A turnaround in the win column by the 49ers will require some strong statistical performances on both sides of the ball. San Francisco’s overall production last season was lackluster given the number of injuries they sustained at important positions.
That has to change in 2019. The 49ers enter the season with new, improved weapons, and presumably their health intact. That should allow them to see some significant turnover in their group of statistical leaders. Here’s a way-too-early prediction for what some of that turnover may look like:
Passing: Jimmy Garoppolo
We didn’t separate stats given the singular nature of the quarterback position. Garoppolo, if healthy, will lead the 49ers in every passing category. A 16-game season should allow San Francisco’s signal caller to post career-high numbers. It should also give him an opportunity to turn in a statistical season the 49ers haven’t gotten from a quarterback in a long time.
Rushing attempts: Jerick McKinnon
Head coach Kyle Shanahan made McKinnon a priority in free agency a year ago for a reason. A torn ACL prior to the start of the 2018 season kept McKinnon out for his first year in a 49ers uniform. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get a lion’s share of the carries once he’s fully healthy, especially given his ability to split out wide and stay on the field in every situation. The backfield is crowded, but McKinnon should be as close to a lead back as San Francisco gets.
Rushing yards: Matt Breida
While he may fall short of leading the team in carries, Breida should still emerge as the team’s most explosive playmaker at running back. He battled injuries for most of a last season and still averaged 5.3 yards per carry. A fully healthy Breida with a lighter work load may be able to match that total in 2019. Leading the team in rushing isn’t out of the realm of possibilities for the third-year back, even if he sees his attempt numbers wane.
Rushing touchdowns: Jalen Hurd
Shanahan wants Hurd to perfect his duties as a receiver in the 49ers’ offense, but his background as a running back should make him a unique goal line weapon for San Francisco. His 6-5, 225-pound frame allows him to bulldoze through defensive lines in a way no other 49ers running back can. Hurd may not see a ton of time in the backfield as a rookie, but his short yardage prowess may earn him enough goal line carries to top the team in touchdowns on the ground.
Receptions: George Kittle
More perimeter weapons won’t change the fact that Kittle is quickly becoming the most dominant tight end in the league. His athleticism combined with Shanahan’s scheme allow him to get open even with defenses scheming specifically to stop him. He’s also too good with the ball in his hands for Garoppolo to rely heavily on his still unproven receiving corps. The overall production may dip some for Kittle this year, but his status as a go-to target should remain intact.
Receiving yards: Dante Pettis
Pettis showed last year between Weeks 7 and 12 what he’s capable of when he’s fully healthy. He posted 21 catches for 350 yards in that stretch. Those 350 yards average out to 1,120 for a full season. He may not eclipse that mark, but a 1,000-yard season is a reasonable expectation for the second-year receiver. Pettis can work in all three levels of the passing game, and his ability to shake free after the catch should give him some additional yards on short throws. San Francisco traded up in the second round to draft Pettis in 2018. This year he should be their top receiver.
Receiving touchdowns: Dante Pettis
It’s logical to assume free agent signee Jordan Matthews, who’s been a dominant red zone receiver in his career, might be the favorite to lead the team in touchdown catches. However, Pettis had five touchdowns last year despite earning targets in just nine games. He is exceptionally gifted at getting open in tight spaces, which makes him a legitimate red zone threat despite lacking the traditional size of a go-to receiver near the end zone. Combining that with his home-run potential from anywhere on the field makes Pettis the pick to lead the team in touchdown catches.
Tackles: Fred Warner
A fully healthy season from Kwon Alexander could make the battle for the team lead in tackles a fun one to watch. Last year’s leader, Warner, gets the nod for now though. His spot in the heart of the 49ers’ defense opens him up to a ton of opportunities for tackles. Warner is also exceptionally instinctual and always finds himself around the football. There are other candidates who make sense for this spot, but betting against Warner at this point is difficult to do.
Sacks: Dee Ford
This is another race for the team lead that should be fun to keep an eye on. It will be especially beneficial to San Francisco if Ford has Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner to compete with. Ford gets the nod for now because he’s an edge rusher who showed last season he can produce at a high level in the NFL. He racked up 13 sacks a season ago, one more than Buckner. It stands to reason that Buckner’s numbers will go down a tick with Ford and Bosa getting to the quarterback off the edge, and Bosa is still an unproven commodity despite going No. 2 overall in the draft. Ford should be the team leader if he posts another 13 sacks this season.
Interceptions: Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon showed promise in his rookie season after earning nine starts in 12 games. The third-round pick struggled out of the gate in Year 2 though, and a knee injury ended his season just as he started to turn his play around. This year with additional competition for a job and a new position coach, Witherspoon is primed to take a leap. He had two interceptions and seven pass breakups as a rookie, and he should expand on those numbers this year. He should lead the team if he can put up five or six interceptions.
