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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Last Season: 5-11
Fourth place, NFC West
Preseason power ranking: 32
The return of Anthony Davis and the selection of guard Joshua Garnett should help the 49ers’ offensive line take a step in the right direction. It should also help coach Chip Kelly get the running game going and protect the quarterback. The Niners have more defensive talent than many realize, but it’s mostly unproven. It’s a long shot, but if many of those younger players step up and they get even competent quarterback play, the 49ers could be a tough out.
San Francisco has an unsettled quarterback situation, and it only makes matters worse that there isn’t a dominant receiving option to which Colin Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert could throw. Running back Carlos Hyde should be the offensive centerpiece, but he must prove he can stay healthy. Defensively, the Niners will count on a number of young players who have yet to produce at a high level, and if the offense can’t consistently move the ball, those players will run out of gas from being on the field so much.
49ers’ percentage chance to win each game
Sept. 12 vs. Los Angeles: 47.3
Sept. 18 @ Carolina: 14.5
Sept. 25 @ Seattle: 17.0
Oct. 2 vs. Dallas: 57.5
Oct. 6 vs. Arizona: 35.1
Oct. 16 @ Buffalo: 25.8
Oct. 23 vs. Tampa Bay: 50.5
Nov. 6 vs. New Orleans: 57.3
Nov. 13 @ Arizona: 17.1
Nov. 20 vs. New England: 34.6
Nov. 27 @ Miami: 31.0
Dec. 4 @ Chicago: 33.4
Dec. 11 vs. N.Y. Jets: 50.9
Dec. 18 @ Atlanta 30.2
Dec. 24 @ Los Angeles: 30.9
Jan. 1 vs. Seattle: 35.6
Nick Wagoner’s game-by-game predictions
Gabbert has beaten out social activist Kaepernick for the starting job, but there's been little indication of long-term confidence in this arrangement. It's possible Kaepernick could start a few games before it's over. It's still possible he could end up getting cut. Regardless, Kelly has tremendous confidence in Kelly after coaching the likes of Nick Foles and Sam Bradford to strong seasons in Philadelphia. -- Dan Graziano
Tight end Vance McDonald hasn’t lived up to the expectations that came with being a second-round pick in 2013, thanks largely to too many drops. But McDonald has showed signs of improvement in the preseason. He said he feels more at ease now than at any point in his career. Tight ends under Kelly combined for 269 receptions, 3,408 yards and 21 touchdowns -- which ranks fifth, fourth and 11th in the NFL in his three seasons in Philadelphia, respectively. There is no guarantee McDonald will be able to finally turn it on and produce, but he shouldn’t lack for opportunities.
Hyde is the clear choice here. That would be true even if it was only because he’s the starting running back in Kelly’s offense. But there’s more to it than that. Hyde has battled injuries, but he has flashed promise when healthy. Hyde’s two individual goals for this season are to stay healthy and rush for 1,500 yards. If he can accomplish the first, the second one isn’t out of the question.
The 49ers still play in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, and they are counting on a roster that will likely be one of the youngest in the league to take a big step forward. It’s probably asking too much for all of those youngsters to evolve in one season, but this team is talented and deep enough up front to be a nuisance to playoff contenders in what amounts to a rebuilding year.