2016 Fantasy Football: Early Stock Watch for San Francisco 49ers Players
By Peter Panacy
Great Pick: Running Back Carlos Hyde
Running back Carlos Hyde was supposed to have a breakout season in 2015 but was hindered by a foot injury that eventually sidelined him for the entire second half.
Hyde should be 100 percent in 2016, which will give fantasy owners a boost. Hopefully the Niners can keep him healthy, and signs are pointing to the understanding of spelling him from time to time to avoid Hyde accumulating too many miles on his aggressive, hard-running body.
It’s also reasonable to assume Hyde will benefit from new head coach Chip Kelly and his unique offense.
NFL analyst Nate Burleson noted this, via the team’s website.
“Those are both speed guys, very explosive individuals,” Burleson said, when asked about Hyde and wide receiver Torrey Smith. “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.
A potential boost from Hyde goes beyond just Burleson’s comments as well.
Richard Madrid of Niner Noise drew up an excellent assessment regarding how Hyde will flourish in Kelly’s inside-zone scheme. You’ll want to give it a read. The detailed analysis matches what Hyde needs to produce and how Kelly will provide it.
As a No. 2 running back on your fantasy team, Hyde would be an excellent selection for you on draft day. Injury concerns still linger, and you may want to supplement him with a backup, but there shouldn’t be anything wrong with taking Hyde in the early-to-middle rounds of your draft.
Next: Good Pick: WR Torrey Smith