Power ranking 49ers wide receivers ahead of Week 1
By Peter Panacy
49ers 2021 wide receiver power rankings: Back-end roster options
. . Richie James. 6. player. 42.
So far in training camp, not all the reports about fourth-year wideout Richie James have been good.
Frustrating, considering when he’s been given the chance to make an impact, he’s delivered.
James might be underutilized in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and any reports of drops won’t help James’ chances either. Yet the relatively few options available in the return game could spare James the embarrassment of missing out on a coveted roster spot.
They’re getting thin at this point in our power rankings.
42. . . . Travis Benjamin. 7. player
After opting out last year, 31-year-old wideout Travis Benjamin boasts both the veteran experience and speed necessary to have a chance as a gadget player in the Niners offense.
True, injuries and age likely mean Benjamin has lost a step, and he’s anything but guaranteed a roster spot.
But if Shanahan wants a proven field-stretching weapon, Benjamin could be the guy.
. . Jalen Hurd. 8. player. 42.
Right now, third-year pro Jalen Hurd’s primary focus should be on staying healthy.
The 2019 third-round pick who missed his rookie season with a back injury and last year with an ACL tear has yet to take a regular-season snap. But his 6-foot-4 frame and running back-like abilities make for an enticing mismatch possibility.
Hurd still has a ways to go before overtaking players like Benjamin or even James on the depth chart, given the former’s practical inexperience. Yet it’s possible San Francisco is eyeing his still-there potential.