Parker HurleySep 6, 2026
Previewing the 49ers' 2026 offense, Hurley lays out the expected receiver pecking order — Mike Evans first, Deebo Samuel second, Demarcus Robinson third in Week 1 — and says fourth-round rookie Carver Willis will start at left guard in Week 1.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Parker Hurley said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDemarcus Robinson should be the number three in Week 1, but rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is already pounding down the door to beat him out for a spot.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 5 Biggest Questions Facing 49ers Offense in 2026
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Demarcus Robinson to be 3rd on the depth chart“Demarcus Robinson should be the number three in Week 1”
- 2Carver Willis to be 1st on the depth chart“Connor Colby became a right guard, and Robert Jones got cut, leaving the fourth-round rookie to start in Week 1.”
- 3Mike Evans to be 1st on the depth chart“Mike Evans should be the number one, but he has been injured a lot over the past two years.”
- 4Deebo Samuel Sr. to be 2nd on the depth chart“Deebo Samuel should be the number two, but he was signed in training camp.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demarcus Robinson to be 3rd on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Carver Willis to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Mike Evans to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Deebo Samuel Sr. to be 2nd on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Mike Evans · 2026 season12 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 1. Parker Hurley said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Depth Chart CallsDemarcus RobinsonSan Francisco 49ers
Demarcus Robinson to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsCarver WillisSan Francisco 49ers
Carver Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsMike EvansSan Francisco 49ers
Mike Evans to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsDeebo Samuel Sr.San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel Sr. to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Brandon Carney · Trade and Signing Calls · Mike Evans · Miss 0
Carney predicts Geno Smith signs with the Vikings and starts for them, that at least four of the fringe veteran quarterbacks (Tua, Kyler, Cousins, Fields, Geno) will be starters next season, and that Mike Evans stays with Tampa Bay. They also rank their top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values.AJ Hawk · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Hawk said the Chiefs would beat the Jets, the Seahawks would beat the Cardinals, and the 49ers would beat the Raiders, even while taking the points with the underdogs in each case.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 93
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Big Cat · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Big Cat picked the Bengals to beat the Falcons in Madrid, the 49ers to handle the Raiders, the Seahawks to bounce back against the Cardinals, and the Bears to beat the Buccaneers by a projected 26-23.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.