Niner Noise
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5 players 49ers cannot afford to lose this season

By Akshaj Dwivedula

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers signalsto his team during their NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers signalsto his team during their NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo

Duh. This requires very little to no explanation at all. Jimmy Garoppolo is the most important player to the 49ers this year, and his injury would therefore be the worst.

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The 49ers are not very talented on the offensive side. Granted, there is a lot of potential, but there is a reason the offensive was not very good until Garoppolo came. He elevated the play of every other player on the offense.

Garoppolo plays the most important position in football. The QB is vital to a team. Teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars or the 2001 Baltimore Ravens, who win with below average signal-callers, are typically the exception and not the rule.

Finally, I’ve written before how C.J. Beathard needs to develop significantly over the course of the year. He is a below average replacement to Jimmy G. Our QB situation behind Garoppolo consists of Beathard and… that’s it. Beathard cannot play at a level anywhere near Garoppolo’s.

Using the logic established in the first slide, Garoppolo clearly outweighs every other player on this list. Without Jimmy G, the 49ers can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Next: Identifying 3 weakest positions on 49ers roster in 2018

Apart from injuries, the 49ers have holes in their roster they simply have to fill. That will go a long way to relieve some of the stress of injuries.