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If the 49ers Go Running Back in the First Round, Who Should They Take?

By JD Leidy

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan pose for a photo during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan pose for a photo during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The S’s: Speed & Strength

Speed

Speed is like height. It can’t be taught.

It’s also very easy to measure. At the 2017 combine, the three backs in question logged the following 40-yard dash times:

Speed
Speed /

These are all fantastic 40-yard times, especially Leonard Fournette’s, given his 240-pound frame.

But Christian McCaffrey’s 4.48 second attempt was not only the fastest of the three, it was the best among all backs at the combine.

Advantage: McCaffrey.

Strength

When it comes to brute strength, most would peg Fournette as the hands-down winner.

It’s worth noting the LSU product opted to pass on the bench press, both at the NFL Scouting Combine and at the subsequent LSU pro day.

That said, bench press is only one measure of strength. And it’s plays like the ones in the highlight reel below, where Fournette is absolutely trucking opponents, that catapult him to the top of the strength list:

In terms of relative strength, Dalvin Cook’s 22 bench reps at the NFL Scouting Combine is very impressive. Whereas the exact opposite can be said for McCaffrey’s weak showing (10).

Moreover, Cook is a very stout figure, whose tree trunk-like legs make him difficult to arm tackle in open space.

Strength
Strength /