San Francisco 49ers: Predicting Risers & Fallers in Chip Kelly’s Offense

Riser: Running Back Carlos Hyde

No. 1 running back Carlos Hyde will need some help in 2016 if he hopes to stay healthy over the course of the season and avoid the nagging foot injury that sidelined him for the better portion of last year.

Head coach Chip Kelly should be able to manage this. While it’s not entirely clear who the complementary piece to Hyde will be this upcoming season, Kelly has a knack for working in different backs who give defenses additional looks.

Think Eagles running back Darren Sproles, who caught 55 passes for 388 yards last year.

Hyde won’t have to be relied upon as heavily as the early stages of last season, although he’ll still get the lion’s share of carries. And it’s feasible to think Hyde will benefit from Kelly’s offense.

Here’s what NFL analyst Nate Burleson said (h/t Joe Fann of 49ers.com) about Hyde:

"[Wide receiver Torrey Smith and Hyde] are both speed guys, very explosive individuals. When you’re looking at an offense that’s so intricate in the way it needs to be defended, that gives receivers like Smith and playmakers like Hyde the ability to run routes against coverages that are beneficial to route runners. Whether that’s open zones where you can get the ball in space or even facing Cover 3’s and 1-on-1 coverage because you’ve got linebackers or safeties worrying about something else."

So it’s reasonable to think Hyde will look more like the dominant runner fans saw in the early stages of 2015. And getting help around him will only add to his effectiveness.

Next: Faller: Joe Staley