Niner Noise
FanSided

Projected 49ers Week 1 starting lineup halfway through 2018 preseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 hands off to Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 hands off to Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Wide receiver Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Wide receiver Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Right Wideout: Pierre Garçon

Left Wideout: Marquise Goodwin

Slot: Trent Taylor

Again, don’t read too deeply into the initial projections. Kyle Shanahan’s offense will be about ball distribution this season, and a number of the 49ers’ other receiving targets — namely the rookie, Dante Pettis — will see plenty of opportunities over the course of the year.

For depth-chart purposes, however, the Niners receiving corps will pan out the way most expected to at the start of 2018.

Veteran wideout Pierre Garçon will assume No. 1 duties. He missed the second half of last year, so we’re yet to see the chemistry between Garçon and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. That should be fun to watch, although fellow wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has been Garoppolo’s favorite target during training camp and the preseason.

Pettis will see the field aplenty his rookie year, however. The exceptional route runner has flashed all kinds of abilities in training camp, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners offense lean more on the rookie instead of the veteran, Garçon, as the year moves along.

While not exactly part of the starting-lineup discussion, Shanahan will have plenty of tough decisions to make at the back end of the receiving depth chart.