RADIO
The 2018 San Francisco 49ers were a team that was haunted by the injury bug. Both major acquisitions (Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon) went down early to season-ending injuries, causing this team to dig deep into their depth chart for help. Even the players brought in to fill those roles found themselves missing time as well.
Nick Mullens (170.2 FP) and Matt Breida (137.5 FP) were the top-scoring players for the 49ers last season, both being solid plug-and-play options at points during the year. But let's be honest, the fortunes of this team and their fantasy values rely heavily on the health of Jimmy Garoppolo. If he plays a full 16 games, we could see the breakout of Dante Pettis (five touchdowns in 12 games played). With the signing of Tevin Coleman, McKinnon's days as a Niner may be over, but this backfield may still be a headache with Breida, Jeffrey Wilson, and Raheem Mostert all still under contract.
Looking forward to the draft, I expect for the 49ers to really hone in on the defensive side of the ball and depth on the offensive line. The pieces on offense are there, but the team really needs the help to keep Garoppolo upright and the running game going. Defensively, the front four is pretty strong but could be improved, as well as the secondary. The team really needs to come out of this draft with a quality cornerback or two to help with depth issues.
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Top Three Projected Selections
First Round- Nick Bosa, DE Ohio State (2nd overall)
Second Round- Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College (36th)
Third Round- Isaiah Johnson, CB Houston (67th)
Remaining Picks
Fourth Round- 104th
Sixth Round- 176th, 212th
With two of the first three selections, I have this team adding to the defense. The addition of Bosa, the draft's top pass-rushing prospect, could prove to be significant. Pairing him with the likes of Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead makes this defensive front one that could be among the league leaders in sacks by season's end. Bosa's hands and strong upper body will allow him to eat up any attempt to block him with a single lineman. If you choose to double team him, Thomas or Armstead then have a free run to get into the backfield. That's a pick-your-poison situation for any offense.
Lindstrom may not be the bull that teams like to see at the position, but his athletic ability more than makes up for that. He could be a great fit for a 49ers team that will be more focused on quick passing, in a West Coast type of offense. His lateral quickness gives him above average ability as a pass blocker - a trait that could make him a starter for years to come.
Isaiah Johnson has the size and ability that coaches covet at the cornerback position. But consistency has plagued him during his college career. If coached up properly, he could develop into a sound starter. His press coverage skills could come in handy in a division sporting up-tempo offenses. He will likely be a rotational player in year one but may develop into a starter by year two.
