San Francisco 49ers

Why 49ers WR Jeremy Kerley Has Impressed the Most in 2016

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Wide Receiver Jeremy Kerley has become a household name for San Francisco 49ers fans this season. His performance has been the most impressive for the 49ers in 2016.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jeremy Kerley was acquired via trade with the Detroit Lions one week before the start of the regular season. Kerley is the leading receiver on the 49ers with 40 receptions, 424 yards and three touchdowns on the year.

The 49ers were looking to add an experienced veteran to add depth to a banged-up receiving core. While not quite sure what kind of production he would bring, Kerley has played like he has a chip on his shoulder and with a lot of motivation.

On a 49ers team that hasn’t been very good in any aspect of the game, Kerley has brought his A-game week in and week out.

Kerley learned head coach Chip Kelly’s offense fast, and showed that with a stellar performance in the 49ers 28-0 Week 1 win against the Los Angeles Rams. Kerley continued to impress as he quickly became a favorite target for then-starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert. During Gabbert’s time as the starting quarterback, Kerley was targeted a team-high 45 times.

Nov 13, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (17) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Kerley has found ways to create space from defenders and make plays when the ball is thrown his way. His ability to get yards after the catch has been one reason he has been so impressive. He can make defenders miss tackles in the open field, and turn a short gain into a long one.

Despite the struggles in the passing game, Kerley has been the go-to guy. The 49ers look to him when they need to find a way to keep a drive alive, as 26 of his catches have gone for first downs.

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Kerley’s momentum was slowed down once the 49ers made the switch to make Colin Kaepernick the starting quarterback. That changed in Week 10 when Kerley caught all seven passes that were targeted to him for 71 yards and a touchdown versus the Arizona Cardinals.

He is also the one of the two receivers for the 49ers in 2016 to have 100 yards receiving in a game. Kerley is tied for the team lead with three touchdowns and leads the team in targets with 71.

Kerley has become a security blanket for both 49ers quarterbacks this season. He provides a spark and is the kind of play maker the 49ers have lacked for some time now.

Just passed the halfway point of the season, Kerley seems to be the easy favorite for the 49ers team MVP.

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