No. 10: SF 49ers Special Teams
Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky and Kyle Nelson
Despite being people, too, special teams are typically going to be the lowest-ranked unit out of any team almost by default.
If you’re relying heavily on special teams to win games, well, you’re probably not going to win too many.
For the big note, San Francisco’s battery of specialists — kicker Robbie Gould, punter Mitch Wishnosky and long-snapper Kyle Nelson — should at least enjoy some continuity not enjoyed over the first six weeks of 2019 when Nelson was still serving his 10-game suspension for a PED violation.
Nelson’s absence ultimately influenced Gould suffering a career-low 74.2 field-goal percentage on the year, although Gould righted the ship in the second half after Nelson returned.
Return specialist Richie James returned from the non-football injury list after suffering a broken wrist during the offseason, and he’ll look to ensure the SF 49ers’ starting field position, which was on average at the 32.1-yard line last year, stays strong.