2008 Preseason Fantasy Football Team Previews: San Francisco 49ers

NFC West (Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals)

San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Preview:

This was a team chock full of disappointment last year. Pick a fantasy football player . . . any fantasy football player, and there was disappointment to share. Alex Smith? check. Frank Gore? check. Darrell Jackson? check. Vernon Davis? check. Ashley Lelie? ouch. Odds are if you had to rely on 49ers last year, you didn't do very well. Therefore, Mike Nolan and the 49ers brass made some major changes. Adios Darrell Jackson. So long Trend Dilfer. Please welcome Mike Martz to run the new and (hopefully) improved offense (and maybe make something fantasy relevant out of Alex Smith). Enter new wide receivers Bryant Johnson (from Arizona) and Issac Bruce (from St. Louis), new (backup) running back DeShaun Foster (from Carolina), and new return man Allen Rossum (from Pittsburgh). If these guys can gel with the incumbents, and Martz can get the most out of them, then this team could be fantasy relevant again. That's a lot of ifs, though. Still, we saw what Martz did with a Detroit team that arguably had less talent to work with, especially at QB, so that at least bodes well for Alex Smith. This could also be the opportunity Bryant Johnson has needed to become fantasy relevant.

The defense was good, but not great last year (and even that is debatable). However, the really bright spot was rookie Patrick Willis, who was simply amazing at inside linebacker. The team is looking to add another player to give him some assistance on the inside, such as Takeo Spikes. The team also signed DE Justin Smith (from Cincinnati) to give them an impact pass rusher (because, he was just soooo good in Cincinnati, right? Still wondering why they gave HIM so much money since he was a colossal bust in Cinci). Avoid this defense in your draft.

The 49ers didn't draft anyone who will make a fantasy impact this year.


Fantasy Surprise for 2008: Bryant Johnson, WR

Johnson was signed away from Arizona to be the team's new #1 WR (replacing Darrell Jackson). Bryant has the size and speed to be a really good #2 WR on your fantasy team, and could really excel in Mike Martz's system. If Alex Smith can do a Jon Kitna impersonation, Bryant's fantasy value will soar in 2008.

Fantasy Disappointment for 2008: Frank Gore, RB

I'm still not sold on Gore. He's going to again be drafted in the mid to early first round, and he does have great skills. However, he's always been injury prone (even in college, which is why his draft stock fell), and he's a complainer. He could have a bounce back year, but the offense won't be built entirely around him, and I wonder if his touches will be reduced by both the addition of DeShaun Foster and the system of Mike Martz. I think he'll be good, but not worthy of his lofty draft status, which means he will again be a disappointment.

Best Fantasy Draft Value for 2008: Vernon Davis, TE

Davis has a disappointing year last year. However, he (like Bryant Johnson) stands to benefit most from the new Mike Martz system. He could really blossom this year, as he has the skills to be a great receiving tight end in this league (like Antonio Gates and Jason Witten). I can see him being a great value pick in the mid to late rounds, and should finish as a top 5 TE.

Next Up: St. Louis Rams