2015 was a year to forget for quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Just three years after leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, Kaepernick’s production fell off a cliff last season amid multiple injuries. He eventually got benched and shut down after Week 9 and spent the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery.
Colin Kaepernick hopes to win starting QB job but still isn’t a fantasy factor
Kaepernick has fallen behind Blaine Gabbert while recovering from offseason surgeries. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Kaepernick returned to practice this Monday hoping to make an impression on new head coach Chip Kelly. Despite the setbacks, Kaepernick is confident he can beat out Blaine Gabbert for the starting QB job.
“I’m going to go out and show everything I can these next two games and make sure I put my best foot forward to show this organization, this team, this coaching staff what I’m capable of,” said Kaepernick, via the San Francisco Chronicle. He’s expected to make his preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers on Friday.
Fantasy impact: Gabbert has been poor through his two preseason games, so all eyes will be on Kaepernick this week. If he shows any flashes of his 2012-13 form, the 49ers’ quarterback situation suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.
That said, Kaepernick still has a long ways to go from his recovery and integration into Kelly’s system. He won’t be a serious fantasy consideration in 12-team drafts, although he’ll be someone to watch on the waiver wire if he does win the Week 1 job.
