San Francisco 49ers: Ranking 10 Best Players on Offense in 2016

No. 2 – Carlos Hyde

He may have been hampered by injuries in his first two seasons in the NFL, but the time Carlos Hyde has spent on the field has indicated he can flourish in the pros.

Having enjoyed great success in college with Ohio State, Hyde has had little difficulty making the transition to the NFL.

Indeed, Hyde scored four touchdowns in his rookie year in a timeshare with starter Frank Gore and – after destroying the Minnesota Vikings in a two-touchdown performance in the 2015 opener – appeared primed to enjoy a strong maiden season as the No. 1 guy in the backfield.

A stress fracture in his foot cut Hyde’s season short but, with the tailback now fully cleared having recovered from surgery on the injury, he has the chance to nail down a place as the starter for the long haul.

Hyde demonstrates good vision, hits the hole at speed and can get downhill in a hurry. A bruising runner, Hyde takes an aggressive approach to contact but also has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in space.

While he is not overly effective as receiver out of the backfield, Hyde does a decent job in pass protection and – with his ability to excel on stretch runs to the outside – should be able to succeed in Kelly’s system.

In spite of his fitness issues, Hyde is best skill position player the Niners have on offense, now is his time to prove it.

Next: No. 1