Niners Nation
Will the 49ers go streaking in the second half again?
Today is the day. The NFL’s trade deadline is at 4 PM EST. Dallas has sent a fourth-round pick to Carolina for Jonathan Mingo (LOL), Detroit acquired veteran pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland, and Cincinnati made a move for running back depth following Zack Moss’ neck injury for former Bears running back Khalil Herbert.
The Chiefs showed off their new weapon in Deandre Hopkins last night. Will the 49ers stand pat with their reinforcements? How has their power ranking changed during their bye week? Let’s look around the internet for the team’s ranking.
ESPN.com - 49ers fall two spots to #14
Nick Wagoner believes Sunday’s matchup with Tampa Bay is their most important remaining game. He adds: “The Bucs game isn’t only important because it’s next on the Niners’ schedule but because of what that game could tell us about where this season is headed. The 49ers have made a habit of kicking into gear post-bye under coach Kyle Shanahan. Since Shanahan took over in 2017, the Niners are 43-18 after their bye week. San Francisco is also expecting to get Christian McCaffrey running back from Achilles tendinitis. How he looks and how the 49ers fare on a long trip should offer strong clues on whether another finishing flourish is on the way or if this team is as middling as its first-half record would indicate.”
NFL.com - The 49ers move up one spot to #13
Eric Edholm of NFL.com is skeptical about this year’s 49er team duplicating their past late-season success but says: “We’re into November, which is traditionally when Kyle Shanahan’s teams make their move. True, past 49ers clubs have been a little more successful on the whole than this one, which started 3-4, but the expected return of Christian McCaffrey lifts their profile, even with the resurgent Rams and Cardinals giving the Niners some serious competition in the NFC West. They can do what they normally do at this time of year with incremental improvements on special teams and defense, along with the expected bump of CMC’s return to the offensive backfield. This stretch run also will loom large for Brock Purdy, who has been hot and cold in the first half of the season. It says here that Purdy will finish strong in the back stretch, and that will be partly contractually motivated, as he will be eligible to sign a potentially massive deal this offseason. I think his play will warrant one in a few months.”
USA Today - The 49ers remain at #16
Nate Davis of USA Today points to the tough road trips ahead for the 49ers as a reason for concern, but Christian McCaffrey’s return is a welcome sight.
“The next four weeks include road trips to Tampa, Green Bay and Buffalo. Pretty ideal time to get RB Christian McCaffrey back, assuming he can do something most of the offense hasn’t managed to do – hold up physically.”
[**Pro Football Talk -...
