49ers vs. Rams: San Francisco projected offensive depth chart

The San Francisco 49ers ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams released an unofficial depth chart. Now we’re releasing our own official unofficial depth chart.

This is how we think things will shake out on the offensive side when the 49ers take the field Thursday for their season opener:

Quarterback

1. Brock Purdy
2. Mac Jones
3. Kurtis Rourke

There aren’t any questions about the hierarchy in the 49ers QB room. Rourke should be the emergency third QB on game days.

Running back

1. Christian McCaffrey
2. Kaelon Black
3. Jordan James

There are two questions about the 49ers’ RB depth chart. The first one is just how firm Black’s grasp on the RB2 job is. It looks like he’s there for now, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers rotate through that duo in relief of McCaffrey to see if one stands out above the other in a regular season game. Another question is just how much McCaffrey will give way to the duo behind him this year. Given the talent on the RB depth chart and McCaffrey entering his age 30 season it seems like a good time for the 49ers to start leaning more on their backups at this spot.

Fullback

1. Kyle Juszczyk

There’s not even another fullback on the roster. One of the tight ends would likely fill in if Juszczyk missed any time.

Wide receiver

1. Mike Evans
2. De’Zhaun Stribling
3. Deebo Samuel
4. Demarcus Robinson
5. Jacob Cowing
6. Jordan Watkins

Perhaps Samuel officially “starts” Week 1, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Stribling very quickly take over the WR2 role as he gets his NFL legs under him. If he picks up where he left off in the preseason it shouldn’t take more than a week or two. If he struggles out of the gate we’ll likely see Samuel and Robinson shouldering a heavier workload than anticipated.

Tight end

1. George Kittle
2. Luke Farrell
3. Jake Tonges

Farrell will be the No. 2 TE as long as Kittle is healthy. Tonges was a relative non-factor on offense last season when Kittle was on the field. If Kittle is limited at all in the opener we can expect an expanded role for Tonges who’s a better pass-catching option than Farrell.

Left tackle

1. Trent Williams
2. Vederian Lowe

This one is easy. Lowe is the only legitimate swing tackle on the roster while Austen Pleasants sits on IR.

Left guard

1. Carver Willis
2. Connor Colby
3. Jarrett Patterson

Willis is our pick to be the Week 1 starter. He may not play the entire game depending on how things go vs. a very talented front for the Rams. Without veteran Robert Jones on the roster there aren’t a ton of options behind Willis which is why Colby and the recently-acquired Patterson are the two backups for now.

Center

1. Jake Brendel
2. Jarrett Patterson

Patterson was likely acquired because of his versatility to be both in the mix to start at left guard and to play center if Brendel is unavailable. He’s the only backup C on the roster.

Right guard

1. Dominick Puni
2. Connor Colby

The 49ers don’t have things squared away at left guard, so they’re hoping desperately they can get Puni through the season healthy since the pickings on the interior are so slim.

Right tackle

1. Colton McKivitz
2. Vederian Lowe

This one is easy. Lowe is the only legitimate swing tackle on the roster while Austen Pleasants sits on IR. Although right guard Dominick Puni played offensive tackle in college and could conceivably swing out to RT if Lowe is already on the left side.

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