No. 3: 49ers Running Back Trey Sermon
There’s a good chance San Francisco gets rookie running back Elijah Mitchell back from the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 2. If so, the 49ers surely benefit from Mitchell’s speed, which they’ve lacked on the ground since his injury.
Meanwhile, fellow rookie rusher Trey Sermon has begun to slowly work his way out of the obscure, rushing for 89 yards in Week 4 and averaging 4.68 yards per carry.
What’s potentially vital about Sermon’s presence, specifically with how it relates to Trey Lance, is Sermon is much more adept at the RPO facet, having done so a lot during his college days at Ohio State and even beforehand at Oklahoma.
This was an element not so featured within the Niners offense when Jimmy Garoppolo was under center, but it’s going to be a likely part of Lance’s game against the Cardinals.
And if Sermon is going to be the player to help take advantage of a questionable Arizona run defense, Lance’s own efforts should surely be boosted, too.