Dante Pettis
  • Dante Pettis

  • WR
  • , Chicago Bears
  • 29
  • 195 lbs
  • 6' 1"
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Scouting report

by Bob Harris

SF WR Dante Pettis - 2019 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside
The 49ers continue to have huge expectations for Dante Pettis as he enters his second NFL season. San Francisco's second-round pick of 2018 came on strong toward the end of his rookie campaign with 20 catches, 359 yards and four touchdowns coming in the final five games of the season. "We loved the way he closed this season," GM John Lynch said. "There's some maturation that I think is naturally going to come in terms of putting some girth on and some strength. I think this offseason is very important for him." Pettis was pretty sure-handed in 2018, only dropping two passes over the course of the whole regular season as he finished the year with 467 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Added strength and body mass will help make him more physical, durable and explosive in 2019 and beyond. More than that, the return of Jimmy Garoppolo should have a major impact as Pettis did his damage down the stretch with backup Nick Mullens under center.

Fantasy Downside
Based on QB play alone, expecting an increase in production is reasonable although the addition of Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd (and the presence of heavily-targeted tight end George Kittle) could be limiting factors.

2019 Bottom Line
Even with the wide range of offensive talent (which extends through the running back position) that could cap his production, it's hard to view Pettis as anything but the de facto WR1 in San Francisco, at least until somebody else proves otherwise. Given his current price (as a fantasy WR4), there's upside to be had here if Pettis continues to progress.

by Brandon Niles

SF WR Dante Pettis - Week 16 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 16 vs. Chicago Bears

Dante Pettis didn’t blow up last week, but he had a nice game with five receptions and 83 yards. Pettis has strung together four straight games with double-digit fantasy points in PPR formats, and his role in the offense seems to be expanding. He’s now second on the team in receiving yards and his five touchdowns lead the team.

Pettis faces the Bears, who have been dominant on defense this season, but have given up surprisingly the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year. Pettis is a boom-bust prospect against a tough defense, but he has some upside for fantasy owners needing to swing a little bit at the WR3 spot. He’s always a threat to score from distance.

by Brandon Niles

SF WR Dante Pettis - Week 15 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks

Dante Pettis is a risky player to trust, but he has seven targets in each of his last three games and has scored four of his five touchdowns during that span. With an ailing receiving corps, Pettis is getting more looks and has been productive with the additional opportunities.

This week, Pettis has some boom/bust upside in a tough matchup against the Seahawks. While Seattle is above average against wide receivers this season, Pettis may have an opportunity to continue his streak as a playmaker. Fantasy owners should know the risks associated with using him, but as a high risk/reward player, Pettis is worth gambling on. There are limited weapons in the 49ers offense, and Pettis has shown his explosiveness.

by Brandon Niles

SF WR Dante Pettis - Week 14 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 14 vs. Denver Broncos

Dante Pettis has been excellent the last two weeks. After scoring his second touchdown of the season against the Buccaneers, he caught five balls for 129 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks last week. Pettis is risky as an emerging young player on a bad team using their third-string quarterback, but he’s an interesting risk-reward option for fantasy owners looking for a desperation starter. Ideally, fantasy owners would want an easier matchup than the Broncos as the playoffs start, but as an all-or-nothing option, Pettis is worth considering in deep leagues.

by Brandon Niles

SF WR Dante Pettis - Week 3 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 3 at Kansas City Chiefs

Dante Pettis has only caught three passes this year but has averaged a staggering 32 yards per catch, including scoring a touchdown in Week 1. It’s too early to trust Pettis, but if he continues to develop a strong rapport with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and if Marquise Goodwin struggles to get back on the field, Pettis could develop into a potential WR2 option down the line. Fantasy owners in deep leagues should consider stashing him. Against the Chiefs this week, he has upside, but his lack of consistent targets makes it difficult to recommend starting him in most formats.

by Brandon Niles

SF WR Dante Pettis - Week 2 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 2 vs. Detroit Lions

Dante Pettis had a nice start to his career, catching two balls for 61 yards, one of which went for a touchdown. He was also targeted five times as he worked outside the hash marks in relief of the injured Marquise Goodwin. Pettis is too risky to trust this week against the Lions. However, in deep leagues, he may be worth adding to a roster for potential long-term upside. If Goodwin misses the contest, Pettis might have some quick-strike value if you’re desperate.

by Bob Harris

SF WR Dante Pettis - 2018 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside

According to NFL.com, Pettis is a solid secondary receiving option who has spent time on his craft and has the ability to attack and uncover on all three levels. Pettis lacks physicality and could struggle to handle in-your-face press corners, so he may see snaps from the slot. While his punt return talent solidifies his draft standing, his ability as route-runner combined with his smooth pass-catching should give him a long, solid career. Indeed, as the Sports Xchange reminded readers, Marquise Goodwin began last season as a one-dimensional deep threat who transitioned into a quality route-runner at about the same time Jimmy Garoppolo arrived. So there's room for a speedy guy like Pettis even if Goodwin is on the field.

Fantasy Downside

If there's a transition period (and it seems likely there will be), that's fine, because Pettis should be able to help a pedestrian 49ers return game right away. Still, being limited to return work as a rookie wouldn't be conducive to high-end fantasy production.

2018 Bottom Line

I may have understated that downside a bit. The truth is, Pettis is a strong dynasty prospect who shouldn't be rostered in redraft teams until and/or unless he finds himself in a position to make a significant, consistent contribution. He's not there yet.

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