With preseason Week 1 coming against the Dallas Cowboys, there are many San Francisco 49ers who need to impress. Niner Noise picks out the four who have the most riding on this game.

The San Francisco 49ers are about to kick off their 2019 preseason campaign. And it opens up against an old rival, the Dallas Cowboys, who come to town on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Levi’s Stadium.

Former NFL scout and director of pro personnel Mike McCartney pointed out how NFL preseason games aren’t about the teams.

Rather they’re about players:

Preseason football is only about evaluating players. It is NOT about evaluating teams. — Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) August 2, 2019

Well,the 49ers have plenty of unproven talent which needs to show out. And with the Niners adopting a culture of competition, preseason games are some of the best opportunities for players to show their abilities.

Especially considering they’ll be matching up against different players than the ones they’ve been going against in training camp — different skill sets, attributes and tendencies.

There are several positions where competition is afoot: wide receiver, backup tight end, linebacker, free safety, cornerback, etc. And even though the beginning of training camp isn’t always the best indication of who’ll win a competition, front-runners are beginning to cement themselves.

Let’s break down four players who need a good showing to keep up in these competitions.