The 49ers have a good problem in their offensive backfield. They have too many good players. The free agent addition of Tevin Coleman and the return of Jerick McKinnon from an ACL injury makes the 49ers’ running backs room extremely talented, but also crowded.
This is going to be a fun group to watch in training camp, and how the depth chart and final roster shake out will have a big impact on San Francisco’s offense.
Here’s what the group looks like heading into camp:
The roster
Jerick McKinnon
The 49ers didn’t get a chance to see McKinnon last year after he tore his ACL the week before the start of the regular season. The versatile former third-round pick had 1,918 rushing yards and 984 receiving yards across four seasons with the Vikings before signing a four-year, $30 million deal with San Francisco ahead of the 2017 season.
Matt Breida
Breida didn’t get a ton of opportunities as an undrafted rookie in 2017, but still managed to show enough flashes to earn a ton of touches in his second season. McKinnon’s injury opened the door for Breida to average 5.3 yards per carry as the 49ers’ primary running back last year. Injuries limited Breida throughout the year and likely kept him from hitting the 1,000-yard mark for the year.
Tevin Coleman
It was a minor surprise to see the 49ers snag Coleman in free agency for a two-year, $8.5 million deal. He was a productive, versatile player for the Falcons who cut his teeth in Kyle Shanahan’s offense in Atlanta. He only got one year as a full-time starter, but managed to put up good production all four years with the Falcons. Coleman finished his time there with 2,340 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 528 attempts. He also hauled in 92 receptions for 1,010 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Raheem Mostert
Special teams were Mostert’s calling card until he was thrust into action as a runner last season. After a slow start, he wound up racking up 261 yards and a touchdown on just 34 carries. A broken forearm derailed his season in Week 9. The 49ers re-signed him to a three-year deal this offseason.
Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson wasn’t supposed to be on the 53-man roster last year, but he worked his way up after a couple injuries forced San Francisco to dip into their practice squad. The undrafted rookie performed well in six games. He went for 266 yards on 66 attempts, and brought a hard-nosed running style to a backfield more known for its finesse.
Austin Walter
The 49ers scooped Walter up following the 2019 draft as an undrafted free agent. He spent four years at Rice and showed off intriguing versatility during his final year when he put up a career-best 44 receptions. Walter finished his career with 345 rushes, 1,744 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 79 receptions, 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the air.
Kyle Juszczyk
He’s the only fullback on the 49ers’ roster so we included him among the running backs. Juszczyk is the do-everything player that allows Shanahan to be diverse with his personnel packages and formations to avoid falling into predictable tendencies. He’s been a Pro Bowler in both of his years with San Francisco.
The skinny
The 49ers’ running back situation is strange because a glut of talent at the position may force them to limit some very good players’ touches. San Francisco last season kept three running backs on the roster, plus Juszczyk. The addition of Coleman makes it appear as though they’ll keep four and Juszczyk this year.
An influx of additional talent should allow Shanahan to get very creative with his personnel groupings. It also gives the 49ers some added insurance in the event of another rash of injuries. McKinnon’s recovery from his ACL tear will also be a question mark that justifies an extra body on the final roster.
San Francisco’s rushing attack was very good last season, and it figures to be even better in 2019. The distribution of touches will be an intriguing story line to follow throughout the year, and they may be faced with a problem where they’re getting rid of or underutilizing a productive player.
Biggest question
How will the 49ers dole out the touches in such a crowded backfield?
Even if they do only have three active running backs on game days there’s going to be too much talent to name a lead back. Is it going to be a matter of matchup? Will they simply ride the hot hand? Does Shanahan have a player in mind to be the No. 1 back who’ll garner a bulk of the touches with the other players supplementing his work?
Breida was the de facto workhorse last year and averaged just over 13 touches per game. That number is likely to take a hit with McKinnon’s return and the acquisition of Coleman. Figuring out how to utilize all the talent at running back will be a key factor in the 49ers’ offensive success this season.
Potential surprise
There’s a small chance the 49ers wind up cutting one of their top four running backs. It appears Mostert is safe thanks to his special teams ability and recent three-year contract. Coleman is also safe after joining on a two-year deal this offseason. Breida is in the final year of his rookie deal though and McKinnon can be released for relatively cheap. The latter is the most likely of the four to wind up off the roster, but it’s an extreme longshot. Odds are San Francisco keeps all four and makes one inactive on game days.
53-man roster prediction
It’s extremely difficult to envision the 49ers’ roster without four running backs on it. McKinnon, Breida, Coleman and Mostert should all get nods on the 53-man along with Juszczyk. That leaves Jeff Wilson Jr. and Austin Walter on the outside looking in.
Wilson had a good showing as a rookie for the 49ers which may make it a touch more difficult to let him go. He’d be a candidate to return to the practice squad should he clear waivers. It’s not out of the question that Walter could follow him there if he puts together a good training camp. He should get plenty of opportunities to earn a job on the practice squad.
