A 1-3 start to the San Francisco 49ers 2018 season isn't what most had hoped for, but there have still been several bright spots from the first quarter of the campaign. The play of George Kittle and Matt Breida has garnered the attention of media outlets around the country. So much so that Pro Football Focus has added both second-year skill players to its First Quarter All-Pro Team.
Kittle has caught 18 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown. The tight end's 218 yards after the catch rank third in the NFL behind only Alvin Kamara and Saquon Barkley. His 82-yard touchdown in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers set a new 49ers franchise record for longest score by a tight end. Kittle is currently PFF's top-graded tight end which earned him the starting spot on the All-Pro team.
"He has pretty good speed for a tight end," Shanahan said on Wednesday. "He's a very good blocker, and he's got good hands. He can get in and out of cuts."
Breida's 313 rushing yards rank third in the NFL through four games, and he's leading the league with six runs of 20-plus yards. He's also averaging 7.6 yards per carry which is tops in the NFL among running backs with more than 10 carries. He's added 10 receptions for 85 yards. PFF named Breida as their honorable mention behind Kamara. What's impressive is how he's been able to rack up yards despite battling through shoulder and knee injuries. Breida is practicing on Wednesday and is expected to be ready to go in Week 5.
The 49ers will count on both players to help carry the offense on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
