The San Francisco 49ers kick off the 2018 regular season on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT. That gives us a little over 48 hours until we get some football. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to put together some predictions. I emailed a list of nine questions to the NN staff. Here are the questions. I’ll post my answers below, followed by all the writers, but you can copy and paste this to drop your answers into the comments.
1. Record prediction:
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss:
3. Your favorite game on the schedule:
4. Team MVP:
5. Team rookie of the year:
6. Most rushing yards:
7. Most receiving yards:
8. Most tackles:
9. First in-season contract extension:
1. 9-7: Back in April when the schedule was released, I predicted a 10-6 record. My one change is changing the Chargers game from a win to a loss. Among the writers, 10-6 is the highest win total prediction, with four people picking it. Five of us went with 9-7, three went with 8-8, and three went with 7-9.
2. Week 1 loss in Minnesota. Akash and Billy see them beating Minnesota, and then beating Kansas City. Everybody else has the 49ers losing in Week 1.
3. Week 6 at Packers. The Seahawks and Rams games offer plenty to watch, but 49ers-Packers at Lambeau Field could be a fun one. It would be a huge test for the defense, and we get to see if Jimmy Garoppolo can go toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers.
4. I’ll go with the popular choice and say Jimmy Garoppolo. It will be either Garoppolo or DeForest Buckner, but I’ll play it safe. It’s no surprise that 13 of us are going with Garoppolo for team MVP. Jennifer went with Buckner, and Malcolm went with Reuben Foster.
5. Fred Warner. Once Reuben Foster returns, Warner’s specific role is TBD. However, if he impresses these first two weeks, it will be hard to take him off the field. Ten of us went with Warner, followed by four with Dante Pettis, and one pick of Richie James.
6. The 49ers running back situation is in flux between Alfred Morris and Matt Breida. I’ll go with Morris getting the most rushing yards, while Breida is the bigger impact in the passing game. 13 of us picked Morris, with two picking Breida.
7. I’ll join the crowd and agree on Marquise Goodwin getting the most receiving yards. I think we see him emerge as the No. 1 receiver in this offense. Pierre Garçon will be plenty busy, but Goodwin will be the big play threat. 13 of us picked Goodwin, and two picked Garçon.
8. Reuben Foster makes a lot of sense as a tackling machine, even with two games missed due to suspension. I considered Fred Warner and Jaquiski Tartt, but I think Foster ends up with huge numbers this year. 11 people picked Foster, and then two each picked Warner and Tartt.
9. It will be one of the special teams players, with all three hitting free agency after this season. My guess is they sign Bradley Pinion first among them. The most popular choice among the writers? Arik Armstead, with seven votes. Four of us went with Pinion, two went with Mike Person, and there was one vote apiece for Raheem Mostert and Jaquiski Tartt.
Jennifer Chan
1. Record prediction: 7-9, playoffs only if they get lucky
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss - Week 1
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: Green Bay - an exciting match up two historic franchises
4. Team MVP - Buckner
5. Team rookie of the year - Pettis
6. Most rushing yards - Alfred Morris
7. Most receiving yards - Marquise Goodwin
8. Most tackles - Foster
9. First in-season contract extension: Arik Armstead
Pat Holloway
1. Record prediction: 10-6. The 49ers will head in as a #5 seed. I don’t see them going much further than that.
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss — Week 1: Minnesota. Tough game all around.
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: At the Seattle Seahawks. I have the 49ers penciled in to win by two touchdowns. I predicted this at the beginning of the year. 49ers, don’t let me down.
4. Team MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Team rookie of the year: Richie James
6. Most rushing yards: Matt Breida
7. Most receiving yards: Marquise Goodwin
8. Most tackles: Reuben Foster
9. First in-season contract extension: Arik Armstead
Akash Anavarathan
1. 10-6. The 49ers will finish 6th in the NFC, will likely get bounced out in the divisional round by the No. 1 seeded Los Angeles Rams.
2. The Chiefs. On the road, against rookie Pat Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a loud crowd will be a tall order for a young 49ers’ team. They’ll be excited after starting out 2-0, dropping this Week 3 matchup.
3. 49ers at Seahawks, December 2nd. Any time the 49ers get to play in Seattle for a prime time game, it’s time to grab the popcorn. With the rivalry starting to be re-ignited, I’ve circled this game on the calendar.
4. Team MVP: QB Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Team Rookie of the Year: WR Dante Pettis
6. Most Rushing Yards: RB Alfred Morris
7. Most Receiving Yards: WR Marquise Goodwin
8. Most Tackles: Reuben Foster
9. Contract Extension: Arik Armstead
Oscar Aparicio
1. 8-8, miss playoffs
2. Week 1 (Minnesota)
3. Week 7 vs the Rams. My uncle is a huge Rams fan so it’s a good family, and divisional, rivalry. Plus if all goes well it’ll be another offensive bonanza.
4. Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Fred Warner
6. Alfred Morris
7. Kyle Juszc HAHAHAHAHAHA I couldn’t even finish the joke. Marquise Goodwin
8. Reuben Foster
9. Jaquiski Tartt
James Brady
1. Record prediction: LWWWWLLWWWLWWWLL (10-6, 2nd NFCW, probable loss in wild card round)
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss: Week 1 at Vikings
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: Week 12 at Tampa Bay: I don’t know if the 49ers will even win this game, but I think it’s the most interesting non-divisional game from a matchup perspective, and affords the 49ers a solid opportunity to make a late-season statement.
