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San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan, Running Backs and the Passing Game

By Peter Panacy

Nov 13, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) drops a pass in the end zone during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) drops a pass in the end zone during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats during the second quarter at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats during the second quarter at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

NFL Draft Running Back Prospects Who Fit Kyle Shanahan’s Scheme

It’s a good thing the 2017 NFL Draft is loaded with running backs.

But there’s a certain type Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will be looking at this April — guys who can catch the ball.

LSU’s Leonard Fournette might be heralded as the best tailback in this year’s crop. But he’s not a dynamic pass-catcher, and he’s not a fit for a zone scheme anyway. So it’s safe to cross him off this list.

Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, however, does fit the mold. He’s more of a zone runner anyway, and his 488 receiving yards last year makes him a dynamic weapon.

But perhaps the most enticing weapon of them all is Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey, who totaled 1,206 receiving yards over three seasons with the Cardinal, is the exact kind of player to fit what Shanahan would want.

Rushing & Receiving Table
Rushing Receiving Scrimmage
Year School Conf Class Pos G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD
*2014 Stanford Pac-12 FR RB 12 42 300 7.1 0 17 251 14.8 2 59 551 9.3 2
*2015 Stanford Pac-12 SO RB 14 337 2019 6.0 8 45 645 14.3 5 382 2664 7.0 13
2016 Stanford Pac-12 JR RB 11 253 1603 6.3 13 37 310 8.4 3 290 1913 6.6 16
Career Stanford 632 3922 6.2 21 99 1206 12.2 10 731 5128 7.0 31

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/29/2017.

Should the Niners go this route early in the draft, of course.

Still, the 49ers have reported interest in McCaffrey. So maybe there’s some logic to making this fit happen.

Nevertheless, San Francisco will add a running back in this year’s draft. The only question is who and when.

Next: Reevaluating the 49ers Positional Priority List in the NFL Draft

But based off our assessment, one should assume he’ll be heavily involved in the passing game under Shanahan this season.