San Francisco 49ers 2021 San Francisco 49ers Preview

(Photo Credit – Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Raheem Mostert, FB Kyle Juszczyk, WR Brandon Aiyuk, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle, OG Laken Tomlinson, OT Mike McGlinchey, OT Trent Williams, DE Nick Bosa, DE Arik Armstead, DT D.J. Jones, DT Javon Kinlaw, LB Dre Greenlaw, LB Fred Warner, CB Emmanuel Moseley, NB K’Waun Williams, FS Jimmie Ward, SS Marcell Harris, SS Jaquiski Tartt, PK Robbie Gould, and PT Mitch Wishnowsky.

Key Players Departing:

WR Kendrick Bourne (Patriots), DE Kerry Hyder (Seahawks), LB Kwon Alexander (UFA), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Seahawks), KR Jerick McMinnon (Chiefs) and PR Trent Taylor (Bengals).

Key Players Added:

WR Mohamed Sanu (Lions), OC Alex Mack (Falcons), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Cardinals) and DT Zach Kerr (Panthers).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 003 – QB Trey Lance (North Dakota State)
Round 2:  Pick 048 – OG Aaron Banks (Notre Dame)
Round 3:  Pick 088 – RB Trey Sermon (Ohio State)
Round 3:  Pick 102 – CB Ambry Thomas (Michigan)
Round 5:  Pick 155 – OG Jaylon Moore (Western Michigan)
Round 5:  Pick 172 – SS Talanoa Huganga (USC)
Round 6:  Pick 194 – RB Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana)

2020 Results:

W01  CARDINALS  L  20-24
W02  @ Jets  W  31-13
W03  @ Giants  W  36-9
W04  EAGLES  L  20-25
W05  DOLPHINS  L  17-43
W06  RAMS  W  24-16
W07  @ Patriots  W  33-6
W08  @ Seahawks  L  27-37
W09  PACKERS  L  17-34
W10  @ Saints  L  13-27
W12  @ Rams  W  23-20
W13  BILLS  L  24-34
W14  FOOTBALL TEAM  L  15-23
W15  @ Cowboys  L  33-41
W16  @ Cardinals  W  20-12
W17  SEAHAWKS  L  23-26

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  6-10 (4th in NFC West)

Home:  1-7
Away:  5-3
West:  3-3
NFC:  4-8
AFC:  2-2

Head Coach:  Kyle Shanahan

San Francisco:  31-36
Career:  31-36
Playoffs:  2-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Jimmy Garoppolo (94-140, 1096 yards, 67.1%, 7.8 avg., 12 TD, 12 TD)
Rushing: 
Jeffery Wilson (126 car., 600 yards, 4.8 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: 
Brandon Aiyuk (60 rec., 748 yards, 12.5 avg., 5 TD)
Yards After Catch:  Deebo Samuel (401)
TD’s Scored: 
Jeffery Wilson (10)
Sacks: 
Arik Armstead (3)
Tackles: 
Fred Warner (125)
Interceptions: 
Jason Varrett/Fred Werner (2)
Pass Deflections: 
Emmanuel Moseley (9)
Tackles For Loss: 
Arik Armstead/D.J. Jones (7)
Forced Fumbles: 
Marcell Harris/Jimmie Ward (2)
Kick Returns: 
JaMycal Hasty (3 ret., 57 yards, 19.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Brandon Aiyuk (6 ret., 34 yards, 5.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Robbie Gould (19-23 fg-fga., 83%, 36-38 xp/xpa., 93 pts.)
Punting: 
Mitch Wishnowsky (66 punts, 3093 yards, 46.9 avg., 25 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  10  Jimmy Garoppolo
RB:  28  Trey Sermon  |R|
FB:  44  Kyle Juszczyk
WR:  11  Brandon Aiyuk
WR:  19  Deebo Samuel
TE:  85  George Kittle
LT:  71  Trent Williams
LG:  75  Laken Tomlinson
OC:  50  Alex Mack
RG:  60  Daniel Brunskill
RT:  69  Mike McGlinchey
KR:  31  Ambry Thomas
PK:  9  Robbie Gould

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  91  Arik Armstead
DT:  92  Zach Kerr
DT:  99  Javon Kinlaw
DE:  97  Nick Bosa
LB:  57  Dre Greenlaw
LB:  54  Fred Warner
LB:  45  Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
CB:  4  Emmanuel Moseley
CB:  41  Ambry Thomas  |R|
FS:  20  Jimmie Ward
SS:  29  Jaquiski Tartt
PR:  18  Mohamed Sanu
PT:  6  Mitch Wishnowsky

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kicking:  B
Punting:  A

Schedule:

09/12
@ Lions  |  San Francisco leads the series 22-12.  The 49ers are 3-1 since 2011, and they won (30-27) the last meeting between teams in 2018.

09/19  @ Eagles  |  San Francisco leads the series 15-13.  The 49ers are 2-2 since 2011, and their last series win (26-21) was in 2014.

09/26  PACKERS  |  San Francisco trails the series 17-23.  The 49ers lost (17-34) last season’s meeting between teams, and their last series win (37-20) was in 2019.

10/03  
SEAHAWKS  |  San Francisco trails the series 17-28.  The 49ers are 6-14 since 2011, and their last series home win (26-23) was in 2018.

10/10  @ Cardinals  |  San Francisco leads the series 31-24.  The 49ers are 9-11 since 2011, and their last series road loss (15-18) was in 2018.

10/24  COLTS  |  San Francisco trails the series 7-11.  The 49ers lost (23-26) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

10/31  @ Bears  |  San Francisco leads the series 20-15-1.  The 49ers lost (9-14) the last meeting between teams in 2018.

11/07  CARDINALS  |  The 49ers last series home win (36-26) was in 2019.

11/15  RAMS  |  San Francisco leads the series 59-50-2.  The 49ers are 12-8 since 2011, and their last series home loss (10-39) was in 2018.

11/21  @ Jaguars  |  San Francisco leads the series 3-2.  The 49ers won (44-33) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

11/28  VIKINGS  |  San Francisco leads the series 19-18.  The 49ers won (27-10) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series loss (16-24) was in 2018.

12/05 
@ Seahawks  |  The 49ers last series road win (26-21) was in 2019.

12/12  @ Bengals  |  San Francisco leads the series 12-4.  The 49ers won (41-17) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

12/19  FALCONS  |  San Francisco leads the series 47-32-1.  The 49ers lost (22-29) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series win (17-16) was in 2015.

12/23  @ Titans  |  San Francisco leads the series 9-5.  The 49ers won (25-23) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

01/02  TEXANS  |  San Francisco leads the series 3-1.  The 49ers won (26-16) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

01/09  @ Rams  |  The 49ers last series road loss (32-48) was in 2018.

Predictions:

6-11 (4th in NFC West)

UFA:  Unrestricted Free Agent

Series Histories:  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game played in 2020, the game will be listed under the 2019 season.