The 49ers offense wasn’t stellar in Tampa Bay. They were responsible for 17 of the 31 points, and allowed a Buccaneers touchdown on a pick-6. Now they’ll aim to bounce back against the Bengals, who fielded one of the worst defenses in the league last season.
Here are the six players to watch on that side of the ball Sunday:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Week 1 was a mixed bag for Garoppolo. He completed 18-of-27 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bengals pass defense ranked last in the NFL last season when they allowed 276 yards per game through the air. Cincinnati played the Seahawks tight last week, holding Russell Wilson to 195 yards on 20 passes. They did all two touchdowns through the air though. The Bengals defense could be prime for the picking for Garoppolo, who will need to improve from last week.
RB Raheem Mostert
Mostert’s workload is expected to increase with Tevin Coleman missing time due to an ankle injury. The fifth-year running back led the 49ers with 40 rushing yards against Tampa Bay. Mostert has shown promise in limited reps with the 49ers, averaging 6.7 yards per carry on just 50 attempts. Mostert might not meet the production we’ve seen in the past with his carries likely to increase, but he could be an important piece of the offense if he can be anywhere near that 6.7 YPC mark.
WR Dante Pettis
The biggest surprise from the offense last week was Pettis playing just two snaps. Kyle Shanahan said after the win in Tampa Bay that the limited playing time for the second-year receiver was a mistake that wouldn’t happen again. Pettis was expected to be the No. 1 receiver entering the season, but doesn’t have that stamp of approval from Shanahan. He should see more snaps against Cincinnati, and his role in the offense should be more defined.
WR Deebo Samuel
Samuel was the beneficiary of Pettis’ reduced role in the offense. The rookie led the 49ers receivers in snaps played with 59. He had three catches on three targets for 17 yards and a fumble in his debut. Samuel’s role in the offense could be diminished some if Pettis does play more snaps, but his productivity has plenty of room to increase.
RB Matt Breida
Breida had the bulk of the carries against the Buccaneers with 15, but he only managed 37 yards. Just like Mostert, Breida will see a heavier workload against the Bengals. His career-high in carries for a game is 17, which he’s done twice. Breida could surpass the 20-carry plateau for the first time in his career if the 49ers want to keep Mostert under 10-12 touches.
TE George Kittle
Kittle led all 49ers in targets, receptions, and receiving yards against Tampa Bay, and it was apparent he’s the player Shanahan wants to get the ball to in the passing game. However, teams will start focusing more on Kittle until another pass catcher emerges as a legitimate threat. An adjustment from Shanahan and Garoppolo will be necessary if Cincinnati ramps up coverage on the tight end.
