Kyle Shanahan clearly has a strategy in mind, and it’s not always reflected in the preseason rankings.
The 49ers coach wants to build a versatile offense that has the ability to adjust on the fly depending on how the defense is aligned. That requires having multiple players who can run, block and catch effectively, which is not the easiest combination to find. Despite that challenge, Shanahan has been successful.
George Kittle is the best tight end in football, and no one else is close. He is a great receiver who is tremendously difficult to knock down, and his career blocking might be his best singular overall ability.
Deebo Samuel did a lot of everything during his excellent rookie season. He scored as many touchdowns in the air (three) as he did on the ground during the regular season while catching 57 passes and accumulating 961 total yards of scrimmage. In Super Bowl LIV, he led the 49ers with five receptions and finished five rushing yards before Raheem Mostert’s 58 for team leadership.
Like Kittle, it is a rig-breaking machine.
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Jalen Hurd is a former runner and a potential showdown nightmare. He scored two touchdowns in the only game he appeared in: Granted, it was the preseason. Kyle Juszczyk led all the NFL fullbacks with 20 receptions, and ranked by far the best player in his position according to Pro Football Focus.
Using the same rating system, which takes into account rush, receiving, passing blocking, and career blocking, both Mostert (sixth) and Tevin Coleman (24) ranked within the top half of all runners who They were on the field for at least 270 fits last season. Jeff Wilson scored five touchdowns in 30 total touches, and the last time Jerick McKinnon was healthy, he caught 51 passes off the field.
And that doesn’t even mention the most recent draft class, in which the 49ers added players like Brandon Aiyuk, Charlie Woerner, and Jauan Jennings. All three offer potentially dynamic and diverse skill sets.
The point is that Shanahan has a vision, and has constructed his offense accordingly. He wants to make each position potentially much more dangerous from a defensive perspective than it might appear on paper.
That’s why PFF ranks San Francisco’s wide receiver corps as only the 25th best in the NFL and worst in the NFC West, it’s not worth getting hot and bothering. Based exclusively on receiving personnel, that ranking, specifically relative to the rest of the division, arguably is not off base.
The Arizona Cardinals ranked first among all NFC West teams in the ranking, reaching number 8 overall. They stole DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans earlier in the offseason, and will now be paired with Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella. The No. 8 spot is precisely where they belong relative to the rest of the division and frankly they should probably be better ranked overall.
Rival Seattle Seahawks receivers ranked 14 overall, a ranking based primarily on their two main receivers (Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf). David Moore and free agent plus Philip Dorsett figure to compete to be the No. 3 receiver. While both are solid, you could argue that the other three NFC West teams have better players in that role.
Then there are the Los Angeles Rams, whose receivers ranked 17th in the overall standings. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp vie with Arizona’s top two receivers for the best combo in the division when they are healthy. The Rams traded Brandin Cooks to the Texans, leaving second-round draft pick Van Jefferson and veteran Josh Reynolds to compete for the No. 3 role. If everyone is available, which is no guarantee, it could be said that The Angeles has the second-best collection of receivers in the NFC West.
Basically, there are two main reasons why the receiving body of the 49ers is classified where it is. Samuel’s broken foot, combined with Emmanuel Sanders’ departure to the New Orleans Saints in free agency, could leave San Francisco without a true No. 1 option to start the season. That said, Samuel has insisted that he will return in time for Week 1, and if so, he may cross that concern off the list.
The other main reason is the unknown. Samuel is a known quantity, but beyond him, there is a lot of potential and little history. Aiyuk adjusts Shanahan’s offense to a T, but has yet to catch a snap in the NFL. Kendrick Bourne took a step forward last season, but has been inconsistent. Hurd might be the best of all, but he has never played in a regular season game.
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It could be argued that the receiving body of the 49ers has a ceiling as high as any other team in the division, but until they prove it on the field, they will be ignored.
Ultimately, that is not a cause for concern for Shanahan. The 49ers have one of the best and most comprehensive offenses in the league, and there is a reason why they have chosen the receivers they have.
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