Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 players poised for breakouts in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first 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 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first 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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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field after injuring his knee during their NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field after injuring his knee during their NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Wide Receiver Dante Pettis

True, no 49ers wide receiver reached 500 receiving yards in 2018. That’s bad. And it’s likely the Niners add yet another pass catcher to their arsenal in the 2019 NFL Draft.

That said, head coach Kyle Shanahan can also bank on a breakout campaign from second-year pro Dante Pettis, who finished his 2018 rookie season with 467 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Pettis was hampered by a knee injury suffered early in the year, and that cut into what could have been an impressive effort overall. Despite that, Pettis averaged 71.8 yards with four touchdowns over his final five games played. Extrapolate that over a full 16-game season, and Pettis would be on pace for 1,148.8 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Sounds like a No. 1-type wide receiver, doesn’t it?

Pettis’ route-running abilities were already well on display down the stretch, and those are likely only to improve with a full year’s experience at the pro level under his belt. Plus, the increased knowledge of Shanahan’s intricate offense should boost Pettis’ impact even more.

Tack on another pass catcher to take pressure off Pettis, and you could be looking at a player with some serious numbers to his name in 2019.