4. Team MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Team rookie of the year: Dante Pettis
6. Most rushing yards: Alfred Morris
7. Most receiving yards: Marquise Goodwin
8. Most tackles: Jaquiski Tartt
9. First in-season contract extension: Bradley Pinion
Tracy Sandler
1. Record prediction - 9-7, will lose in the first round
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss - Minnesota Vikings
3. Your favorite game on the schedule - Sunday night in Seattle, because this is the year the 49ers beat the Seahawks at Century Link Field. Sunday Night Football, Rivals...It’s like a playoff atmosphere.
4. Team MVP - Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Team rookie of the year - Dante Pettis
6. Most rushing yards - Alfred Morris
7. Most receiving yards - Marquise Goodwin
8. Most tackles - Reuben Foster
9. First in-season contract extension: Arik Armstead
Josh Eccles
1. 8-8
2. First loss - week 1 vs. Minnesota
3. 12/02 (Sunday Night Football) vs. SEA - what better way to continue ushering in a new era of 49er football than by going into enemy territory and sticking to one of the teams that’s been a thorn in the side of fans since the late-2000s? Also - being able to see Richard Sherman make his return to Seattle could be electric. I, for one, cannot wait to see what Jimmy G & Co. have in store for this game.
4. Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Fred Warner
6. Matt Breida
7. Pierre Garcon
8. Fred Warner (unless Foster can remain healthy for an entire year, which I don’t think he will until he learns how to adjust his play style to stay on the field for prolonged periods of time).
9. Bradley Pinion
Greg Valerio
1. Record prediction (if you think they’ll make the playoffs, indicate as such along with playoff performance): 9-7
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss: Week 1 at Minnesota.
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: Week 13 at Seattle Seahawks. It is about time the 49ers turn the tables on the rivals up north, and who better to lead the charge in silencing the 12’s than Richard Sherman. Payback is going to be splendid.
4. Team MVP. Jimmy Garoppolo.
5. Team rookie of the year. Fred Warner.
6. Most rushing yards. Alfred Morris.
7. Most receiving yards. Marquise Goodwin.
8. Most tackles. Reuben Foster.
9. First in-season contract extension: Mike Person
Alex Eisen
1. 10-6 and a trip to the playoffs as the sixth seed in the NFC Playoffs. The 49ers put up a good effort but fall short to the #3 seed New Orleans Saints on the road in the NFC Wild Card game.
2. Week 1 in Minnesota
3. 49ers at Rams Week 17: A trip to the playoffs will be on the line. Similar to last season, the Rams will have wrapped up the division and rest key starters, allowing Jimmy G and company to walk away victorious from LA Coliseum and clinch the final spot in the NFC Playoffs.
4. Team MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Team Rookie of the Year: Fred Warner
6. Most Rushing Yards: Alfred Morris
7: Most Receiving Yards: Marquise Goodwin
8: Most Tackles: Reuben Foster (Even with a 2 game Suspension)
9: Contract Extension: Arik Armstead
TryAndCatchVD
1. 9-7
2. Week 1 against Vikings
3. Both Rams games. The first game last year was an instant classic without Jimmy G, and the second game was a farce with the Rams’ starters benched. This in-state (and coaching tree) rivalry should bloom into something special.
4. Jimmy Garoppolo
5. Fred Warner. I believe he’ll wind up top 5 in tackles, as well as showing up in FF/FR/Sack/Int categories as well.
6. Alfred Morris
7. Marquise Goodwin, although he won’t be the leader in receptions or receiving TDs.
8. Jaquiski Tartt
9. Arik Armstead
Malcolm Taylor
1. Record prediction: 7-9
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss: week 1
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: Tampa Bay, because I’ll be going to it (selfish! Lol) — Nah first game against the Rams, can’t wait to shut them up
4. Team MVP: Foster, think he redeems himself after suspension to lead the team in tackles
5. Team rookie of the year: Fred Warner him and Foster become Bowman and Willis 2.0
6. Most rushing yards, Morris 854 yards 8 TDs
7. Most receiving yards Goodwin 1100 yards 5 TDs
8. Most tackles: Foster
9. First in-season contract extension: Arik Armstead, nothing crazy but I think he gets 2 or 3 years
Josh Cootner
1. Record prediction: 8-8
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss: Vikings
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: The Chargers game, because they will play in that soccer stadium, which both cool and hilarious. I expect the “crowd” will be more than 50% 49er fans.
4. Team MVP: Jimmy G
5. Team rookie of the year: Fred Warner
6. Most rushing yards: Alfred Morris
7. Most receiving yards: Marquise Goodwin
8. Most tackles: Fred Warner
9. First in-season contract extension: Raheem Mostert
Steve Busichio
1. Record prediction: 7-9
2. Which game will be the team’s first loss: at Minnesota
3. Your favorite game on the schedule: 11/12 vs NYG on Monday Night football. Born and raised in New Jersey, this rivalry always holds special significance. This season, it features two teams seeking to rebound after paltry 2017 campaigns, armed with young talents like Garoppolo, Foster, Beckham, and Barkley.
4. Team MVP: Garoppolo (duh)
5. Team rookie of the year: Fred Warner
6. Most rushing yards: Alfred Morris
7. Most receiving yards: Pierre Garçon
8. Most tackles: Reuben Foster
9. First in-season contract extension: Mike Person
Billy Kerr
1. 9-7. They will just miss the playoffs. I hope I’m wrong
2. Lose against the Chiefs. Just a tough place to play
3. Game against the Packers. Aaron Rodgers holds a grudge vs the 49ers for not taking him in the draft so many years ago. Also, the current best QB in the league (Rodgers) vs the upcoming best QB in the league (Jimmy G)
4. Jimmy GQ
5. Fred Warner
6. Alfred Morris
7. Marquise Goodwin
8. Reuben Foster
9. Bradley Pinion