Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 3 wide receivers facing uncertain futures in 2020

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after catching a pass for a first down during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after catching a pass for a first down during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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Richie James, 49ers
Richie James Jr. #13 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Richie James

Over the first two years of his career, there has been a safe push among fans to see more of wide receiver Richie James in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive game plan.

For some reason or another, though, it hasn’t happened. James has been little more than an offensive afterthought ever since being taken as an undrafted free agent in 2018:

Richie James Receiving Table
Game Game Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD 1D Lng R/G Y/G Ctch% Y/Tgt
2018 23 SFO wr 13 13 2 14 9 130 14.4 1 4 53 0.7 10.0 64.3% 9.3
2019 24 SFO wr 13 16 1 10 6 165 27.5 1 5 57 0.4 10.3 60.0% 16.5
Care Care 29 3 24 15 295 19.7 2 9 57 0.5 10.2 62.5% 12.3

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/26/2020.

Perhaps Shanahan underutilized James last season. Perhaps James wasn’t doing the things the 49ers were hoping he’d do in practice, ultimately diminishing his role on game day to a mere special teams specialist.

Regardless, it’s important to recall James was a massive standout during training camp in 2018, backed up by another solid effort during this timeframe last year. For whatever the reasons, though, those efforts haven’t translated over into regular-season play.

It’s hard to hold onto a roster spot by means of being a return specialist only, particularly when the Niners field a number of other options.

Should San Francisco wind up pulling in other options this offseason, James could merely wind up being a victim of the numbers game.