The San Francisco 49ers opened Sunday with Brandin Cooks and Jordan Watkins in the starting lineup, then spent the first half asking their running game to carry the load. By halftime, they led the Atlanta Falcons 14-12, but neither replacement receiver had done anything to change the shape of the offense.
That is why Watkins is being searched now: in Week 7, the 49ers were already without starting wide receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel because of injuries, and the first half showed how thin the passing game looked without them. Cooks and Watkins combined for 0 receiving yards before the break. Watkins was not targeted at all. Cooks got one look. Christian McCaffrey and Kaelon Black did the heavy lifting on the ground, combining for 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while McCaffrey also added three catches for 45 yards.
The imbalance was clear. San Francisco was run-heavy for long stretches, and the offense still moved because McCaffrey kept finding room and Black added his own production, even as a second-quarter fumble interrupted the rhythm. But the box score also hinted at the problem that will linger if the game stays tight: the receivers who started in place of Evans and Samuel had not turned into a reliable passing outlet by halftime.
That leaves Kyle Shanahan with a choice he would probably rather avoid. The 49ers will likely lean on the passing game more after the break, but they also will not want to max out the run game if McCaffrey’s thigh injury worsens after he was seen running into the locker room and was questionable to return. If the second half changes the script, it likely starts with whether Watkins or Cooks becomes the first real answer in the passing game.
