San Francisco 49ers: Which Players Have Fantasy Value?

Quarterbacks

Jun 11, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) throws a pass during minicamp at San Francisco 49ers training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith isn’t known for piling up a ton of fantasy points, but Colin Kaepernick will likely develop a different reputation.

San Francisco’s dynamic quarterback stepped in midseason and did a stellar job last season, as he started 10 games and won seven of them. Kaepernick took the 49ers to the Super Bowl, and he did it by spearheading a lethal aerial attack.

However, Kaepernick made his presence felt in a different way in one playoff game. Kaepernick set a record with 181 rushing yards in the divisional round of the 2013 NFL playoffs, as he shredded a weak Green Bay Packers defense in every way. Kaepernick ran for three touchdowns in the playoffs, and he finished with seven postseason touchdowns.

While he is a threat to run, Kaepernick is also an explosive option at quarterback. He completed 76.2 percent of his passes in the NFC Championship Game, and he averaged a remarkable 8.77 yards per attempt in 2012 (including the postseason).

Star wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s injury will impact Kaepernick, but it won’t stop him. Kaepernick worked with limited help at wide receiver last season, and he has more depth and two reliable targets in Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis to catch passes.

With limited depth at wide receiver, Kaepernick threw 14 touchdowns and five interceptions in his 10 starts. He’s likely going to build on that this year. While he isn’t the best quarterback in the league, he is capable, he can gain chunks of yardage in multiple ways and he can protect the ball.

Expect Kaepernick to throw around 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and expect him to chip in with his legs as well.

If your league awards quarterbacks points for rushing, Kaepernick should be picked as early as the fourth or fifth round. If not, he still deserves a good look near the sixth or seventh round. Kaepernick is one of the league’s better quarterbacks, and he’ll put up a good amount of fantasy points.

Kaepernick is obviously the only 49ers quarterback who deserves a look, as Smith isn’t on the team, backup Colt McCoy won’t play unless Kaepernick gets hurt and Scott Tolzein and B.J. Daniels may not play at all. An injury is the only thing that can slow Kaepernick and the 49ers down, which is why Kaepernick should be taken fairly early in drafts.