12. San Francisco 49ers
Players to Watch: Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Boldin, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, Nnamdi Asomugha I fully expect the 49ers to claim the number one spot in the NFC this year. With a relatively easy schedule, save for Green Bay, Seattle, and Atlanta, the 49ers are more than poised to make a run at the Super Bowl again. Their entire season rests upon the shoulders of Kaepernick and an almost implausible repeat performance. I said all along Kaepernick needed to usurp Alex Smith, but never did I guess he would prove to be so successful so quickly. That said, Colin is a phenomenal talent who proved to be worth a secure starting job. While I have my skepticism about a repeat season by the young star, the addition of veteran WR Anquan Boldin, along with Vernon Davis taking upon more of a WR role, Kaepernick can get away with a performance even half as impressive as last year's magnificent showing. Moving to the defense, the 49ers acquired and drafted players that do nothing but enhance a defensive unit that may well rival the Super Bowl-winning Ravens defense of 2001. Veteran Nnamdi Asomugha, who had a less than stellar performance for the ineffably bad Eagles' team last year, should fit perfectly under the fastidious coach Harbaugh. Another player to watch this year is rookie safety Eric Reid out of LSU. Reid has an understated propensity for making big plays in even bigger games. We should see a 12-4 season from the 49ers this year and a number one spot in the NFC.