As Fantasy Football managers prepare for their drafts this year, the San Francisco 49ers are a team that everyone wants a piece of. No matter the format that your Fantasy Football league uses, the 49ers should be a gold mine.
After finishing sixth in points for and fifth in yardage last season, San Francisco is showing no signs of slowing down. With quarterback questions being put to rest with Brock Purdy already cleared to return to practice, this offense is ready to explode once again.
However, when evaluating the 49ers from a Fantasy Football perspective, a little deep digging could reveal that you are not getting as much value as you perceived. That is why wide receiver Deebo Samuel has landed on Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report’s list of Fantasy Football busts for the 2023 season.
He was not the only 49ers star to make Davenport’s list of potential busts, as tight end George Kittle also found himself on there. The common denominator between the two? The presence of star running back, Christian McCaffrey.
With McCaffrey in the fold, Samuel saw his rushing usage fall by the wayside. What separated him from his peers in 2021 was the fact he was the 49ers’ No. 1 option in the passing game and out of the backfield as a do-it-all player.
In Davenport’s opinion, you are “chasing ghosts of two seasons ago,” and it is hard to argue against that. Samuel will have some big weeks but his bust potential is high considering what his ADP is.
In Kittle’s case, McCaffrey’s presence means fewer chances in the red zone and a much smaller target share. That is something Brandon Aiyuk has eaten into as well, as Kittle has a 16.2 percent target share and 10.2 PPR points per game with McCaffrey, Aiyuk and Samuel in the 49ers’ lineup.
That was the case in nine games last season and throughout a full season, it would put him in eighth amongst tight ends according to Mike Clay of ESPN. Being drafted as a top-three tight end, you are putting your Fantasy Football team in jeopardy by selecting him so high. His durability is also concerning as he has missed multiple games in all but one of his six seasons.
