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49ers: 5 players with the most on the line for the 2018 season

By Chris Wilson

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks takes the field for the 2014 NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks takes the field for the 2014 NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
(Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

1. QB Jimmy Garoppolo

While the previous four 49ers have a lot on the line in 2018, no one on the team has more to prove than quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Expectations couldn’t be higher for the first-year starter after he led the one-win Niners to five straight victories to end the 2017 season.

Garoppolo put a flailing 49ers franchise back on solid ground, and was rewarded with a record-setting five-year contract worthy of a franchise quarterback. Now, Garoppolo needs to be that franchise QB for San Francisco.

By making Garoppolo the new face of the franchise, the 49ers’ front office placed a lot of pressure on a player with seven career starts — albeit all of them victories. As a true leader, Garoppolo was happy to accept this role, but it will come with its set of challenges.

The Niners’ 26-year-old QB won’t win every game of his professional career, and has yet to demonstrate his ability to bounce back from an NFL loss or overcome significant adversity. However, Garoppolo has done all the right things since he arrived in San Francisco, so it appears he’s up for the challenge.

After winning last season with a limited set of offensive plays in his repertoire, Garoppolo will have the advantage of Shanahan’s complete playbook in 2018. However, opposing teams will have a lot more of Garoppolo’s film to review before facing the 49ers’ quarterback this season.

Next: Ranking the top 25 49ers for 2018

Jimmy Garoppolo’s play will determine the San Francisco 49ers’ fate in 2018. Given his new contract and his new franchise-QB status, Garoppolo has the most on the line — and the most to prove — in 2018.