With over a third of the San Francisco 49ers’ 2017 season complete, which Niners have exceeded expectations, and which have disappointed? We break down the 49ers’ individual offensive stats over the first six weeks of the season.
Quarterback
Brian Hoyer – Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the 49ers’ young season has been quarterback Brian Hoyer, whose poor play caused head coach Kyle Shanahan to make a quarterback change midway through Week 6. Hoyer’s 58.0 percent completion rating, 2.0 percent touchdown percentage, 6.1 yards-per-attempt and 74.1 quarterback rating are all below his career averages. Most disappointingly, Hoyer — who entered the season with a career winning record — lost all six games he started in 2017.
C.J. Beathard – Beathard has yet to play a full game, but surely added a spark to the 49ers’ offense in Week 6. Beathard’s 52.8 percent completion percentage will need to improve, but his 2.8 percent touchdown percentage and his 6.8 yards-per-attempt are already an improvement over Hoyer’s 2017 numbers. Beathard’s 72.1 quarteback rating also would have been higher than Hoyer’s, minus his fourth-down desperation pass that was intercepted at the end of last week’s game.
Running Back
Carlos Hyde – Hyde’s rushing attempts have been down over 2017, but his yards-per-attempt numbers have been near his career average. With 360 yards and four rushing touchdowns on the season, Hyde is on pace to rush for less than 1,000 yards, but projects to score over 10 rushing touchdowns. Hyde has been much more active in the 49ers’ passing game this season — his 23 targets and 142 receiving yards are already near his previous career highs.
Matt Breida – Breida has been used to spell Hyde on approximately 25 percent of the 49ers’ rushing plays. The rookie has 141 rushing yards and 64 receiving yards on the season — with similar efficiency numbers to Hyde — but has yet to score a touchdown.
Kyle Juszczyk – “Juice” has looked like an offensive weapon” at times — accumulating 80 yards receiving and a touchdown, along with another 11 rushing yards — but not quite the “OW” that general manager John Lynch tried to sellbefore the season began.
Wide Receiver
Pierre Garçon – Garçon has been the 49ers’ top receiver, and has easily led the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards — but has yet to score a touchdown. Garçon’s 33 receptions and 434 yards project out to a respectable 88 receptions and 1,157 yards over a 16-game season.
Marquise Goodwin – Goodwin — while showing flashes — has caught less than half of his targets, and has yet to find the end zone. Still, the speedster’s 16 receptions and 269 yards put him on pace to potentially double his career reception and yardage numbers.
Tight End
George Kittle – Kittle’s 21 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown may seem pedestrian, but they’re actually on pace to be record-breaking for a tight end drafted in the fifth round or later. Unfortunately, Kittle’s rookie season hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, as the tight end also leads the NFL in drops.
The Rest – The remaining tight ends have been a major disappointment this season, especially for a Shanahan-led offense. Garrett Celek has four catches on the season, Logan Paulsen dropped his lone target, and Cole Hikutini wasn’t targeted in his first appearance last week.
Which offensive player for the San Francisco 49ers has exceeded your expectations the most?
About the Author: Chris Wilson
