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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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 20: Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers eludes Troy Apke #30 of the Washington Redskins during the third quarter at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 20: Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers eludes Troy Apke #30 of the Washington Redskins during the third quarter at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Kendrick Bourne

Kendrick Bourne, the third-year wideout out of Eastern Washington, has also had an up-and-down year so far. Part of that has been inconsistency in his snap counts, which have varied from as low as 24 to as high as his 65 last week against the Washington Redskins.

Interestingly enough, Sunday was probably his best game of 2019, as he finished with three catches for 69 yards. Outside of that game, he’s only been targeted 10 times, hauling in six of those balls for a paltry 70 yards.

As has been the case throughout his tenure with the 49ers, when Bourne has been good, he’s been very good, often spectacular; but when he’s been bad, it’s just head-shaking how easily he misses the simple catches.

Much like Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis, Bourne has mostly been an outside receiver this year (109 of his 157 offensive snaps), which suggests that he’s both almost exclusively tied to that role and also a guy who might see his already light snap count diminish a little more.

Bourne may find himself the victim of the trickle down effect. If Pettis sees fewer snaps as a “starter” because of Sanders, then Bourne will see fewer opportunities as the man directly behind Pettis.

Bourne should continue to be a factor on the team, however, as he is among the team leaders in special teams snaps, something most of the other receivers don’t offer.