Bell finished with six receptions (13 targets) for 68 yards and three touchdowns while appearing in 17 regular-season games for San Francisco in 2023.
Bell product wasn't projected to make the 53-man roster after being selected by a team loaded at receiver, but a strong camp earned him a reserve role out of the gates. The Michigan product didn't get a ton of run with just six catches in 17 games, but he had a nose for the end zone with half of those receptions hitting pay dirt. Bell also helped fill in for an injured Ray-Ray McCloud as the 49ers' punt returner over the team's final five games. With the latter's contract expiring this offseason, Bell could find himself taking over return duties while being mixed in on offense in 2024.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Won't play in NFC Championship
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Bell (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Lions, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Bell will sit out a second straight game after not suiting up for the Niners' divisional-round win over the Packers. His last appearance was Week 18 against the Rams, when he played 44 snaps -- 37 on offense and seven on special teams -- and caught one of five targets for a five-yard touchdown.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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With the 49ers expected to rest Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk in Week 18 against the Rams with the No. 1 seed in the NFC locked up, Bell could be the top receiver for San Francisco. Sam Darnold will likely start for the 49ers, so keep that in mind, but Darnold and Bell hooked up for a touchdown in garbage time in Week 16 against Baltimore. Bell is a desperation flier in deeper leagues against the Rams, who are No. 9 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Scores TD in garbage time
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Bell caught his only target for a 12-yard touchdown in Monday's 33-19 loss to Baltimore.
Bell saw his role elevated slightly with the 49ers missing a few role players in the primetime loss to the Ravens. The 2023 seventh-round selection wound up playing seven total snaps Monday, four of which came on special teams and the last three coming on offense when the game was well out of hand. He made the most of his limited opportunities by grabbing his second touchdown of the season on a pass from Sam Darnold. Bell's first score came back in Week 3, and he has seen just four total targets in 11 active games between those trips to the end zone. Given his sporadic usage and the nature of Monday's score, Bell should not be considered as a fantasy option for Week 17 when the 49ers visit the Commanders on Dec. 31.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Role on offense declining
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Bell played seven of the 49ers' 59 snaps on offense and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 42-19 win over the Eagles.
Since recording two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown in a Week 3 win over the Giants, Bell has seen his playing time and role in the passing game steadily taper off. He's received double-digit snaps in just two of his last nine appearances and has just two receptions for 27 yards on three targets during that stretch.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: No catches Sunday
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Bell failed to catch his lone target in Sunday's 42-10 win over the Cowboys.
Jauan Jennings (shin) returned from his one-game absence against the Cowboys to bring the 49ers' receiver room back to full strength, effectively pushing Bell into a special teams role. Eleven of the rookie's 14 offensive snaps came in garbage time of the blowout victory, with Bell's lone target coming much earlier in the game when he dropped a catchable ball from Brock Purdy that would have dug the offense out of a second-and-long hole. Bell made up for his gaff on special teams two plays later by fielding Mitch Wishnowsky's punt within five yards of Dallas' end zone to pin the opposition deep in its own territory. The Michigan product will likely need another crooked score to reach double-digit snaps on offense against Cleveland on Sunday.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Used sparingly Sunday
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Bell caught his lone target for seven yards in Sunday's 35-16 win over the Cardinals.
The 49ers were without one of their top three receivers for the second consecutive week, which afforded Bell nine snaps on offense (16 percent) Sunday. The rookie was unable to repeat last week's trip to the end zone, resulting in a quiet receiving day from the Michigan product. Jauan Jennings' shin injury doesn't appear to be serious, so Bell's playing time may vanish as soon as Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Scores first TD of career
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Bell caught both of his targets for 24 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 30-12 win over the Giants.
Ray-Ray McCloud got the start in place of Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder), but it was Bell who wound up being the primary beneficiary with a short red-zone score in the second quarter of Thursday's win. The seventh-round rookie wound up seeing 31 snaps on offense (37 percent), finishing in a tie with Jauan Jennings for the third-most amongst San Francisco wideouts. Bell was limited to two targets in a committee approach to replace Aiyuk's production, so fantasy managers shouldn't overreact to the rookie's first touchdown. There is also the possibility that Aiyuk returns in Week 4 -- with nine days between an Oct. 1 matchup against Arizona -- which would push Bell back into a reserve role.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Injuries improve roster bid
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Bell could start the season as high as fourth on the wide receiver depth chart after multiple San Francisco wideouts suffered injuries this preseason.
Ray-Ray McCloud -- San Francisco's fourth receiver and return specialist -- will miss the first two months of the regular season after injuring his wrist in the 49ers' second preseason game. Danny Gray (shoulder) and Chris Conley (shoulder) popped up on the injury report after the team's final preseason tilt, leaving Bell as the healthiest option to potentially fill in for McCloud this year. The seventh-round pick ripped off a couple of big gains in exhibition play, but he also fumbled twice (one lost) in limited action. Bell may be forced into a bigger role than expected, but he won't see much action on offense with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings all ready for Week 1.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Gets start with regulars resting
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Bell finished with three receptions (six targets) for 58 yards in Sunday's preseason opener against Las Vegas.
San Francisco rested its top four wideouts in this first preseason game, as those spots/roles on the depth chart are set in stone barring injury. This gave the Bell the opportunity to start alongside veteran Chris Conley (3-47-0), who also is competing for one of the final WR spots ahead of Week 1. The rookie seventh-round pick responded to the opportunity and led the 49ers in receiving Sunday. While it was a nice exhibition debut for Bell, he doesn't carry much fantasy value heading into the 2023 season.
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49ers' Ronnie Bell: Heads west
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The 49ers selected Bell in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 253rd overall.
Bell has an impressive resume after playing five years at Michigan, particularly for falling so late in the draft. However, he lacks speed and burst, so there is significant concern that he won't be able to separate from coverage as a pro. The 49ers receiving corps isn't overly impressive after Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, so Bell could have a shot to make the roster as a depth piece.
