1. San Francisco 49ers
Last season marked rock-bottom low for the Bay Area 49ers. The franchise managed just two wins, which was something that fans have not seen since 2004.
But a major rebuild could be the key to getting San Francisco back on top in 2017. The team moved on from head coach Chip Kelly in 2016, hiring Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan orchestrated a beautiful balanced attack coordinating last season’s highest-scoring offense with the Atlanta Falcons. Under Shanahan, the Falcons averaged 33.8 points per game during the regular season.
They also achieved their first postseason run since 2012.
Besides this, the 49ers will be starting fresh with a new quarterback. For now, the team is rolling with Brian Hoyer. They could also draft a rookie or somehow orchestrate a trade for Kirk Cousins. This is very far fetched, but it would be exciting.
As for the 49ers’ divisional competition, the Los Angeles Rams don’t look to be anywhere near seeing a postseason. The Arizona Cardinals also took several steps back in 2016 with an aging Carson Palmer under center. Also keep in mind, the 49ers play the AFC South in 2017, which is one of the weakest divisions in the league.
If the 49ers can stay competitive, they might just surprise.