Vance McDonald
San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald has a very bright future ahead of him. He has flown under the radar despite having a stellar preseason. McDonald will top the depth chart at his position come the start of the season. Although he is considered to be a “wait and see” kind of fantasy prospect, now is the time grab him. McDonald has the potential to be a borderline TE1 this season.
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Believe it or not, Blaine Gabbert being named the 49ers’ starting quarterback is probably the best thing that could have happened for McDonald’s career. McDonald has thrived with Blaine Gabbert at the helm. Gabbert and McDonald connected on more than one occasion this preseason, and McDonald’s owners can only hope that translates into the regular season.
Colin Kaepernick would only hurt McDonald’s value since he hasn’t been performing on the same level he used to. If Chip Kelly feels that the team is better suited with Gabbert as the starter, it’s safe to say that fantasy owners should heed his warning.
Although Gabbert has a horrible record as a starter in the NFL, it’s not unheard of to be able to make a comeback. At one point in his career, he was considered a very promising player. If there’s any coach that can squeeze some production out of Gabbert it’s Kelly.
A high-powered offense not only benefits Gabbert but also McDonald. The 49ers have a lack of receiving options which leaves McDonald as one of the team’s primary pass catchers. There have been offenses centered around a tight end before. The Tennessee Titans used Delanie Walker in a very similar fashion last season due to similar circumstances. With the 49ers current offensive situation, McDonald has the opportunity to thrive this season. Since he is going undrafted in most formats, it makes sense to grab him late or even pick him up off waivers.
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Anthony Sciarratta is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Anthony follow him on Twitter @ant_sciarratta.
