San Francisco, Team Vibes and Players to Target and Avoid

As we race toward August, Footballguys.com will look at one team per day with our quick-hitting Team Vibes and Players to Target and Avoid, where we check out the overall mood of each team's offense and let you know the players we are in on (because they are great values at the cost it takes to acquire them) and who we're out on (because they are too expensive and won't give you a good return on that investment).

Go Deeper: See in-depth projections for every 49ers player here >>>

This is a daily series that will stretch through July 31. If you like this and want another, come back tomorrow. Another will be here. And all 32 of them will be free to Insiders. To become an Insider, simply sign up with a free account.

And here are all of the Team Vibes and Players to Target and Avoid articles we've done so far:
San Francisco | Seattle | Tampa Bay | Tennessee | Washington

Quick Hits

Want a brief overview? Here it is:

• General Vibes - Good
• We're In On at Cost - Christian McCaffrey
• We're Out On at Cost - Deebo Samuel

Want a longer breakdown of how it's going in San Francisco? Read on.

49ers, Team Vibes

• Good - 13
• Neutral - 2
• Bad - 0

Staffers with Good Vibes

• Jason Wood: They were the league's best offense after the McCaffrey trade and Purdy's unlikely ascendance. With a further bolstered defense and QB optionality, the Super Bowl is a legitimate goal.
• Jeff Haseley: Aside from an untimely playoff injury to Brock Purdy, the 49ers were clicking on all cylinders in 2022. Their defense is among the best in the league.
• Dave Kluge: Quarterback concerns don't matter all that much when you look at the offensive line, skill players, and scheme in San Francisco.
• Ben Cummins: If healthy Brock Purdy provides a reliable presence at quarterback in Kyle Shanahan’s lethal attack.
• Jeff Bell: Kyle Shanahan has consistently been one of the most innovative coaches and this offense is loaded with talent.
• Justin Howe: With an offense that's simply unfair on paper, only injuries (or the wrong quarterback choice) can slow it.
• Phil Alexander: They might be the only offense in the NFL immune to a shaky quarterback situation.
• Jeff Tefertiller: The team went deep into the playoffs with a low draft pick under center. This team is set up for another strong playoff push.
• Andy Hicks: With three legitimate quarterback options, dynamic playmakers, and a foolproof offense, there is little chance of failure.
• Christian Williams: A team is traditionally in a good spot when no one knows who will play quarterback, and they're still considered Super Bowl contenders.
• Dan Hindery: This offense was absolutely rolling late last season after Christian McCaffrey arrived and Brock Purdy took over as the starter
• Chad Parsons: Outside of quarterback turning sideways (again), this offense will be optimized with one of the best sets of skill position talent in the NFL.
• Daniel Harms: Shanahan has the offense running smoothly, no matter who is at QB.

Staffers with Neutral Vibes

• Ryan Weisse: McCaffrey is great, but the questions at quarterback hurt almost everyone else.
• Sam Wagman: The 49ers' ceiling is clearly capped when despite the scheme being quarterback-proof, they haven't come close to a Super Bowl win yet.

Staffers with Bad Vibes

• None.

Players We Are Targeting

• Christian McCaffrey - 8
• Brandon Aiyuk - 3
• Brock Purdy - 3
• George Kittle - 1

Reasons to be In on Christian McCaffrey

• Jason Wood: He doesn't have to touch the ball 25+ times in this offense, and that ultimately means he's more likely to stay healthy for the entire season. He's a legitimate option at 1st overall in drafts.
• Jeff Bell: His 49 redzone attempts ranked ninth. And he did that in 11 games.
• Justin Howe: McCaffrey looks like the clear RB1 to me in any format. He could be on pace for a truly special touchdown season.
• Ryan Weisse: This is taking the layup, but give me the running back that can put up quarterback-like fantasy points,
• Phil Alexander: Just in case you were inventing reasons not to take him as one of the first three picks in your draft.
• Andy Hicks: After two seasons of injury issues, 2022 saw him traded and resume his elite fantasy numbers. Injury is his only floor.
• Christian Williams: Assuming total health, McCaffrey should push for overall RB1 status.
• Daniel Harms: With a perfect rushing attack and high-volume pass-catching upside, what's not to love?

