Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 worst players in 2018 through Week 7

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions catches a touchdown pass over Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 30-27. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions catches a touchdown pass over Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 30-27. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs stretches to make a catch in front of Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 23rd, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs stretches to make a catch in front of Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 23rd, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Linebacker Reuben Foster

It hurts to say it, but Malcolm Smith isn’t even the worst linebacker on the 49ers roster at this point in the season.

That dishonor unfortunately belongs to second-year pro Reuben Foster — the highly touted prospect out of Alabama, upon whom the Niners gambled by trading back into Round 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft.

His rookie season appeared to prove San Francisco right in its risk. But 2018 has been anything but impressive.

Sure, Foster missed the first two games of the season while serving a two-game suspension. Despite this, his numbers are way down. He’s third on the team in tackles (28) and has been regularly taking bad angles in pass coverage — a trait fans didn’t see last season.

One of the biggest issues, however, has been Foster’s tackling abilities. Or lack thereof. Over just five games played this season, Foster has missed a total of 12 tackles, per Pro Football Focus — highest among all 49ers defenders and four more than the No. 2 player on that list, Foster’s linebacking partner, Fred Warner.

If missed tackles are one of the Niners’ largest problems this season, Foster is the top culprit.

The good news, though, is Foster and Warner are still developing their chemistry. It’s more than reasonable to just assume Foster is having one of those sophomore slumps to which Kyle Shanahan eluded.