49ers roster predictions: 4 bold changes for 2021 lineup

No. 1: Trey Sermon named 49ers’ starting running back

Considering San Francisco invested a good deal of guaranteed money for veteran running back Raheem Mostert before 2020, the thought of him losing a starting job to a rookie, Trey Sermon, might be a bit of a shock.

True, Kyle Shanahan doesn’t traditionally deploy his running backs in a RB1, RB2, goal-line tailback-type of alignment, rather going with the hot hand early and then opening things up with a different rusher later in the game when defenses are a bit worn down.

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But Mostert is 29 years old and in the final year of his contract. With an injury history, and Sermon also getting a lot of first-team looks during OTAs, it wouldn’t be shocking at all if the rookie winds up usurping Mostert on the depth chart.

And potentially getting the bulk of carries in the process.

Sermon looks to be the closest thing to a bell-cow running back since Shanahan took over in 2017, and the 49ers didn’t trade up for the Ohio State standout in Round 3 of this year’s draft to simply let him work as a situational runner right out of the gate.

True, Mostert still stands in the way, and his natural fit and explosiveness within the Niners offense will be difficult to unseat.

Then again, Shanahan has made household names out of less-known runners before, and Sermon could end up being the most talented of the bunch San Francisco has employed yet.