Ranking 49ers 10 best players in 2021 after first four weeks
By Peter Panacy
![Deebo Samuel #19 and Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Deebo Samuel #19 and Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/82302fc38466b83bfbcb5f3282c958b2929714be55619c8b3e50314f677483b8.jpg)
George Kittle. 6. player. 42. . .
No. 6: 49ers Tight End George Kittle
Like Fred Warner, George Kittle has gotten off to a bit of a sluggish start this season, partially because of many of the Niners’ offense’s own inconsistencies and also possibly due to a nagging calf injury that’s hindered the 2019 first-team All-Pro for the past two-plus weeks.
It’s also fair to place some blame both on Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, too, for not making Kittle a bigger part of the game plan.
Kittle’s stats through four weeks have been relatively pedestrian, especially for someone of his prowess: 19 catches for 227 yards and zero touchdowns. He has been targeted 29 times, though, which helps highlight some of the accuracy concerns Garoppolo has.
Despite all this, Kittle’s on-field presence is still highly valuable.
Even if he’s not getting the reception numbers he should command, Kittle’s service as an elite-level blocker for his position and as a decoy have both allowed San Francisco to stay competitive in all four games despite the 2-2 record. And Kittle still remains a lethal threat who can easily have a 100-yard game at a moment’s notice.
Expect those kinds of performances in the very near future. It’s only a matter of time.