According to David Lombardi of the Athletic, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jalen Hurd is expected to play the big slot role this season.
Having a healthy Jalen Hurd available to create mismatches as a big slot receiver would be a major boost to a San Francisco 49ers offense that will be without Deebo Samuel for at least four weeks of the season. A productive running back at Tennessee before switching to slot wide receiver after transferring to Baylor, Hurd will be stepping into a position that accounted for a combined 78 receptions for seven touchdowns in 2019. With the 49ers top slot receiver Emmanuel Sanders now in New Orleans, Hurd seeing snaps as the big slot could be a short and long term fantasy boost for the potential late round lottery ticket on a team expected to start Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the outside (when healthy) for years to come.