SF 49ers would make playoffs if these 5 players stayed healthy

No. 3: SF 49ers Tight End George Kittle

For the first three seasons of his pro career, tight end George Kittle did nothing but break records. In 2017, he set a new record for receiving yards (515) and receptions (43) for a tight end drafted in Round 5 or later in the modern era. In 2018, he set the single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end (1,377). And then through his third year, he broke Hall of Famer Mike Ditka’s record for most yards by a tight end over his first three years (2,780).

All that came to a stop when Kittle broke his foot in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks. And with the SF 49ers’ prospects for a playoff push all but over now, it’s likely Kittle stays on injured reserve to rest and recover in advance for 2021.

San Francisco needs an offensive threat in Kittle’s ilk, if for nothing else but name recognition alone. He does so much for everyone else, including players like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, as well as helping out the Niners quarterbacks by being a go-to threat.

But there are other areas where Kittle’s absence has hurt, too, especially in run blocking where San Francisco has also seen a noticeable regression.

Kittle alone could have prompted the SF 49ers to win another game or two this season, meaning they’d possibly be looking at a 7-6 record instead of being at 5-8.