great outlook simply because of their inevitable lack of target share.