The San Francisco 49ers are looking to put a difficult 2020 season behind them. Riddled by injuries, the team was knocked off course before they could get going as key players were sidelined for large chunks of the season.
Fast forward to 2021 and spirits are high once again in San Francisco. This is a team that made the Super Bowl in 2020, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. They look poised and ready to return as contenders in the NFC.
After going 6-10 last year, the 49ers are in a position to bounce back in a big way in 2021. Here are five bold predictions for San Francisco this upcoming season.
5. Nick Bosa Breaks Out With Double-Digit Sacks
One of the big injuries that the 49ers suffered last season was to defensive end Nick Bosa. Bosa was the No. 2 overall pick in 2019 and immediately made an impact. He compiled nine sacks in his rookie season and took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
He tore his ACL in Week 2 against the New York Jets last season and is itching to get back on the field. Bosa will return to form this season and pick right up where he left off.
The Ohio State product will set a new career-high for sacks, racking up 12 on the season and becoming the focal point of the 49ers pass rush once again.
4. 3 Players Surpass 1,000 Yards Receiving
Even with Kendrick Bourne leaving in free agency, the San Francisco 49ers have some excellent options at wide receiver. Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Mohamed Sanu are a solid trio before you even get to all-world tight end George Kittle.
With those kinds of weapons, it will be tough for opponents to pinpoint one player to stop every week and the team will take full advantage. Aiyuk and Samuel are both going to break out this season, while Kittle will return to form after battling injuries in 2020.
All three players will have at least 1,000 receiving yards this season as Kyle Shanahan will open up the passing offense.
3. Wayne Gallman Leads The Backfield In Rushing
The San Francisco 49ers have battled injuries to the running back position for years. They have had a different player lead the team in rushing in four consecutive years, and this year it will be five.
Last season’s leading rusher, Jeff Wilson, is still on the roster but buried on the depth chart as he is on the PUP list to begin camp with a knee injury. Raheem Mostert is atop the depth chart, but given his injury concerns, it will be one of the new faces leading the way.
Wayne Gallman, who was signed away from the New York Giants, will be the team’s leading rusher in 2021. Gallman played well in relief of Saquon Barkley last season and will carry that momentum with him out west.
2. Trey Lance Starts At Least 12 Games
The clock is ticking on Jimmy Garoppolo as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback. The organization made a big trade up before the 2021 NFL Draft, moving up to the No. 3 pick.
With that pick, they selected North Dakota State quarterback, Trey Lance. While Kyle Shanahan has said that Garoppolo will be under center to start the season, it is only a matter of time until he cedes the job to Lance.
Lance is the future for the 49ers and a much more dynamic option. He will start a majority of the games for the 49ers this season, giving San Francisco a much higher ceiling than Garoppolo does.
1. 49ers Make Playoffs As A Wild Card Team
The NFC West is arguably the toughest division in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks present some stiff competition for the San Francisco 49ers to go up against.
While they will fall short of the division title, the 49ers will still qualify for the postseason by locking down one of the Wild Card spots. This is a deep, talented roster that will turn things around in 2021 with some better injury luck than they had in 2020.
