Predicting 49ers 2019 wide receiver depth chart early in preseason
By Peter Panacy
Starting Boundary Wide Receivers: Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin
Before we go any further, one had to acknowledge Kyle Shanahan doesn’t employ his wide receivers in a traditional fashion. He mixes his flankers, split ends and slots in a variety of ways, which serves to confuse defenses. So don’t get too immersed in the commonplace alignments here.
Another thing, too: Marquise Goodwin is expected to be used more situationally this season, yet he has been working almost exclusively with the first-team unit during training camp. He’ll likely be listed as a starter, though, at least to start the season.
And for those thinking Goodwin is in danger of a roster cut, just look at his contract. It won’t happen this year. Plus, the Niners need his speed on the field.
Goodwin could be subbed out regularly, which is fine. The bigger question is who occupies the opposite spot on the field.
Last season, San Francisco had good success inserting then-rookie wideout Dante Pettis into the fray, and his final five games during the regular season were indicative of WR No. 1 numbers:
Dante Pettis got off to a sluggish start in 2018. But over his final five games, he averaged 71.8 receiving yards per contest and had four touchdowns.
— Peter Panacy (@PeterPanacy) May 20, 2019
Extrapolated over a 16-game season, that's 1,148 yards and 12 touchdowns. That's entering WR1 territory, folks. #49ers #49wz
Pettis has had some up-and-down moments during training camp, and we’ll see what transpires this preseason as the weeks move forward.
Ideally, though, San Francisco gets Pettis into a situation where he’s a regular among the starters on the outside.