49ers vs. Rams: 5 players who need to step up in Week 6

No. 4: Wide Receiver Dante Pettis

Second-year wide receiver Dante Pettis isn’t on this list directly because of an injury ahead of him on the depth chart.

Rather, Pettis’ placement has more to do with how Kyle Shanahan engineers his scheme.

Losing Kyle Juszczyk creates a bit problem in the run game. Shanahan’s rush offense depends highly on the lead-blocking abilities of the fullback — one of the few offensive systems still employing this position in the league today.

Shanahan could get creative with his deployment, hoping a fullback like Levine Toilolo or Ross Dwelley might fill the void. But neither is as good in run blocking as Juszczyk, meaning it wouldn’t be shocking to see Shanahan deploy more 11-personnel formations (three wide receivers, one tight end and a running back) instead of a more-traditional base offense, which swaps out a receiver for an extra running back.

This is where Pettis comes into play.

Pettis has already been under the microscope this year. He entered the regular season with some scrutiny already, and a dropped would-be touchdown pass in the Niners’ Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Overall, though, Shanahan hasn’t used his wide receivers much this season. The leading player out of this group is the veteran, Marquise Goodwin. But his nine-catch, 166-yard campaign this season is reflective of one single breakout game from a good receiver any given week.

Pettis, who hasn’t seen much of the field this season, will likely see much more of it this week.

For more than just one reason, he’ll need to step it up in Week 6.