San Francisco 49ers 2023 Fantasy Football Rookie Roundup

It felt like the San Francisco 49ers mostly rested on their laurels this offseason, content with getting all the way to the NFC Championship Game with Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. If it feels like that’s what they did, that’s because… that’s precisely what they did. They added Javon Hargraves, which will bolster the defensive line, but then every other news report was the Niners just bleeding talent. Compare that to the team who beat them in the NFCCG, and you can see why it’s a bit frustrating to be a 49ers fan right now. But, what about their fantasy prospects? Did they do anything in the draft to bring in players that could have an impact in their rookie year for your fantasy football leagues? Well, outside of kicker Jake Moody, who they drafted at 99… No, no they didn’t. Let’s dive in.

FULL 2023 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS DRAFT RESULTS

Round 3, Pick 101: Cameron Latu, Tight End, Alabama (6’4” 242 lbs)

Depth Chart
TE1         George Kittle
TE2         Ross Dwelley
TE3         Charlie Woerner
TE4         Cameron Latu
TE5         Brayden Willis

TALENT

Cameron Latu is a versatile weapon, with Alabama splitting him out wide, putting him in the slot, inline, and even in motion in the backfield. No matter where you want to put him, he is ready to be there and ready to contribute. That sounds like every skill position player on the 49ers, doesn’t it? He’s essentially a raw version of what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch look for in every player on their roster. Unfortunately, his day-two capital is a bit of a myth, as the 49ers vastly overdrafted him. Most had him pegged as a middling day-three pick, somewhere in the fifth round. Unfortunately, the 49ers’ ability to out-think themselves reared its head once again.

As for the player, Latu is a good pass catcher and is good at finding space in zone coverage, but ultimately, he isn’t that great of a route runner and isn’t all that good at creating yards after the catch. He’s just… sort of sloppy, running street ball routes and not doing much after the catch. But, that makes sense, as he is a converted linebacker who is still learning the finer parts of tight end. Given that he’s learning from the best all-around tight end in the game, I expect him to get better at the details in a hurry.

2023 OPPORTUNITY

Unfortunately for Latu, he plays behind George Kittle, which means that we likely won’t see him this season unless Kittle goes down for an extended period of time. Even then, that doesn’t necessarily mean we will see him. After all, targets didn’t go shooting up for Ross Dwelley or Charlie Woerner when the Niners lost Kittle in the past, they instead turned to Kyle Juszczyk, Jauan Jennings, and even Ray-Ray McCloud in Kittle’s stead. Given that the 49ers like to get their rookies NFL experience on special teams, it’s likely that’s where we see Latu play the most in his rookie campaign.

2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

Latu plays behind one of the best all-around tight ends and is an annual top-three fantasy football tight end in drafts. The 49ers also aren’t set up for multiple tight ends, as the math just doesn’t work out (Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Kyle Juszczyk/Jauan Jennings make five skill position players, the maximum you can have, and rookie Cameron Latu isn’t pushing any of them off the field).

TALENT

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2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

Round 7, PIck 247: Brayden Willis, Tight End, Oklahoma (6’3” 241 lbs)

Depth Chart
TE1         George Kittle
TE2         Ross Dwelley
TE3         Charlie Woerner
TE4         Cameron Latu
TE5         Brayden Willis

TALENT

Brayden Willis seems to be the solution to the impending Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley free agency losses. If that doesn’t inspire you with confidence in his ability to produce for fantasy football in his rookie season, then I don’t know what would. Willis is just a smidge too slow, a smidge too weak, and a smidge too unrefined at the position to be anything that I can get excited about for fantasy football purposes. What we see instead is the eventual TE3/blocking tight end that Kyle Shanahan likes to employ (think Levine Toilolo), should he get his weight and technique up. He could become a core special teamer as soon as 2023, but unless your league redefines fantasy football degeneracy, that won’t help you there.

2023 OPPORTUNITY

Take everything that I said, and add 146 picks to the opportunity cost the 49ers spent to get the man on the roster, then you have Brayden Willis.

2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

Don’t even worry about it, it isn’t worth it.

TALENT

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2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

Round 7, Pick 253: Ronnie Bell, Wide Receiver, Michigan (6’0” 191 lbs)

Depth Chart
WR1      Deebo Samuel
WR2      Brandon Aiyuk
WR3      Jauan Jennings
WR4      Ray-Ray McCloud III
WR5      Danny Gray
WR6      Ronnie Bell

TALENT

If the play schemed Ronnie Bell open, then he can bring the ball in, and gain yards. No, that’s not me being overly weird or glib, it’s me explaining just how little of a difference-maker Bell was on tape as a pass catcher. He’s smallish for a receiver, with a just-okay 40-yard dash (4.54). Though, his vertical score (38.5”) and shuttle time (4.15) were both elite. That’s where he clicks, he can be elusive in traffic, and he can explode at the attack point to get the football. Unfortunately, that’s where the excitement stops from a fantasy football perspective. However, he is a very willing blocker, and is likely to find some run in that arena, should he make the 53-man roster.

2023 OPPORTUNITY

Ronnie Bell can do exactly what the coach schemes up for him, and nothing more. He also doesn’t do much to break down the coach’s scheming, meaning that he can proficiently put up 25 catches for 400 yards for the 49ers, filling in here and there. But, I don’t see where Ronnie Bell fits into their short (or long-) term plans. After all, the 49ers spent a third-round pick on Danny Gray in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he had two touches on seven targets and a carry. It’s not like the 49ers will force the issue with Bell, as they boast one of—if not the—most talented skill position groups in the NFL. There just isn’t room for Ronnie Bell to matter for fantasy football.

2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

If Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Danny Gray, Ray-Ray McCloud, Chris Conley, Willie Snead, Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle and Cameron Latu all get hurt, then he’s worth a speculative add.

TALENT

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2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

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