One good bet Sunday when the 49ers play the Cleveland Browns is that Anquan Boldin will get plenty of action.
Over the past two games, paired with quarterback Blaine Gabbert, Boldin has had 13 catches for 186 yards and has been targeted 18 times. While Colin Kaepernick was the team’s starting quarterback this season, Boldin often disappeared from the passing game. Three times he had three or fewer catches in a game with Kaepernick.
In just two games with Gabbert -- Boldin missed the quarterback’s first two starts because of an injury -- the veteran wide receiver has developed a good chemistry with the team’s new passer.
“He’s a heck of a quarterback,” said Boldin this week. “You guys see it. He’s poised. He’s under control. He has a good control of the offense. He understands where to go with the ball. He understands when he’s hot, when he needs to get rid of it. He’s playing really well for us right now.”
Boldin on Sunday could be Gabbert's prime target. Plus, the 49ers may want to throw the ball often against the 2-8 Browns, who have a porous pass defense, ranked just 25th in the NFL.
Boldin goes into Sunday’s game against the Browns needing just one catch and 5 receiving yards to become the first NFL player ever with at least 50 catches and 600 yards in each of his first 13 seasons. In last week’s victory over the Bears, Boldin became the 18th player to pass 13,000 yards receiving.
