Last year, the 49ers went 11-7-1 against the spread, and that includes their postseason run to the Super Bowl. San Francisco was a 1.5-point underdog in the Super Bowl but fell, 30-21, to the Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately, the 49ers are off to a 2-2 record to begin 2020 and are 2-2 against the spread as well.
An important reason for San Francisco’s struggles is their large number of injuries, as the team made a note of its concerns about MetLife Stadium regarding the team’s injuries. The NFL and NFL Players Association conducted testing of the field, and it passed the league’s protocols.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back Raheem Mostert, defensive end Nick Bosa, and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas all went down early in the season. To add insult to injury, both Bosa and Thomas will not return in 2020 after they each suffered a torn ACL. The 49ers then signed defensive end Ziggy Ansah, and he is out with a biceps injury with an expected return in Week 7.
As the 49ers hope to get back Garoppolo and Mostert soon, quarterback Nick Mullens and running back Jerick McKinnon have replaced them for the time being. C.J. Beathard has also figured into the mix at quarterback. San Francisco saw rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk make his NFL debut in Week 2.
The No. 25 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft looks to team up with second-year pass-catcher Deebo Samuel, who hopes to return from his injury in Week 5 to help the wide receiving group’s depth. Fortunately, fourth-year wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has produced a lot, as he leads 49ers wide receivers with 13 receptions this season, but has yet to get into the end zone.
Meanwhile, George Kittle continues to dominate the tight end position in the NFL. After missing Weeks 2 and 3, Kittle returned to the field to catch all 15 of his targets for 183 yards and a touchdown. However, the 49ers fell to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 25-20. The 49ers will look to pick up the pieces as they continue their homestand. In Week 5, they take on the Miami Dolphins, and in Week 6, it will be the Los Angeles Rams.
Read Also: Los Angeles Rams Predictions and Odds
Table of Contents
2020 49ers Draft Picks
Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina)
Brandon Aiyuk, WR (Arizona State)
Colton McKivitz, OT (West Virginia)
Charlie Woerner, TE (Georgia)
Jauan Jennings, WR (Tennessee)
Notable Other New Faces for the 49ers
Tavon Austin, WR
Mohamed Sanu Sr., WR
Jordan Reed, TE
Trent Williams, OT
Ezekiel Ansah, DE
Kerry Hyder, DE
Dion Jordan, DE
Joe Walker, LB
Ken Webster, CB
Jamar Taylor, CB
Notable 49ers in New Places
Matt Breida, RB – Miami Dolphins
Marquise Goodwin, WR – Philadelphia Eagles (opted out of the 2020 season)
Emmanuel Sanders, WR – New Orleans Saints
Mohammad Sanu, WR – released
Levine Toilolo, TE – New York Giants
DeForest Buckner, DT – Indianapolis Colts
Sheldon Day, DT – Indianapolis Colts
Damontre Moore, DE – Seattle Seahawks
Elijah Lee, LB – Detroit Lions
Derrick Kindred, S – released
D.J. Reed, S – Seattle Seahawks
Notable 49ers on the Injury Report
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB – questionable for Week 5 with an ankle injury
Raheem Mostert, RB – questionable for Week 5 with a knee injury
Tevin Coleman, RB – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; expected to return for Week 6
Dante Pettis, WR – questionable for Week 5 with a knee injury
Tavon Austin, WR – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; expected to return for Week 5
Richie James, WR – placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury; expected to return for Week 5
Jalen Hurd, WR – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; out for the 2020 season
Jordan Reed, TE – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; expected to return for Week 7
Weston Richburg, C – placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a kneecap injury; expected to return for Week 8
Solomon Thomas, DT – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; out for the 2020 season
Jullian Taylor, DT – placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a knee injury; expected to return for Week 8
Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah, DE – out for Week 5 with a biceps injury; expected to return for Week 7
Dee Ford, DE – placed on injured reserve with a neck injury; expected to return for Week 7
Nick Bosa, DE – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; out for the 2020 season
Ronald Blair, DE – placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a knee injury; expected to return for Week 8
Dre Greenlaw, OLB – questionable for Week 5 with a quadriceps injury
Mark Nzeocha, OLB – placed on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury; expected to return for Week 7
K’Waun Williams, CB – doubtful for Week 5 with a knee injury
Emmanuel Moseley, CB – questionable for Week 5 with a concussion
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB – questionable for Week 5 with a hamstring injury
Dontae Johnson, CB – questionable for Week 5 with a groin injury
Richard Sherman, CB – placed on injured reserve with a calf injury; expected to return for Week 5
49ers Who Have Opted Out of 2020 NFL Season
Travis Benjamin, WR
Shon Coleman, OL
49ers Offense Predictions
On Halloween in 2017, the 49ers acquired Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. After going 5-0 and leading the team in passing in his first season with the 49ers (2017), Garoppolo was voted the 90th-best player in the league on the NFL’s Top 100 list.
