A whole lot of eyes are on the San Francisco 49ers as 1 of the top solutions in the NFC. As Brock Purdy seems to be to turn out to be the complete-time starter this year, head coach Kyle Shanahan and his roster will have to established quite a couple daring predictions to accomplish this time.
In the offseason, the Niners shed quite a several gamers that have been big contributors very last season, headlined by ideal tackle Mike McGlinchey. With the offensive line nevertheless not acquiring recovered from that departure, what ought to the expectations be in the Bay?
Bold Predictions for the 49ers
4. Brock Purdy throws for 30+ TDs, 10+ INTs
It is incredibly not likely that Brock Purdy posts a further 13:4 TD:INT stat line this yr, but it does not suggest that he won’t even now be successful. If fellas like Jimmy Garoppolo can be effective game managers in Shanahan’s plan, then someone of Purdy’s athletic profile can be just as effective.
The Niners will be using their working assault very first and foremost, but with a beneath-ordinary offensive line, the ideal arm of Purdy will turn into even extra prevalent. Hope extra passing tries per video game from Purdy, which should guide to far more scoring chances even though also tempting fate much more with a better interception full.
3. Deebo Samuel falls to the 4th focus on
The creating has variety of been on the wall for a little bit now relating to the long term of Deebo Samuel and his role in San Francisco’s offense. With Brandon Aiyuk ascending into a much larger role, George Kittle staying the security valve, and Christian McCaffrey continue to becoming Christian McCaffrey, Samuel’s purpose in the offense looks like it may be a little bit harder to pinpoint in 2023.
Injuries have forced Samuel to skip video games in each and every just one of his four seasons so far, and those people concerns most likely will pop up once again, restricting his ceiling even extra. Samuel is the most important identify in the receiver room, but Aiyuk ought to have the more substantial part this yr, which in flip knocks Samuel down the pecking order.
Aiyuk led the team with 114 targets very last yr, with McCaffrey (108 total from Automobile and SF), Samuel (94), and Kittle (86) pursuing soon at the rear of. Even if Purdy does finish up chucking the ball more this year, Samuel might want to manufacture yards and TDs more by himself this year.
For our 2023 NFL daring predictions, pay attention below:
2. Protection is NFL’s #1 scoring defense
This is the the very least surprising daring prediction on this record, observing as how the San Francisco protection has concluded as a major-10 unit 3 of the past 4 seasons. Obtaining finished the 2022 season as the 3rd-ideal defense in terms of fantasy football scoring, this device is again for extra this year.
While the unit missing Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, Jimmie Ward, Emmanuel Moseley, and Azeez Al-Shaair, incorporating defensive deal with Javon Hargrave from the Eagles will help fill some of that departed output.
Hargrave will pair with Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Javon Kinlaw to make one of the finest defensive traces in the league even nastier. Opposing offensive traces will have a super tricky time halting this front 4, and that doesn’t even start out to point out how considerably it will absolutely free up Fred Warner and Talanoa Hufanga on the back again two levels.
Owning only permitted 16.3 details for every game and 277 full factors last year (#1 in the league), the Niners are quite nicely accustomed to becoming at the top of the defensive lists across the NFL. Though their secondary may possibly be the most important hole on their roster, their front 7 is sturdy plenty of to assist protect up any challenges on the back again close.
1. Christian McCaffrey wins Offensive Participant of the Year
This could be viewed as much more of a luke-heat prediction, but there are lots of mouths to feed in the Niners offense to make it tough for CMC to see a award-profitable workload. But this variation of McCaffrey looked untouchable once he acquired up to speed with San Francisco very last year.
McCaffrey noticed time in 11 typical season online games for the 49ers very last year, soon after the midseason trade from the Carolina Panthers. While there ended up a couple of thoughts bordering McCaffrey and what his job would glimpse like, he looked like the common McCaffrey that we have viewed for his overall career.
Whilst there ended up two standard-period online games that McCaffrey noticed single-digit carries, people video games had been his very first game as a Niner and a 38-10 blowout get over the Cardinals. Six video games of six-as well as targets, which include 3 online games of nine-plus targets, showcased how San Francisco used McCaffrey in the passing sport.
A 19.8 % goal share from 7 days 7 on is incredible for McCaffrey, particularly with this offense also having players like Aiyuk, Kittle, and Samuel to include. With reviews this offseason noting how Shanahan and the offensive staff will most likely do their best to give McCaffrey most relaxation, that shouldn’t stop this runaway practice.
Likely combating with a good deal of other NFC managing backs and AFC wide receivers for the award, as well as a great number of quarterbacks, McCaffrey really should posture himself in a fantastic spot to gain that award at the close of the time.