ESPN pushed out its NFL preview via a few features, including its latest power rankings — the San Francisco 49ers ranked No. 3, by the way. The site also released previews for each NFL team and made several 2020 NFL season predictions.
49ers beat writer Nick Wagoner made his bold prediction for 2020 within the 49ers season preview. It is that pass rusher Nick Bosa improves upon his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign and racks up 16 sacks in his second season.
"A full offseason training with his brother Joey, a chance to start the season healthy and a training camp spent squaring off with Williams have Bosa primed for the leap to superstardom," wrote Wagoner. "The breakthrough season vaults Bosa to a top-five finish in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting."
While Wagoner is predicting a big year for Bosa, ESPN analyst Mike Clay is projecting about 11 sacks for the second-year defender, which is still an increase over his nine from last season.
Clay picked his breakout fantasy football star for the team — rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. That's based on the impressive training camp the No. 25 overall pick had before being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers remain hopeful that Aiyuk is ready to go for Week 1.
"That coupled with Deebo Samuel's injury may have the rookie positioned for a Week 1 starting gig," wrote Clay. "Aiyuk, who averaged more than 10 yards after the catch last season at Arizona State, may struggle for consistency in the 49ers' run-heavy offense, but he has a path to WR3 numbers if he emerges as the team's early-season No. 1 receiver."
Fellow ESPN analyst Mina Kimes also expects big things from Aiyuk. She picked the wideout as the rookie who will end up with the most catches in 2020.
"Aiyuk, who was a yards-after-catch monster at Arizona State, is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense," notes Kimes. "I'm picking him because San Francisco needs him to thrive, given how injured its receiving group has been."
In a not-so-bold prediction, Kimes and writer Matt Bowen each picked the league's best and highest-paid tight end, George Kittle, to be the most productive tight end in the NFL.
"In Kyle Shanahan's heavily schemed passing game, the 49ers can create both matchups plus catch-and-run opportunities for Kittle as a volume target," wrote Bowen. "In his past two seasons, Kittle has averaged 8.2 yards after the catch, tops among tight ends. He's a physical route runner with an extremely aggressive play style that leads to production on deep crossers, seams and unders."
Added Kimes: "When you factor in his coach, Kittle might be the most dynamic weapon in the NFL. He led all tight ends in both yards after the catch and yards per route run last season, and I see no reason why that changes."
Clay's statistical projections, however, have Kittle finishing second to Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs in receptions and receiving yards.