Niner Noise
FanSided

Breaking down 49ers wide receiver roles post Emmanuel Sanders trade

By Robert Morrison

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 01: Emmanuel Sanders #10 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball after making a reception against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 01: Emmanuel Sanders #10 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball after making a reception against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Marquise Goodwin

Emmanuel Sanders is pretty fast (he ran a 4.4 40 at the combine coming out of college). But Marquise Goodwin (did you know he was an Olympic track star?) is even faster (a 4.27 combine number).

For that reason, even though Goodwin, like Pettis, plays most his snaps from the outside, especially the right side like Sanders, the veteran 49ers wideout is unlikely to see his time cut because of Sanders’ arrival to the Bay.

Goodwin hasn’t been perfect this season, but he has shown the ability to get behind the defense and get himself open, even if he did drop the ball on that flea flicker attempt earlier this season.

Nonetheless, he does provide a skill nobody else on the 49ers roster has: Olympic-level speed. Provided he can catch the ball when he blazes by opposing defensive backs, he should continue to contribute as much as he has so far this year.