2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: San Francisco 49ers

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2010 Fantasy Football Rankings - San Francisco 49ers:

Updated 5/22

Alex Smith, QB, 49ers. Bye: 9.
Believe it or not, Alex Smith wasn't a terrible fantasy quarterback in 2009. In 11 games, he compiled 2,350 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Extend that over a 16-game stretch, and you get 3,418 yards, 26 scores and 18 picks. Not bad.

Don't expect those numbers, however. The 49ers couldn't run the ball last year, so Smith spent a ton of time in the spread offense. With Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati joining the offensive line, Mike Singletary has made it clear that he'll favor the ground attack this season.

Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 3,400 passing yards. 20 passing TDs. 13 INTs. 50 rushing yards. 0 rushing TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points (ESPN Scoring): 195.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points (QB Friendly): 269.

Frank Gore, RB, 49ers. Bye: 9.
Frank Gore played in only 13 games last year (really 14, but was out right away in one of the contests he started), yet he managed to rush for 1,120 yards, and catch 52 passes for 406 more yards. He also scored 13 times.

Gore really came on during the final four games of the season when it seemed apparent that the 49ers wanted to focus more on running the football. In those four games, Gore rushed for 452 yards, caught 11 balls for 135 receiving yards, and scored four touchdowns.

Thanks to two upgrades on the offensive line, San Francisco's offense will be better in 2010, which can only increase Gore's YPC average (4.9 last year).

Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,325 rushing yards. 50 catches. 390 receiving yards. 15 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 261.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 311.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers. Bye: 9.
Michael Crabtree missed San Francisco's first five games. Of the remaining 11 contests, he caught at least four passes in nine of them. That's amazing considering that he and Alex Smith spent no time working together during the previous offseason. Expect much bigger things from Crabtree now that he'll be coming off an entire summer with his quarterback.

Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 72 catches. 990 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 135.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 207.

Josh Morgan, WR, 49ers. Bye: 9.
Josh Morgan had 52 catches for 527 yards and three touchdowns in 2009. He went over four receptions thrice - in Weeks 12, 13 and 15. That was when Alex Smith was in a spread offense, so don't expect Morgan's strong late-season finish to roll over into 2010.

Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 55 catches. 580 yards. 3 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 76.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 131.

Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers. Bye: 9.
I don't need to tell you that Vernon Davis had an incredible year. He caught 78 passes for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns. Those expecting a repeat performance, however, will probably be disappointed. The 49ers will be running the ball more, and some of Davis' end-zone targets will go to Michael Crabtree. Don't get me wrong; Davis is still going to have a solid season. It just won't match what he did in 2009.

Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 71 catches. 880 yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 142.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 213.

Joe Nedney, 49ers. Bye: 9.
Joe Nedney is 37 and plays in a mediocre offense. Avoid.

Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 24-28 FG (1-2 from 50+; 6-8 from 40-49). 35 XP.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 114.

San Francisco 49ers. Bye: 9.
The 49ers didn't have a single dominant pass-rusher in 2009, but as a whole registered 44 sacks, which led to 18 picks. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks really came on at the end of the year, so he could take San Francisco's defense to another level if he picks up where he left off. Also, with Ted Ginn on the roster, there's a good chance the Niners will have at least one special teams touchdown this season.