49ers training camp 2021: 4 rookies who have impressed the most

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Trey Sermon , San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

49ers Rookie No. 2: Running Back Trey Sermon

San Francisco is still likely to feature the veteran, Raheem Mostert, as the team’s primary running back this season.

But considering Kyle Shanahan’s tendency to rely heavily on a running back-by-committee approach, there will be plenty of carries for the 49ers’ first of two third-round draft picks, Trey Sermon, who was the beneficiary of seeing first-team reps, both during organized team activities when Mostert was limited and also during training camp, too.

Sermon has been breaking plenty of chunk gains during camp and could be the closest thing to a bell-cow back Shanahan has ever had in his offense since 2017.

By the looks of it, Sermon is also excelling as a legitimate pass-catching threat, too:

Bump Trey Sermon up in your fantasy rankings. Got plenty of work with the first team and Shanahan is very happy with his progress as a route runner and pass catcher.
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) August 6, 2021

Considering Mostert is a free agent next year and also just turned 29 years old, it’s likely the Niners will start phasing in Sermon and Elijah Mitchell more into the offense as the season draws on.

Good news for Sermon, who has made the most of his chances so far in camp.