Dante Pettis Fantasy Outlook Improves Due to San Francisco's Host of Injuries at Receiver in Week 1

Following an impressive final month of last season, in which Dante Pettis averaged 70.5 receiving yards per game and scored three touchdowns, it was assumed the second-year WR would be a buzzy fantasy name in 2019 drafts.

Currently the WR42 by average draft position (ADP), according to FantasyPros.com, it appears as though Pettis' stock has been negatively affected by head coach Kyle Shanahan's claim that Pettis must "compete" for a starting role, along with him suffering a nagging groin injury. Heading into Week 1, however, Pettis is looking like one of the healthier San Francisco 49ers' receivers, based on the current depth chart.

While Shanahan's comments shouldn't be flat-out ignored, it would be shocking not to see a healthy Pettis starting alongside Marquise Goodwin in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie Deebo Samuel has been making a lot of noise in training camp, but he is likely to play in more three-receiver sets to begin the year.

Regardless of who starts, all three receivers should get their chance in Week 1, just don't expect too many three-receiver sets based on last season's usage. The 49ers were dead last in using 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) in 2018, according to FootballOutsiders.com, as the team primarily lined up with just two WRs, in favor of starting fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

Awaiting the 49ers in Week 1 should be a very favorable matchup against the Bucs, who gave up the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2018. So, Pettis should make for a solid WR3 option, and Goodwin figures to be more of a boom-or-bust FLEX play. On the other hand, while Samuel is intriguing, he seems to be more of a wait-and-see player to start the season.

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