Niner Noise
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Fantasy football: 10 players you’ll want to avoid drafting early in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a 35 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a 35 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Tight End. San Francisco 49ers. George Kittle. 5. player. 42.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is definitely in the “don’t reach” category. Not in the “avoid” one.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Kittle went from a late-round sleeper in fantasy football a year ago to a must-have commodity. This, after he set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end with 1,377, which broke the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski’s 2012 record.

Impressive, sure. As a result, someone is going to reach on Kittle, especially with tight end remaining one of the more thin position groups out there in fantasy.

As Niner Noise’s Chris Wilson broke down, Kittle’s 2018 success isn’t sustainable. True, the 49ers are getting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo back from his ACL tear. But they also added a promising pass catcher in the rookie, Deebo Samuel, while they’ll also look to get second-year wideout Dante Pettis involved in the receiving game much more.

These two will cut into Kittle’s targets this season.

Good fantasy numbers are still likely to be there. But with an ADP of 3.06, someone is going to use a too-early pick on Kittle this season.

Save your tight end needs for the later rounds.