Unfortunately, his 2018 season was cut short after he tore his ACL in Week 3. He bounced back to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl after a 13-3 season last year, and he then landed on the Top 100 list at No. 43.
49ers Running Backs: Will Raheem Mostert Regain His Job From Jerick McKinnon When He Returns to the Field?
After starting running back Raheem Mostert went down with his injury, Jerick McKinnon stepped right in with 47 touches this season for 295 yards from scrimmage and a team-leading four touchdowns.
Jeff Wilson Jr. also took on some work, but he was inefficient with his 17 rushes for just 24 yards. However, Wilson did grab six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
49ers Wide Receivers: Kendrick Bourne Is on Pace for a Career Year as the 49ers Anticipate the Return of Deebo Samuel
Kendrick Bourne is on pace to start all 16 games for the first time in his career. He also is ready to set career-highs across the board, as he has been targeted at least five times in each of the first four games.
While George Kittle was out, Bourne grabbed four passes each in Weeks 2 and 3 en route to San Francisco’s two victories. Also, the return of Deebo Samuel should help the receiving group.
49ers Tight Ends: Can George Kittle Play Just 14 Games in 2020 and Set New Career-Highs?
The 49ers are hoping to get an 800-yard season from one of their wide receivers, and most likely, it will be Kendrick Bourne. However, George Kittle has played just two games, and he should be finishing 2020 with his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. Kittle is also hoping to set a new career-high in touchdowns after matching his career-best of five last season.
Read Also: Seattle Seahawks Predictions and Odds
49ers Defense Predictions
The 49ers have had such a large number of injuries that they recently activated linebacker Joe Walker and cornerback Jamar Taylor from the practice squad. Before the season, the 49ers were fortunate to activate linebacker Fred Warner from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Warner is the team’s tackle leader and has one of the team’s three interceptions this season. Besides, he is one of six 49ers to defend multiple passes this season.
Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt leads the team with three passes defended, and he has an interception as well. Defensive ends Kerry Hyder and Arik Armstead, and defensive tackle D.J. Jones is the San Francisco leaders in sacks and tackles for loss.
The 49ers have had a relatively easy schedule to begin the season, but they do have a top-three defense in the league according to points and yards allowed. San Francisco will hope to keep this strong start going.
Read Also: Arizona Cardinals Predictions and Odds
49ers Special Teams Predictions
Veteran kicker Robbie Gould entered the NFL in 2005, and the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens gave him a look. Neither kept him for the season, so he ended up landing on the Chicago Bears.
He played more than a decade at Soldier Field, and that time included a Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selection in 2006, the same year that the Bears won the NFC Championship. Unfortunately, the Bears fell, 29-17, in the Super Bowl that season, but Gould made all three of his kicks in Super Bowl XLI.
Gould began his 49ers tenure in 2017 after one year with the New York Giants. The longtime kicker was able to regain his familiar jersey No. 9, and he went on to have a tremendous first two years in San Francisco.
He made more than 95 percent of his field goals in both 2017 and 2018. However, he fell to 74 percent in 2019. Gould strongly began 2020, as he was successful on 86 percent of field goals and all 11 of his extra points.
49ers Head Coach Predictions
Head coach Kyle Shanahan, who went to the University of Texas for college, is just 40 years old, and he has already been an offensive coordinator with four NFL franchises. He began coaching in 2003 as a graduate assistant for UCLA, and just one year later, he made the jump into the NFL. Kyle, the son of future Hall of Fame coach Mike Shanahan, joined his father on the Washington Football Team in 2010.
The younger Shanahan was the Houston Texans offensive coordinator for two years before spending four years as the offensive coordinator for his father. The latter was the head coach and vice president of football operations in Washington.
As the offensive coordinator in Atlanta, Shanahan led the 2016 Falcons to the top spot in offensive scoring. As the head coach in San Francisco, Shanahan’s 49ers had the second-highest scoring offense in the league last season.
49ers Predictions for Week 5
The 49ers opened as an 8.5-point favorite against the visiting Miami Dolphins. Still, some books have elected to wait to see if Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, and other notable players return to the field for Week 5. The 49ers last faced the Dolphins when Chip Kelly was the 49ers head coach, and the team went 2-14.
San Francisco lost that contest and has dropped three of its last four meetings with Miami. Garoppolo and Mostert have begun practicing in hopes of bringing the 49ers’ record above .500. There does not seem to be much value with betting San Francisco in this matchup, though.
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49ers Predictions for 2020 Season
The 2020 over/under for the 49ers was 10.5 wins before the beginning of the season, so betters who took the over are not happy about the team’s abundance of injuries. The 10.5 wins were tied with the New Orleans Saints for the highest over/under among NFC teams.
The 49ers’ Super Bowl futures odds (+2500) vary greatly from the Saints’ odds (+1400) four weeks into the season, so there is a lot of value with taking San Francisco before the team gets back some of its best players.
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