Niner Noise
FanSided

5 49ers players with a lot to prove in 2019 regular season

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Rashod Hill #69 of the Minnesota Vikings blocks Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Rashod Hill #69 of the Minnesota Vikings blocks Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Trent Taylor

The 49ers added veteran wide receiver Jordan Matthews in NFL free agency, although he’s expected to compete more for the team’s vacant Z-receiver spot. Not so much out of the slot, although Kyle Shanahan’s scheme doesn’t deploy wideouts in the traditional sense.

After no Niners wide receiver reached 500 yards in 2018, though, no one’s job should be considered truly safe.

This especially applies to third-year pro Trent Taylor, who saw a massive drop off in production after an impressive rookie season back in 2017. Just check out the difference:

Trent Taylor Receiving Table
Game Game Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Age Tm Pos G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch% Fmb
2017 23 SFO wr 15 1 60 43 430 10.0 2 33 2.9 28.7 71.7% 1
2018 24 SFO 14 0 41 26 215 8.3 1 23 1.9 15.4 63.4% 1
Care Care 29 1 101 69 645 9.3 3 33 2.4 22.2 2

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/21/2019.

There are a couple of possible reasons for Taylor’s 2018 regression. First, a back injury and subsequent surgery hindered his efforts for much of last year. And the rapport he developed with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was wiped out after Week 3 when Garoppolo suffered his season-ending ACL tear.

But with second-year pro Richie James, who is far more explosive and fast than Taylor, the 49ers may consider going with the former instead of the latter moving forward.

Unless Taylor reverts back to his 2017 form, of course.