5 bold predictions for the San Francisco 49ers offense this season

2. Jordan James is the backup 

The 49ers trading for Brian Robinson cemented this being a bold take, but the fifth-round rookie could still easily surpass the player that they traded a day three pick for. They only traded for Robinson because James may not be ready for Week 1 with his broken finger. 

James can now ease back in, but he clearly has what the 49ers want, and the future relies more on him being a success than on Robinson. If James gives them any reason to give him more playing time, the 49ers have to give it to him. He can be the primary second back by season's end. 

3. Ricky Pearsall goes wire-to-wire WR1 

Ricky Pearsall will finish first on the 49ers in receiving yards per game. He will obviously have a big advantage over Aiyuk in overall yards due to missed time, but even when Aiyuk comes back, Pearsall will put up enough that his yards per game are still better. This allows Aiyuk the time to ease in as a secondary option, and it shows Jennings that he is just a role player. It may be a huge win for San Francisco if it comes to fruition.

4. Luke Farrell plays more than Kyle Juszczyk 

Last year, Juszczyk played 537 snaps while Eric Saubert played 377. This year, those numbers flip as Farrell is a clear upgrade over Saubert. San Francisco went out of their way to pay Farrell in free agency, and it cut Juszczyk and offered him to take a pay cut. They want the second tight end to be a bigger position in the offense, and he will see the field more than their old reliable fullback. 

5. A UDFA rookie finishes the season starting on the offensive line 

Trying to start Ben Bartch comes off as short-sighted and may be what costs this team this season. He has proven little through his career and has hardly stayed healthy this summer. The 49ers do have two options in Connor Colby and Drew Moss that showed some promise this summer. 

Colby is the rookie draft pick, but he did fall to round seven, and his tape in the preseason was not as good as Moss's. It was a small sample, but we are getting bold, so the 49ers leaning on Moss to start by the end of the year is going to be the call.