The 2016 NFL Preview continues. Every weekday from now until opening night, we will preview the 2016 NFL Season. This week’s remaining schedule: Miami (Wednesday), Chicago (Thursday), New York Giants (Friday).
A year and a half ago, I posted a story about Chip Kelly and his crazy GM (which was Kelly himself). Right after the DeMarco Murray signing, when people started to realize that Chip Kelly might be in over his head a little bit. Fast forward to the end of last season, and Kelly is out of Philadelphia and the Eagles spent the offseason doing as much to get away from that roster as they possibly could.
As for Kelly? Well he landed on his feet in San Francisco. So the travelling offensive circus has switched coasts. Can the Niners run this offense? Has the NFL figured the offense out? Was it all Sam Bradford’s fault last year? So many questions.
Worst QB battle of all time? As the saying goes, “When you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks.” That’s what is happening in San Fran at the moment. In the blue corner is Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert went from washout to starter in San Fran last year, starting the final 8 games. The Niners went 3-5 and Gabbert had 10 touchdowns in those 8 contests. If you thought to yourself “Those numbers aren’t good” you would be correct. However, they were better than Colin Kaepernick, who had 6 TD’s in the first eight games of the season. Kaepernick is participant #2 of this battle, in the red corner. Both QB’s will split the reps in training camp and will have a shot to win the job during the preseason.
Not a lot of talent around whoever wins Carlos Hyde was supposed to be the next great 49er running back in 2015, but averaged 67 rushing yards per game over seven games before his season ended with an injury. He’s the #1 back going into the season. The receivers? Torrey Smith & Bruce Ellington. You’ve either never heard of these players or if you have you know they aren’t good. No matter how many quick plays the offense will run under Kelly, San Francisco simply doesn’t have the talent on offense to compete.
Bad team, terrific division Even a top team would have trouble having to play twice a year against the terrific teams in Arizona and Seattle. The Niners aren’t even on the same level as the perpetually 7-9 Rams under Jeff Fisher. If they don’t beat the Rams opening night, they are staring at a 0-6 start. Weeks 2 through six go as follows: At Carolina, at Seattle, Dallas, Arizona, and at Buffalo. The worst thing that can happen to a young team with a new coach is to get off to a slow start. With this slate it’s all but guaranteed.
Fantasy Focus Unless you’re in a three quarterback league there’s absolutely no reason to roster whoever wins this QB battle in the Bay. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of a single player on this team that you would want to have as a starter on your fantasy team. Carlos Hyde is currently the 15th ranked running back, but a case can easily be made for the next 10 players behind him. At that point in the draft, I would take BPA and then wait a round and take Jeremy Langford instead.
Prediction The Niners do not win their game opening night, and they do not win many games at all this season. San Francisco is playing out the string by Halloween and the search for a new QB is their top priority at season’s end. 3-13