The 49ers’ 2018 season may not wind up being a disaster in the long run. Their spot in the NFL Wire post-Super Bowl power rankings serves as a reminder of the positive direction they’re headed despite winning just four games.
San Francisco checks in at No. 21 in the final power rankings before free agency hits. That’s a fine position to be in considering they went from a dark-horse playoff team to No. 2 overall pick during the 2018 campaign. An end-of-season spark pushed San Francisco to four wins and offered a glimpse of what’s to come when this club is healthy with a more complete roster.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s return, combined with George Kittle’s breakout season were the focal point of San Francisco’s place in the rankings, but there was more happening at the end of the year to provide 49ers fans with optimism moving forward.
Running back Jerick McKinnon will return from a season-ending ACL tear after missing the entire season. Other players played through injuries as well that should be cleared up by the start of next season
The efforts from running back Matt Breida in an injury-riddled season, and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner’s monster year getting after the quarterback were two things that the 49ers should be able to build on. Rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey was terrific. So was rookie linebacker Fred Warner. Rookie defensive backs Marcell Harris and DJ Reed showed promise to close the year as well.
Perhaps the brightest spot at the end of the year was the effort San Francisco showed despite having just two wins going into Week 14. The fact their culture under head coach Kyle Shanahan is such that they continued playing hard at that point of the season is an extremely promising sign for when they are healthy. That level of effort with a more complete, healthy roster should result in the 49ers pushing for a playoff spot and spending time well above No. 21 in these power rankings next season.
