SANTA CLARA – George Kittle is hearing it from his bosses: “Hey, good luck this week, you’re starting. Don’t disappoint me.”

Those are the office memos he’s getting … from fantasy football owners, all of whom stand to benefit as the 49ers tight end emerges as a popular target for Jimmy Garoppolo.

“It’s really fun. A lot of pressure from them,” Kittle said with a wry smile at his 49ers locker.

Targeted a career-high nine times in the season-opening loss, Kittle produced 90 yards for the 49ers (and fantasy-football owners) at Minnesota, and although he dropped a long-ball at midfield, such attention is encouraging.

“We brought him in here,” coach Kyle Shanahan said, “because we thought he was a very good passing tight end and he’s also a very good blocking tight end. So, he helps us a lot.”

Said Kittle: “Having targets is really fun but catching the ball is even more fun.”

Although he caught 5 of 9 targets Sunday, what stood out most was his drop at midfield of a potential 80-yard touchdown, setting the stage for a Vikings pick-six on the very next snap.

Kittle, after the 24-16 loss, didn’t duck the question every fantasy-football owner and 49ers fan was asking: How could he drop that?!

“Misjudged it,” Kittle responded. “I thought it was a little bit closer to me. I probably ran too far with my arms out. It was just a bad play. That leads to a pick-six. That’s kind of on my shoulders. It’s a play we hit all the time.”

Garoppolo didn’t see the drop, having gotten hit on the play and thinking he overthrew the pass. “But, he owned it. George is a real professional about it. It’s good,” Garoppolo said.

Kittle’s 515 receiving last year were the most by a 49ers rookie tight end since at least the 1970 merger. He had 43 catches, including 15 for 224 yards in the final five games with Garoppolo.

“He played through a lot of injuries last year and he got healthier at the end of the year and that’s why you saw his success,” Shanahan added. “He’s a good player and will only get better if he can stay healthy.”

Kittle totaled only two touchdowns last year, however, and way more are needed this season, including this Sunday when the 49ers could be without wide receiver Marquise Goodwin in their home opener against the Detroit Lions. Related Articles 49ers on Wednesday: Garoppolo likely to miss game vs. Giants; a healthy RB has impressed

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“Last year, being a rookie with this playbook is pretty hard,” Kittle said. “I was thinking a lot and you don’t play nearly as fast. Now knowing it, it makes my job a lot easier.”

Left tackle Joe Staley described Kittle’s “fun-loving” approach as a kid in Pop Warner who likes to run around, have fun with friends and work really hard at a game he loves. “He’s a big part of our offense,” Staley added.