NFL

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Preseason Edition

Brandon Gdula  —  @gdula13 Jul 20th, 2017
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30. San Francisco 49ers, -6.42 nERD

We can probably throw out the 2016 results when trying to project the San Francisco 49ers as they transition from Chip Kelly to Kyle Shanahan, but just know that they finished 28th in offense by our metrics despite finishing 13th in rushing.

Carlos Hyde, who fared well despite the team's issues in 2016, will likely lose his shotgun carries (98% of his totes from 2016) in favor of plays from under center, based on Shanahan's prior running back usage.

The team also made moves at quarterback, but they aren't really awe-inspiring. Brian Hoyer should start over Matt Barkley, and it's not like Hoyer has been awful. He finished seventh in Passing Success Rate (50.74%) among 34 passers with at least 200 attempts last season while with the Chicago Bears, and Barkley (52.25%) actually finished fifth, also with Chicago.

The 49ers bolstered their defensive front by taking Solomon Thomas 3rd overall in the draft and Reuben Foster 31st, but the front seven ranks last by ProFootballFocus' preseason grades.

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