Trent Taylor: 49ers’ wide receiver a player to watch Sunday vs. Jaguars

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor has come on strong in recent weeks. Facing a surging Jacksonville Jaguars team Sunday, Taylor may be the player to watch.

This article may be about San Francisco 49ers slot receiver Trent Taylor.

But 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles have something in common going into Sunday’s matchup.

Check out the numbers:

Garoppolo has done most of his work without a great running game or defense. Bortles may have the best defense/running game combo in the entire league. As a result, Bortles is in a great position for Sunday’s game against the 49ers.

There may be a player that could swing things in the 49ers favor, though. Taylor has been great since Garoppolo took over as the starting quarterback in Week 13. On the season, Taylor has 38 receptions for 382 yards and one touchdown. The lone touchdown came in a Week 3 shootout against the Los Angeles Rams, but Taylor set career highs in receptions (six) and yards (92) against the Chicago Bears in Week 13.

San Francisco 49ers

With recent success, Taylor could be primed for Sunday.

Taylor may also have a good matchup for Sunday’s game. According to Pro Football Focus, Jaguars slot cornerback Aaron Colvin has been average this season earning a 79.6 coverage grade and giving up just 0.79 yards per coverage snap from the slot. Meanwhile, Taylor has much improved with Garoppolo at quarterback, going from one target every 6.8 routes run to one every 5.5 routes run.

Taylor is also gaining more yardage. That number jumped from 0.90 yards per route run to 1.95.

While it looks good on paper, this matchup may depend on others. PFF also breaks down 49ers right tackle Zane Beadles versus Jaguars edge defenders. If this matchup follows trends, Garoppolo may not have time to get the ball out of his hands.

Luckily, though, Garoppolo has thrown a higher percentage of catchable passes under pressure than any other quarterback, at 76.3 percent. Tom Brady is second with a 65.5 percent, while the NFL average is 57.6 percent.

You can view the entire article on PFF’s website here.

Taylor’s best chance at producing may be a result of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s ability to game plan against the stout Jags defense. Shanahan is probably the greatest play-caller and designer in the NFL right now, but the task seems tall.

Similar to the New England Patriots, Shanahan and the 49ers will use the entire field. Last week, the 49ers ran a wide receiver reverse run for the first time in a long time.

But “Sacksonville” has the personnel to cover the entire field. With cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye covering the outside, the middle of the field could be San Fran’s only real opportunity.

Taylor, as well as Celek and Kittle will be huge Sunday. But two rookies and one other good tight end may not be enough against the Jags historic defense.

Next: Jimmy Garoppolo: All that’s left is to prove himself to 49ers

The 49ers are hot, fired up and playing with passion. But those things only take a team so far. Garoppolo won’t have the help he needs and the 49ers defense will crack late.

Final Score Prediction: Jags 24, 49ers 10.