San Francisco 49ers: Marquise Goodwin is emerging as the 49ers new number one wide receiver.

Fresh off of a three-year, $20.3M contract extension, former Olympic long jumper, Marquise Goodwin is making his case to be the 49ers new go-to receiver after the first week of training camp.

Goodwin is looking to build on what was a career season under Kyle Shanahan where he posted career highs in catches (56) and receiving yards (962) to go along with two touchdowns. Last season, Goodwin showed flashes of debunking his league scouting report of being just a “stretch the field receiver” once Pierre Garcon went down following the week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

After Garcon’s season-ending injury, Goodwin saw an uptick in targets jumping from 5.7 targets per game to 7.4 down the stretch of the season. Goodwin’s production really peaked when Jimmy Garoppolo came under center and led the 49ers to five straight wins to finish the season.

With Garoppolo as the starting quarterback, Goodwin had 29 catches with 384 yards and a touchdown in what was truly only four games after Goodwin leaving the final game after the first series. Goodwin and Garoppolo connected on 67% of his 43 targets, averaging 8.63 yards per target, so it’s no secret when Garoppolo was under center he was looking for ‘Quise.

The chemistry between the two seems to have picked up where it left off. Reports out of 49ers camp indicate that Goodwin has shown polished route running and has displayed steady hands standing out as the 49ers best receiver during the first week of camp. The two connected for two deep passes (one of which was a 75-yard touchdown) during Thursday’s 11 on 11 full team practice.

All practice reports that have surfaced back up last year’s conclusion to the season statement that Goodwin was Garoppolo’s number one. The fact that Jimmy has been able to connect with Goodwin on the deep ball is something 49er fans didn’t see last year and could lead to big things this season.

Even with Goodwin’s emergence, Garcon will still be the physical, move the chains receiver Shanahan knows him to be. But the truth is, he’s entering his 11th season, turns 32 next week, and is returning from a severe neck injury. Although Goodwin has never been viewed as a team’s true number one receiver, the 49ers may need someone to step up and perhaps the injury to Garcon help unlock some hidden potential for Goodwin.

Jimmy G didn’t get an opportunity to throw to Garcon when he took over for the final five games, but that allowed him to build good chemistry with Goodwin and Trent Taylor. We’ll see how all these reports translate soon enough. But if I have my fantasy football drafts this week, I’m drafting ‘Quise as the 49ers number one.