San Francisco 49ers: Fred Warner needs to start in Week 3 and beyond

The San Francisco 49ers are getting some linebacker reinforcements back in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean rookie linebacker Fred Warner should be relegated to a backup role.

San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Fred Warner has been one of a number of positive storylines early in 2018.

Yet Warner’s status to start in Week 3 on the road against the 2-0 Kansas City Chiefs is somewhat questionable, namely after the team is poised to receive some reinforcements at the position in Reuben Foster and Malcolm Smith.

Foster returns from his two-game suspension to start the season, while Smith is probable for the contest after dealing with an early hamstring issue.

Three linebackers competing for two spots — the MIKE and WILL positions.

Based off the money and experience, Foster and Smith should start, relegating Warner to a backup role and use in sub packages. But with Kansas City boasting the NFL’s most prolific passing attack this season so far, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would be wise to keep Warner in a starting job.

Even if it means moving Smith to a secondary role.

Warner leads San Francisco’s defense with 19 tackles. The 49ers have had issues bringing down opponents’ ball carriers, so keeping a backer who’s regularly around the ball should be a priority in Week 3. Afterwards too.

According to Pro Football Focus, Warner has already looked better in pass coverage than Smith, boasting a 66.7 pass-coverage grade over two games, which Smith has only eclipsed once in his career (2013 — 74.9). Plus, opposing quarterbacks have a career-97.3 passer rating targeting Smith in coverage. Warner’s mark so far is just 56.3 allowed.

OK, so that’s just two games. But there’s enough to like about Warner’s game. And while Saleh has been non-committal about who starts, citing it’s not as simple as just moving Smith to SAM, pairing Warner with Foster instead of Smith would be the way to go.

Foster wouldn’t complain either.

“I see a dog in Fred,” Foster said of Warner, via David Lombardi of The Athletic (h/t Kyle Madson of Niners Wire). “I see a real dog. A real mature man who’s about his business. I really salute him for that. I’m proud of him for stepping up and taking control of the defense wearing that green sticker. You know, I’ve worn the green sticker. It’s really hard to wear the green sticker. So I’m really proud of him, really.”

Out of the Chiefs’ 811 all-purpose offensive yards this season, 578 (71.3 percent) have come through the air. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ downfield aerial attack has been deadly, and he’s racked up a league-leading 10 touchdown passes on the young season.

One of the weapons Mahomes will look to utilize is tight end Travis Kelce, who might often be Warner’s primary coverage assignment out of the MIKE spot. Helping negate Kelce’s on-field ability would go a long way in assisting San Francisco’s defense for this matchup.

If Saleh’s forte is to put the best 11 on the field, Warner needs to be a part of that equation.

The 49ers and Chiefs kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 23 from Arrowhead Stadium.

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