SF 49ers depth chart: Week 1 starting lineup predictions, training camp edition

SF 49ers Offensive skill positions

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

RB Raheem Mostert

FB Kyle Juszczyk

WR Deebo Samuel

WR Kendrick Bourne

WR Trent Taylor

TE George Kittle

There isn’t a great deal of suspense for this group pretty much everywhere across the board, although injuries during the offseason and so far in training camp have muddied the waters a little bit.

After leading the SF 49ers to a 13-3 regular-season record, the NFC West title, an NFC Championship game victory, and within minutes of securing the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo enters his second full season as the 49ers starter under center.

While there are some who still question just how good he can be, Garoppolo will have the benefit of finally being fully healthy from his ACL injury sustained early in the 2018 season and having the pivotal full season in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense that is often noted as a key turning point for quarterbacks in Shanahan’s system.

Barring injury or some catastrophic fall, Garoppolo is the 49ers’ quarterback for 2020.

The backfield will likely continue to be a by-committee situation, with Raheem Mostert rotating with fellow tailbacks Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon as key contributors. But Mostert was the hot hand at the end of last season, so look for him to be the first man up on Sept.13.

That said, all three will likely get opportunities, especially McKinnon in the passing game.

Kyle Juszczyk is the game’s premier fullback and the unquestioned starter. He’s a bit of a Swiss Army knife Shanahan likes to move around the formation, using both his abilities as a blocker and a receiver.

The 49ers struggled to get the running game going while he was out with injury last season, marking Juszczyk as a bit of an unreplaceable cog in the 49ers offense.

The wide receiver group has been shaken up by the offseason foot injury to second-year wideout Deebo Samuel, who was looking poised to break out as an NFL star in 2020, and Jalen Hurd’s ACL tear last week.

And even if Samuel isn’t destined for the PUP list, forcing him to miss the season’s first six weeks, the likelihood is he misses at least a game or two to start the year, meaning it’s next man up.

In this case, that means rookie first-round draft selection Brandon Aiyuk was looking to slide into an immediate starter’s role after impressing through the first part of training camp. But Shanahan announced on Tuesday that Aiyuk is week-to-week with a mild hamstring strain.

The good news is the team hasn’t ruled out Samuel quite yet, so we’ll pencil him in for the opening day start, with third-year receiver Dante Pettis waiting in the wings.

Next to him is the longest-tenured 49ers receiver, Kendrick Bourne, who was probably the man next to Samuel anyway.

The slot receiver role is Trent Taylor’s to lose, at least as much as Shanahan is looking to fill the role with the traditional style of player ala 49ers wide receiver coach Wes Welker in his playing days.

Taylor is also coming off an injury-laden year, breaking his foot during last year’s training camp and then never being able to get it right due to myriad complications.

But if the hype from what few reporters are allowed on site is to be believed, Taylor is picking up where he left off last season and is primed for a big role as Garoppolo’s security blanket on third down as he was during the quarterback’s short stint in 2017.

And finally, we have the undisputed starter at tight end: the People’s Tight End, All-Pro (and recently paid) George Kittle.

With Samuel’s immediate impact in doubt and other players still getting up to speed, Kittle will be vital to the 49ers getting off to a hot start as they seek to get healthy. He’s the engine that makes the offense go, with his standout blocking, hands, and ability to create yards after the catch.

He’ll have help from others along the way, but Kittle is the unquestioned starter at the position for not only 2020, but for years to come.