49ers' Offensive Success Sunday is Contingent on Emmanuel Sanders

When wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders exited early in the game against the Seahawks, the 49ers' offense fell to below average. With George Kittle inactive, the 49ers could not have afforded their last best receiving option to go down. It just completely exposes the lack of talent at the position. Monday night really showed how necessary the trade for Sanders was.

Take these stats for example: Jimmy Garoppolo's yards per attempt with Sanders in the game is 8.5. Without him, his yard per attempt drops to 4.4. Garoppolo was just 4-of-19 on throws of 10 yards or more on Monday night night, with five drops via Pro Football Focus. I think it's safe to say that Sanders is a major factor to the offense.

In fact, the 49ers' offensive success on Sunday is contingent on Sanders.

With Kittle most likely set to be inactive against the Cardinals, the offense will need Sanders to boost the passing game. However, Sanders is considered day-to-day with a rib injury and is a game-time decision for Sunday. Kyle Shanahan has already noted that Sanders is not a player that needs to practice because he has already shown how he soaks in the gameplan.

"I’m not worried about Emmanuel learning the stuff whether he practices or not, it’s just if he can be healthy enough to go on Sunday.” This is just further proof of how the offensive success is contingent on him. Shanahan is not going to risk his health for a measly practice because he is so valuable on gameday. Sanders has proven that in the last two games with a dominant performance against the Cardinals in week nine and with his absence against the Seahawks.

The Cardinals have appeared to have cracked the code on limiting the offense of the 49ers by stacking the box. Seattle replicated this gameplan and did not bite on any of the pre-snap motion. It is why the running games has been minimized the last two games and it was Arizona that developed the blueprint. That means it is on the passing game to step up and make defenses pay for selling out on the run.

However, it is extremely difficult to do so if both Kittle and Sanders are out. One of them is sufficient enough for the 49ers' offense to sustain drives. But with both out it is clear how much of a struggle it is. Sure, the offense would have performed much better if the wide receivers didn't drop the ball throughout the game on Monday night. Unfortunately, that is the identity of these players.

They are who they are. Receivers who struggle with separation and cannot catch the ball consistently. There is Deebo Samuel who showed out on Monday night, but even he has had his inconsistencies this season. You just can't just trust the receivers of the 49ers. Once again, it just proves how valuable Sanders is.

If he is out on Sunday, then it'll be a coin flip on who wins the game. Arizona is just too familiar with the 49ers' tendencies and not much has changed in the two weeks that these teams last faced off. Sunday will not be an easy matchup for the 49ers, but if Sanders is active then the offense will have great success.