Should you drop Jeff Wilson? Fantasy outlook explained 

San Francisco 49ers v Carolina Panthers
San Francisco 49ers v Carolina Panthers

Jeff Wilson is the unrivaled underdog story of the San Francisco 49ers running back room. An undrafted free agent from the 2018 draft class, the North Texas alum has beaten the odds to stick around the league for this long and remain a playing member of a Super Bowl contender.

Wilson is a tank of a running back, and the 6 ft, 217-pound back is known to cause damage in the San Francisco offense whenever Jimmy G chooses to run that route. Jeff Wilson has never played all the games in an NFL season since he stepped foot in the league, but you'd certainly feel the impact in the games he does play.

Moreover, Wilson has been having a career year of some sort in the 2022 NFL season, as the backfield threat is raking up career numbers across the board. He has already surpassed every 2021 season mark, and we are only in Week 7.

However, for all of Wilson's good work this season, the fifth-year veteran will have to make way for another running back in former Pro Bowler Christian McCaffrey, who was traded to the San Francisco 49ers from the Carolina Panthers for a bucketload of picks. It's fair to say that he's not coming to play backup.

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Due to this addition, Wilson's targets will surely decrease, as there is a new top dog in the backfield. So, what would become of Wilson, and what should Wilson owners do to the stellar running back from San Francisco?

Verdict: Jeff Wilson should be dropped, as it's clear he won't get as many looks as before. Looks were pivotal in ensuring him a top 20 spot on the running back fantasy points list.

Why is it time to trade Jeff Wilson?

It is time to trade Jeff Wilson because he will not take as many snaps due to the arrival of a ball-dominant rusher in the form of Christian McCaffrey. To make matters worse, McCaffrey is arguably the best ball-catching running back in the entire NFL; a niche Wilson cannot even come close to.

It might hurt knowing that Wilson would not be as useful as he used to be on your fantasy team because he was one of the best value-for-money picks in the entire league. However, his time as a starter in San Francisco seems to be up, and his time as a starter in your fantasy team should be up too.

Possible trades, pickups, and plans for Jeff Wilson owners

Jeff Wilson has not performed half bad in the 2022 NFL fantasy league, as the undrafted free agent currently ranks as the nineteenth-highest-scoring running back in the entire league with a solid 55.0 points. This is a better return than a host of proven performers, showing just how unique football is.

However, with the addition of McCaffrey into the San Francisco locker room, owners of Wilson in the fantasy league would have to make some tough decisions. Should they start him, sit him, or trade him?

Fantasy football players should drop Wilson to the bench, just as the San Francisco 49ers will drop him to the bench on the next match day. However, he could still score a few points if you choose to start him, as it is unlikely that McCaffrey would take all the snaps as he adjusts to the San Francisco offense. Therefore, you can keep Wilson on your side for the time being, though not necessarily as a starter. You can look for decent trade candidates to a splash in your local fantasy football league if it gets worse.

Edited by Piyush Bisht
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