The San Francisco 49ers are itching to rebound from an abysmal 2024 campaign that saw the team finish 6-10 and miss out on a playoff spot while finishing last in the NFC West.
The disappointment bled over into the fantasy football world, as several 49ers players underperformed on the field and statistically.
But there's one player in San Francisco who could have a big bounce-back season in 2025.
Yahoo!Sports has labeled 49ers tight end George Kittle as one of five players to keep an eye on next season.
"Even more critical than his placement among tight ends is where he sits relative to other positions in the overall ADP. Kittle goes in the same range of running backs with some risk in their profile and right in the alley where wide receiver projections begin to get dicey. He goes behind DJ Moore and the Chiefs' wide receivers, while coming just ahead of DeVonta Smith, DK Metcalf and Courtland Sutton. All of those wideouts have solid outlooks, but none present the potential difference-making ability of Kittle.
"Overall, this looks like a good year to actually consider some of the top-three tight ends, considering the steep drop that occurs at the position well before we get to TE10. Since Kittle goes much later than the other two, he’s someone who looks like a proactive target and the cleanest way to get exposure to a 49ers passing game that we know will be good. San Francisco ranked ninth in dropback EPA last season — a year in which almost everything went wrong for them. I’ll bet on them finishing higher in 2025."
Kittle joins Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix, Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton, Atlanta Falcons wideout Drake London and Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams on the list.