It did not take veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders long to show the 49ers what they had been lacking when he arrived in a midseason trade from the Denver Broncos.
After Sanders got to Santa Clara, he immediately took nearly every snap. Sanders and rookie Deebo Samuel earned most of the playing time. Kendrick Bourne was the third receiver.
And that was it.
The 49ers relied on only three wide receivers for the games that mattered the most.
When the 49ers acquired Sanders, they were prepared for him to be a half-season rental.
Sanders on Friday told ESPN’s Josina Anderson he intends to sign with the New Orleans Saints.