Jimmy Garoppolo: What’s the 49ers quarterback worth in fantasy football?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is going to be under a lot of pressure in 2019, meaning he could have a breakout fantasy football year this season.

If you’re in a standard-scoring 10-team for fantasy football this season, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo might not be your first choice rounding out your roster.

The San Francisco 49ers signal-caller is coming off a 2018 ACL tear — the conclusion of a year in which Garoppolo was seen as the 10th best fantasy option in 12-team leagues, according to Fantasy Football Calculator.

This year, Garoppolo has dropped down to the 19th overall spot in the same format, owning an average draft position (ADP) of 12.09.

Garoppolo’s fall fits the narrative. He still has just 10 pro-level starts under his belt, despite being 27 years old. And while the Niners have spent considerable effort revamping and upgrading their offense during the offseason, quarterbacks typically aren’t early round fantasy football draft selections anyway.

So, right out of the gate, you shouldn’t be viewing Jimmy G as a top option. If you do, you’re already in danger of missing out on a playoff push.

Yet there are reasons why you should consider Garoppolo a sleeper option in mid-sized leagues this season. Let’s start there.

Why Jimmy Garoppolo Is a 2019 Sleeper

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is an offensive genius. Despite having to start a trio of quarterbacks in 2018, San Francisco still ranked 16th in offensive yards gained (5,769). Those numbers alone won’t win you fantasy trophies. But it does illustrate the point Shanahan’s offense can effectively move the ball regardless who’s under center.

And remember those offensive upgrades? Well, rookie wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd should only complement Garoppolo’s efforts. Running back Tevin Coleman, already established as a pass-catching threat, is just another reason why Garoppolo’s numbers could see a nice spike.

Remember, Garoppolo has already shown prowess in the short- to intermediate-area games.

He’ll also benefit from that guy, tight end George Kittle, too. Fantasy owners should already know how good Kittle can be.

Why You Shouldn’t Reach on Jimmy Garoppolo

It might be a wiser move to go with another quarterback first, unless you’re at a point where all the good signal-callers are off the board. And if you’re in that spot later during your fantasy football draft, you might already be in trouble.

ESPN has Garoppolo listed as the No. 23 quarterback option for 2019, and the rationale is as follows:

"Garoppolo’s play has also left something to be desired. In nine games with the 49ers, he’s contributed 13 touchdowns, thrown 8 interceptions and fumbled 5 times. His production is almost exactly identical to that posted by 2017 undrafted free agent Nick Mullens in eight games last season. Garoppolo remains a bit of an unknown, but his combination of talent and the presence of head coach Kyle Shanahan offers him fantasy upside. He’s a back-end QB2 and post-hype sleeper."

This puts Garoppolo into that third tier of fantasy quarterbacks, so you might already be looking at him as little more than a backup option to your starter.

Even if he does break out in 2019, you’re likely to wind up having a shot at Garoppolo well after the start of Round 10 in your fantasy draft. Save those precious earlier picks to round out the rest of your roster.

Unless there’s a 49ers fantasy homer in your league, of course.

Fantasy Football Worth for Jimmy Garoppolo

Entering 2019, Garoppolo is a low-risk, high-reward fantasy option. To be honest, that’s where fantasy champions are made. If you make the right selections in the late rounds of your draft, you have a great chance of being the champ, not one of the many chumps.

Garoppolo will be under a lot of pressure this season, needing to live up to what was then a record-setting five-year, $137.5 million deal signed early in 2018. To date, he hasn’t done so, although injury certainly had something to say about that.

That said, Garoppolo’s situation is much better this season than it was a year ago. San Francisco’s cast of offensive weapons is much better, and Jimmy G’s immersion into Shanahan’s offense for another full year could end up working wonders.

2017 fantasy football owners of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan can attest to the difference a year makes there.

Grab another quarterback first, if you can. If you have a mid- or late-round pick in Round 11, don’t be afraid to grab the 49ers signal-caller. And if he falls into Round 13 or later, don’t hesitate.