Reasons to be In on Brandon Aiyuk

• Jeff Haseley: He is younger, healthier, more reliable, and cheaper than Deebo Samuel. He was more productive last year. Can he do it again?
• Dave Kluge: He's quietly usurped the role as the team's WR1 and could be set for a breakout year in Brock Purdy starts the full season.
• Sam Wagman: Aiyuk is typically undervalued, and with Deebo Samuel's decline, Aiyuk should push for a greater target share in 2023.

Reasons to be In on Brock Purdy

• Ben Cummins: Purdy projects ready for week 1 and gets to quarterback an offense with dominant playmakers all around him.
• Jeff Tefertiller: Purdy is on track to be ready for Week 1 and is slated to be the starter upon his return. He is a fantasy steal, drafted after 20+ other passers.
• Dan Hindery: He is going to be the starter, and there is more fantasy upside here than most realize. In his first six starts as a rookie, Purdy threw 14 TDs and ran two more - a full-season pace of 39.7 passing and 5.7 rushing.

Reasons to be In on George Kittle

• Chad Parsons: One of the highest efficiency tight ends in the NFL is getting knocked for durability (I assume) and competition for targets. If volume ever finds Kittle, he can be the TE1 in a season.

Players We Are Avoiding

• Deebo Samuel - 6
• Brandon Aiyuk - 3
• George Kittle - 2
• Trey Lance - 2
• Sam Darnold - 1
• The Quarterbacks - 1

Reasons to be Out on Deebo Samuel

• Jeff Haseley: Injuries and wear are catching up to him. He may not even be the best wide receiver on the team going forward.
• Dave Kluge: He captured lightning in a bottle in 2021's hyper-efficient season and unique role, but has been a boom-or-bust WR3 in his other three NFL seasons.
• Ryan Weisse: He looked decidedly average after McCaffrey came on board.
• Christian Williams: The emergence of Brandon Aiyuk and Samuel's 2022 decline indicates a shift in the No. 1 option in San Francisco.
• Dan Hindery: The presence of Christian McCaffrey limits Samuel's rushing upside and Aiyuk may be the better pure receiver.
• Chad Parsons: Brandon Aiyuk is the traditional WR1, and George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey rival the best at their positions. Samuel needs more of his touches schemed and designed to meet his cost.

Reasons to be Out on Brandon Aiyuk

• Jeff Bell: Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey both dwarfed his production in the playoffs. One of the most expensive clear third options.
• Justin Howe: Aiyuk could finish WR15 or WR65. He's a gifted yet mercurial talent who would benefit from a trade (Chargers?)
• Daniel Harms: He's the third option behind Kittle and McCaffrey when the 49ers are healthy, and 2022 could be the best season he has in SF.

Reasons to be Out on George Kittle

• Jason Wood: If you're not drafting Travis Kelce in the first two rounds, taking a few late-round lottery tickets is better. Kittle isn't enough of a difference-maker for the premium pick required.
• Andy Hicks: As he hits 30, the 49ers drafted two players at his position to ease his workload. As he misses multiple games every season, his upside is capped.

Reasons to be Out on Trey Lance

• Ben Cummins: All signs point to Trey Lance being the QB3 behind both Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold, yet people keep drafting Lance for some reason.
• Jeff Tefertiller: Hope is waning for the former first-round pick. He is gaining little momentum with Purdy sidelined.

Reasons to be Out on Sam Darnold

• Phil Alexander: Darnold is more of a late stash recommendation in 2QB leagues at this point, but tell me with a straight face you can't picture him resurrecting his career with Kyle Shanahan.

Reasons to be Out on The Quarterbacks

• Sam Wagman: Any of the quarterbacks scare me from a fantasy standpoint, as this offense flows heavily through running the ball and getting YAC plays from WR's (not always reliable)