Travis

Benjamin

Benjamin didn’t play in 2020 after opting out. In 2019, he missed significant time with a quad injury and recorded just six catches for 30 yards over the entire season. He is now 31 years old and completely off the fantasy radar. With that being said, he’s still a viable return man, although San Francisco has sixth-round rookie running back Elijah Mitchell to fill that role.

Hurd was in the game with the starting core, as the 49ers rotated through their wide receiver depth with the starters. He took an end around handoff for 2 yards and saw six targets from Trey Lance. He caught four passes for 25 yards, while dropping a wobbly deep target and a low ball over the middle. Kyle Shanahan has called Hurd on the the team’s top-six wide receivers, which gives him a good chance of making the team behind Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Trent Sherfield and Mohamed Sanu. Hurd looks to be competing with Jauan Jennings and Travis Benjamin to make the final roster.

Benjamin spent most of 2019 on IR with a quad injury and didn’t see the field much even when healthy. He finished the year with just six catches for 30 yards. His overall production has declined in every year since 2015. Benjamin was unlikely to play a major role for San Francisco but Richie James (wrist) and Deebo Samuel (foot surgery) are both looking questionable for Week 1. Add in Benjamin’s decision to opt out and the wide receiver room in San Francisco is becoming increasingly vacant. The team could look to add a veteran in the coming days.

A pure deep threat who turned 30 in December, Benjamin saw his production decline throughout his four years with the Chargers. He spent much of 2019 on injured reserve with a quad injury. Although in theory it is one of his primary skills, Benjamin was used sparingly as a return man over the past two seasons. Kyle Shanahan is the sort of coach who could easily make Benjamin useful on offense again, but it is not going to translate to 2020 fantasy value.

The team will take on $1.5 million in dead cap space for voiding the final year of Benjamin’s contract. Initially joining the Chargers in 2016 following career-highs in catches (68), receiving yards (966), and touchdowns (5) with Cleveland, Benjamin has since regressed across the board in every season, most recently mustering an underwhelming 6/30 over five appearances for Los Angeles last year. He should still have no issues finding a suitor as a veteran depth piece this offseason.

Benjamin missed Week 4 with a hip injury before his quad landed him on the injury report Wednesday. The Chargers have been dealing with receiver injuries behind Keenan Allen all season, but Benjamin was making zero impact on offense, catching six total balls. He will likely be a candidate for return, though he won’t be eligible until Week 16.

Benjamin has been playing through injuries this season, but even when he’s at full health, he’s an afterthought in the offense. Philip Rivers will be funneling targets to Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, and the running backs.

Benjamin drew a deep ball and end zone target from Philip Rivers, but was just shy of coming down with both. The Chargers’ No. 3 WR is their No. 6 pass-game option more weeks than not and nothing more than a desperate dart throw in fantasy formats of all shapes and sizes.

Benjamin could be looking at a near every-down role with Dontrelle Inman (quad) now on injured reserve. Still, he’s not healthy himself, and Benjamin has never commanded much of a target floor in this offense. Look for Philip Rivers to continue to look to Keenan Allen, Mike Williams (back, questionable), Austin Ekeler and now Melvin Gordon ahead of Benjamin.

With Dontrelle Inman (quad) now on injured reserve, Benjamin’s return alongside Mike Williams would be a welcome boost for the Bolts. Despite Benjamin’s big-play potential, he remains miles from fantasy relevance.