Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Best and Worst Players at Each Position Entering 2017

By Peter Panacy

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carlos Hyde 49ers
December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Running Back

Best Player: Carlos Hyde

Worst Player: Mike Davis

No. 1 running back Carlos Hyde missed the 1,000-yard plateau by just 12 yards. And suffering a season-ending MCL sprain in Week 16 certainly eliminated any hopes for what would have been a career-setting year.

Hyde is still the bell cow of the offense — San Francisco’s lone offensive playmaker. He’ll need backup help moving forward though, so expect the Niners to bring aboard some competition this offseason.

That competition shouldn’t include third-year pro Mike Davis though.

Davis had a strong preseason, yes. But it ended there. After the 49ers gave him some early opportunities during the regular season, Davis wound up being a nearly weekly guest on San Francisco’s inactive list.

A whopping 2.6 yards per attempt is probably a major reason why.