Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 7 players in line for contract extensions in 2018

By Jeremy Wohlfart

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Eric Reid #35 intercepted a pass intended for Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals in the end zone during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Eric Reid #35 intercepted a pass intended for Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals in the end zone during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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No. 1: Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin

Writers note: I watch a lot of sports, and looking at that above video makes me more emotional than I care to admit.

If one person broke out this year on offense not named Jimmy Garoppolo, it would have to be wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, with career highs of 56 catches and 962 yards to go with his two touchdowns.

Goodwin was a speedy-but-underachieving player with the Buffalo Bills before coming to the Bay Area. Before the Garoppolo trade, it looked as though Goodwin would be a similar player for the 49ers, although maybe a touch more productive and comfortable than he was in Buffalo.

Then Garoppolo took over, and Goodwin exploded.

To put it in perspective, Goodwin had career-best stats of 29 catches for 431 yards and three touchdowns with the Bills. With the 49ers before Garoppolo, he had 27 catches for 578 yards and one touchdown.

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It was a modest improvement.

WIth Garoppolo, 29 catches for 384 yards and a touchdown. Considering he was knocked out of the Week 17 Los Angeles Rams game, he had similar stats in just five games with Garoppolo as he did his previous 11 with Niners quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and C.J. Beathard and his previous best season with the Bills.

There is genuine chemistry between Goodwin and Garoppolo, and the only reason Goodwin didn’t, at the very least, get a chance to become a 1,000-yard receiver was because he got pile driven versus the Rams:

Watching that was enough to give me a headache.

Goodwin won’t have the No. 1 receiver position next season with Pierre Garcon returning, but he will have the advantage of the already developed chemistry with Garoppolo. For Garoppolo to succeed, he must be given the best weapons and blocking that the 49ers can provide.

Next: 49ers: 5 offensive linemen San Francisco should target in 2018

Extending his favorite receiver would be a good start.