Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 storylines to watch over second half of 2019

By Peter Panacy

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 20: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers talks with George Kittle #85 against the Washington Redskins during the first half in the game at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 20: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers talks with George Kittle #85 against the Washington Redskins during the first half in the game at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown after a pass reception during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 23rd, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown after a pass reception during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 23rd, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

No. 4: How the Offense Operates at Full Strength

For most of the first half of 2019, the Niners haven’t enjoyed a healthy crop on offense. And yet the 49ers still boast a plus-16.6 scoring differential, which ranks second best in the NFL.

More from Niner Noise

It’s commendable San Francisco owns the league’s No. 2 rush offense, also holding its own with the No. 22-ranked pass offense through nine weeks. And give credit to backup tackles Justin Skule and Daniel Brunskill for proverbially “holding the fort” while Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey rehab their respective injuries.

And the same goes for backup tight end Ross Dwelley, who has mostly seen time serving in Kyle Juszczyk’s stead at fullback.

Staley could return as soon as San Francisco’s Week 10 game against the Seahawks. So could Juszczyk. McGlinchey is on pace to come back from his knee injury a couple of weeks later.

This is all great news for Kyle Shanahan’s offense, which will benefit from a fully healthy crop of key players setting the foundation for the playmakers.

Tack on wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and what he’s been able to do in just two games, and the 49ers offense might be finally able to hit its full 2019 potential in the second half.