Parker Hurley· Aug 1, 2026
Hurley assesses the 49ers' rookie class in training camp, saying De'Zhaun Stribling has emerged as the biggest camp winner and could have a significant role early as a rookie, while Kaelon Black should win the backup running back job.
“He should be able to get on the field as the backup running back.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.
Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
1 checkable claim in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsKaelon BlackAug 1, 2026
Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart
“He should be able to get on the field as the backup running back.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Brian PeacockRoster Spot Calls · Kaelon BlackHit · 100Peacock lays out his projected 53-man roster for the 49ers, position by position: three specialists, three quarterbacks (including Curtis Rourke), five running backs, six receivers (cutting Christian Kirk), three tight ends (cutting Braden Willis), nine offensive linemen, ten defensive linemen (with Mykel Williams on PUP), five linebackers, six cornerbacks and four safeties. He also predicts a new player will take center snaps in preseason week three.
- Ollie ConnollyMock Draft Picks · Kaelon BlackMiss · 2Connelly assesses the 2026 draft class: he sees Jeremiah Love as a top-ten most productive player at running back with an Ezekiel Elliott-to-Bijan/McCaffrey range, projects Fernando Mendoza as a top-8-to-12 starting QB in the league, pegs Ty Simpson as a top-of-the-second-round pick he'd only be comfortable taking in the third, and slots various tight ends and late running backs into specific rounds.
- Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Kaelon BlackMiss · 2A seven-round Jets mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, assigning specific prospects to each of New York's nine picks, and calling Brandon Cisse a likely top-50 selection.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Kaelon BlackMiss · 0In his first mock draft of the offseason (built on two hypothetical trades), Harrison has Washington selecting Caleb Banks at No. 16, Brandon Cisse at No. 33, Tanner Koziol at No. 145 and Kaylon Black at No. 223, with Banks immediately becoming the team's top defensive tackle. He also expects Washington to move on from Marshawn Lattimore and to bring back Chris Rodriguez Jr., and says his money on the Super Bowl was on Seattle.
- Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Kaelon BlackMiss · 2A seven-round Jets mock draft projecting New York to take Ohio State's Arvell Reese at No. 2 and Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 16, followed by Ty Simpson, Brandon Cisse, Jalon Kilgore, Tyreak Sapp, Kaelon Black, Fernando Carmona and Trebor Pena.
- Eric WilliamsAward Picks · Kaelon BlackPendingIn his Week 3 awards ballot, Williams puts Kenneth Walker III first for Offensive Player of the Year, Dallas Turner first for Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin O'Connell first for Coach of the Year, Jadarian Price first for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Josiah Trotter first for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Josh Allen first for MVP, with two runners-up named in each category.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.