Fantasy Upside
The 49ers selected Trey Sermon with the 88th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. San Francisco had to move up to make the pick, trading away two fourth-rounders (Nos. 117 and 121) to the Rams. Sermon is the ideal fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense, which has seen the likes of Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert power the 49ers' rushing attack in their most successful season of 2019. Sermon will benefit from running behind fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and the schematic creativity of Shanahan, who will find plenty of ways to maximize Sermon's talents.
Fantasy Downside
Concerns? The San Jose Mercury News suggests Sermon's 4.57-second 40-yard dash doesn't fit the profile of 49ers' speedsters in recent years under Kyle Shanahan. However, a 4.58-second time in 2005 worked out just fine for Frank Gore, the 49ers' all-time leading rusher. Also, there's a bit of a logjam at running back and the 49ers aren't likely to lean heavily on any one back.
2021 Bottom Line
Sermon should slot in at least as the second running back behind Mostert though. Perhaps he falls in behind Jeff Wilson Jr. (who will not be ready to start the season after a recent meniscus repair) or Wayne Gallman, but given that San Francisco gave up two fourth-round picks to move up to get him, they're expecting big-time contributions right away.
