49ers roster: 5 players who aren’t getting enough praise in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers Fullback Kyle Juszczyk
Normally, one wouldn’t need to rate a player who’s by far the highest-paid player at his position within the entire league as someone who’s not receiving credit.
But for fullback Kyle Juszczyk, it makes a good deal of sense.
True, so much of what San Francisco’s offense does revolves around Juszczyk, both as a lead blocker who has helped propel the 49ers toward averaging 4.5 yards per rush this season, and also as a pass-catching mismatch.
If anything, entering 2021, head coach Kyle Shanahan needed to ensure Juszczyk was receiving more attention as a receiving threat, particularly with tight end George Kittle already having missed three games with a calf injury. In that department, Juszczyk has actually delivered in a substantial way, currently ranking third on the Niners offense with 15 catches.
The only two players ahead of him on that list are Kittle (19) and Deebo Samuel (44).
Yet Juszczyk’s position doesn’t automatically make him a No. 1 thought when it comes to receiving threats, but he has been so far this season.
Even if San Francisco’s offense gets back to full strength, Juszczyk needs to be used in this manner for the rest of the year.