SF 49ers would make playoffs if these 5 players stayed healthy

No. 1: SF 49ers Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo

Few players have been more polarizing this season than quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

But despite what pundits, fans and analysts say about his fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and whether or not the SF 49ers commit to him beyond this season, there’s little questioning Garoppolo being the best quarterback on the Niners roster.

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It’s not even close.

True, Garoppolo isn’t exactly capable of picking up the team and putting it on his shoulders. Yet one can’t overlook the fact Shanahan is 22-8 in games where Garoppolo has started compared to 6-25 in games where Garoppolo either wasn’t on the roster yet or wasn’t available.

Instead, Garoppolo’s multiple high-ankle sprains, first in Week 2 and then again in Week 8, have all but derailed San Francisco’s dim chances for making the postseason, not unlike what happened when he tore his ACL back in 2018.

Health is a question mark for Garoppolo, yes. But just like George Kittle, one can safely assume a healthy Garoppolo would have been enough an X-factor for the SF 49ers to beat both the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Football Team (both losses), prompting the Niners record to 7-6 instead of the current 5-8 with Jimmy G’s backup, Nick Mullens, under center.

And that would have been enough to put San Francisco squarely in the playoff hunt with three games left to go.