The 49ers will be aiming to keep their three game-winning streak in Seattle alive as they face the Seahawks in their season opener on Sunday.
San Francisco has dominated this rivalry in recent years, turning Lumen Field from a house of horrors into a happy hunting ground.
The 49ers will need their stars to perform if they are to prevail in Seattle for a fourth year running, but role players can also have a substantial influence on results, and there are three in particular who could have a big day in the outcome in Week 1.
The 49ers signed Valdes-Scantling to the active roster in a move that, in the absence of Demarcus Robinson and Jacob Cowing and with Jordan Watkins doubtful, gives them something they would otherwise be lacking, a bonafide field stretcher.
Valdes-Scantling is a player past his best, but was still productive on deep targets last season for the New Orleans Saints, with two of his 18 targets of 20 yards or more going for touchdowns.
The 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy were much more willing to push the ball downfield last season, meaning Valdes-Scantling is in a position to potentially have a significant impact.
Even if he doesn’t see much of the ball, Valdes-Scantling carries enough of a threat to have an influence in opening up underneath routes for San Francisco’s other weapons. If the Niners’ passing game thrives in Seattle, Valdes-Scantling will likely be at least a small reason why.
San Francisco is hoping that rookies Alfred Collins and CJ West can rapidly develop into foundational pieces on the defensive line.
But both dealt with injuries in preparing for their rookie year, the latter missing the final two preseason games. As such, the more experienced players up front may be required to step up early, and the 49ers will likely have been encouraged by what they saw from Davis in preseason.
Due to injuries, Davis has only played 16 games across his three years in the NFL, yet he was impressive in preseason, consistently showing the ability to push the pocket from the interior.
Davis doesn’t an overly varied pass rush skill set. However, he is a good fit for San Francisco’s Wide 9 front in that he can generate significant explosiveness when given a runway when lined up as a 3-technique or a modified 4-technique.
With West light on preseason snaps, and Collins still a work in progress as a pass rusher, Davis could see a high number of snaps as the 49ers aim to take advantage of a still vulnerable Seahawks offensive line.
Sticking with the theme of pass rushers, the 49ers were boosted this week with the news that Gross-Matos is good to go having returned to practice on Thursday.
Gross-Matos had been dealing with a knee injury, but his return to health gives the 49ers a more experienced alternative who can play defensive end on base downs and kick inside on pass rushing downs.
Athletically, the former Carolina Panther fits the 49ers like a glove, but it was injuries that held him back in his debut season with San Francisco last year.
Gross-Matos’ versatility makes him a candidate have a heavy workload against Seattle, easing the burden on first-round pick Mykel Williams, who missed all of the preseason through injury, and providing the 49ers with another route to interior pass rush against Seattle as Collins and West get their feet under them.
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