Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Full Predictions for the 2016 NFL Season

By Peter Panacy

Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) escapes Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cassius Marsh (91) on a kickoff return during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) escapes Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cassius Marsh (91) on a kickoff return during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Biggest Breakouts of 2016

OK, now we can focus a little more on the positives.

Fans will likely be clamoring for No. 1 running back Carlos Hyde to truly “break out” and emerge as the top-tier tailback he was expected to be coming out of Ohio State in 2014. The foot injury shouldn’t be an issue, and Hyde should be a primary beneficiary of head coach Chip Kelly’s inside-zone offense — detailed tremendously by Niner Noise’s own Richard Madrid.

We may want to curb our expectations just a bit. Hyde isn’t likely going to be the league-leading rusher in 2016, considering the 49ers have few other proven-offensive weapons, so teams will likely be scheming against him and forcing San Francisco’s offense to beat them elsewhere.

Still, if he stays healthy, Hyde should have a fine season. And the breakout will be right on the cusp.

For a little more of an out-of-the-box assessment, let’s point to wide receiver Bruce Ellington as a potential breakout candidate.

Underutilized his first two years at the pro level, Ellington may be the type of player who benefits greatly from Kelly’s scheme. Consider him a jewel out of the slot — a player who will benefit from the interior routes commonly seen during Kelly’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Similarly, we might also be able to pin breakout hopes on fellow wideouts Eric Rogers and DeAndre Smelter.

On the defensive side of the ball though, let’s look at second-year pro Arik Armstead to be a mainstay force along the defensive line. He flashed plenty of promise during the latter half of 2015, and he’ll be a key cog in what defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil will want to do here. Maybe, all that raw talent Armstead has will be put to good use.

If Armstead lives up to his first-round draft status, thing should open up for San Francisco’s crop of pass-rushers.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll be including linebackers like Eli Harold and Aaron Lynch for breakout candidacy soon.

Next: Team's 2016 X-Factors