Kyle Shanahan has had to deal with a lot of problems so far this season.
Despite early injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, along with a poor start to the year for Brandon Aiyuk , passing game production has not been one of them.
That is large part because Jauan Jennings, the man who may well have won Super Bowl MVP had 49ers held on against the Kansas City Chiefs in February, has continued to ascend, furthering a remarkable rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy.
Last week, Jennings enjoyed a stunning career day as he caught 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns, only for it to prove in vain as the 49ers let slip a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in a heartbreaking defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.
Jennings has caught 18 of his 21 targets this season for 276 yards along with his three scores. Twelve of his receptions have gone for a first down, with Jennings posting a success rate of 71.4 pecent.
Per Pro Football Focus, he is second among wide receivers with at least 10 targets in yards per route run (3.29), trailing only Justin Jefferson. Per FTN Fantasy, Jennings is third in DVOA (min. 10 targets), which measures per-play value. He is first in DYAR, a measure of total value.
An underrated route-runner who does an excellent job at the top of the route and who uses his frame excellently to dictate one-on-one matchups and win contested fights for the football at the catch point, Jennings has a strong case for being the best third-string receiver in the NFL. He would likely be a second receiving option for many offenses in the league.
Yet, with Samuel in contention to return from a calf injury and tight end Kittle cleared to play after missing the loss to the Rams, Jennings may spend a lot of their Week 4 matchup with the New England Patriots watching from the sideline.
As a result of the versatile personnel he has at his disposal, head coach Kyle Shanahan has leaned heavily into 21 personnel, the 49ers' ability to get five out into a route from that heavy personnel package making San Francisco's offense even more difficult for opponents to slow down.
The impact of 21 hasn't been quite as significant this season with McCaffrey on the sideline and with the 49ers missing two further offensive All-Pros last week. However, the Niners have still used it 42.9 percent of the time on offense, per Sumer Sports , the highest rate of any team in the NFL. San Francisco has gone with 21 personnel on 91 plays through three games, compared to 88 plays with 11 personnel, the three wide receiver set that has become the staple across the league.
With Samuel returning to take back the other starting receiver spot from Jennings, a focus on 21 would at least somewhat limit the latter's time on the field, with Shanahan conceding that would mean the 49ers leaving one of their best 11 offensive players off the field.
Asked if he would be comfortable playing more 11 as a result of Jennings' exemplary play, Shanahan told a Friday press conference: "I’m always comfortable with Jauan. But our, if we’re not going 11, it has nothing to do with always trying to get our best 11 people out there.
"Jauan, I think, has been one of our best 11 people since he’s been here. That usually more has to do with advantages of 21 personnel and things like that. But it’s a good problem to have.
"I want to get Jauan out there more. He’s that type of player. It doesn’t always mean that you go totally different with your scheme and everything, but you can always rotate him in more too."
Solving the 49ers' good problem and ensuring Jennings is on the field more often may be especially important in a year where it is looking increasingly likely the offense may have to carry the load amid significant struggles on defense.
The 49ers are a disappointing 19th in DVOA on defense and 24th by Expected Points Allowed per play. They are ranked 28th in rush EPA per play on defense, illustrating their struggles in preventing opposing running games from ripping off significant gains, while their pass rush ranks 23rd in total pressures (31), per Sports Info Solutions.
San Francisco's defense, despite having All-Pros at every level, is doing little well through three games. Should that continue, the burden will be almost entirely on an offense that ranks seventh in offensive DVOA and EPA per play to elevate the team to a level where the Niners can still contend.
Samuel was impressive in Week 2 with a 100-yard performance and past history suggests Kittle will quickly return to playing a prominent and pivotal role in the offense. However, with Aiyuk struggling to this point to justify his four-year, $120 million extension and injuries always a possibility with the physical playing styles of Samuel and Kittle, keeping Jennings on the field as often as possible to further build and ever-increasing rapport with Purdy may be more important than many appreciate.
Simply put, the 49ers can't afford a drop in efficiency on offense if they are to survive a startling defensive decline.
San Francisco's' main route towards efficiency has been through the connection between Purdy and Jennings. The best hope of the 49ers' overcoming their issues on defense is for them to find a balance that allows San Francisco to keep Jennings on the field as much as possible while hoping the usual stars can soon return to their best. The 49ers have a lot of problems, but they can be overcome them by emphasizing a true early-season bright spot and focusing on getting the ball to Jennings.
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