The 49ers offense features one of its biggest challenges Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. The challenge may be less about overcoming the Green Bay defense than it is about keeping up with its offense. Jimmy Garoppolo will take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ high-powered offense that always is a threat to score a ton of points.
With that said, there will be a lot of focus on the playmakers on San Francisco’s offense. Here are the six players to watch on that side of the ball for the 49ers in what could be the marquee game of the season:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
We got the full Garoppolo experience last week in the 49ers’ 36-26 win over the Cardinals. There were two bad throws that led to interceptions deep in Arizona territory, but outside of those throws, Garoppolo was near perfect with 424 yards and four touchdowns. Sunday night could be a shootout with Rodgers on the other side. With the running game struggling, Garoppolo might need to be perfect Sunday.
RB Tevin Coleman
Speaking of the running game, it looks like Coleman will be the starting running back once again with Matt Breida doubtful for Sunday. In the three games since his 105-yard game against Carolina, Coleman is averaging 25.7 yards on 11 carries per game. Green Bay’s defense is near the bottom of the league at stopping the run, so Coleman will need to perform to take pressure off Garoppolo.
TE George Kittle
With how much Kittle has practiced this week, albeit in a non-contact jersey, Sunday should be his first game since injuring his knee and ankle on Halloween. He’ll obviously be a boost for the offense, giving Garoppolo a consistent receiver he’s been lacking the past two weeks. However, if Kittle does miss Sunday night or is limited, the 49ers receivers will once again need to take an extra step up to replace his production. The run game is where San Francisco might see the biggest change with Kittle in the lineup. He’s a superb blocker whose productivity hasn’t been replicated by any of the other tight ends playing in his absence.
WR Deebo Samuel
Samuel is the receiver who has benefited the most in Kittle’s absence and earned his role as the 49ers’ No. 2 receiver. The rookie has 16 receptions for 246 yards the last two games with Kittle out and Emmanuel Sanders playing just 36 percent of the snaps due to a rib injury. Sanders should be good to go Sunday, but the more viable options the better and Samuel has slowly become one in the offense.
WR Emmanuel Sanders
It’s looking more and more likely Sanders will play Sunday following the rib injury he suffered against Seattle. Sanders was able to play 44 percent of the snaps last Sunday, but didn’t see any action late in the game after aggravating his injury. It’ll be important for the 49ers offense not only to have a healthy group of Sanders, Samuel, and Kittle, but a group that healthy enough to play a large chunk of the snaps Sunday night to give Garoppolo options and maximize the 49ers’ passing attack.
RB Raheem Mostert
Mostert hasn’t been able to avoid the struggles the 49ers run game has had as a whole, but he still leads the position group in yards per carry. Kyle Shanahan has utilized at least two running backs in every game this season and has done a good job at splitting the carries. If Coleman does struggle once again against Green Bay, Mostert could see more carries and might be in for a big game Sunday night.
