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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Post-NFL Draft Bold Predictions for the 2017 Season

By Peter Panacy

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes running back Joe Williams (28) runs with the ball during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Washington won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes running back Joe Williams (28) runs with the ball during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Washington won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Joe Williams Takes the No. 1 Running Back Spot from Carlos Hyde

It probably won’t happen in Week 1. Heck, it probably won’t be the case by Week 8. But at some point late in the season, it wouldn’t be a shock at all to see rookie running back Joe Williams take the reins from Carlos Hyde.

General manager John Lynch effectively put Hyde on notice (h/t Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area) by saying, “We think [Hyde] can be a highly productive player. But we’re eager to see. You have these thoughts as to, ‘Do these skills translate to what we do?'”

It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for Hyde, who still hasn’t crested 1,000 yards on the ground since taking over for the former 49ers legend, Frank Gore, in 2015.

Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) leaves the game with an apparent injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) leaves the game with an apparent injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Williams, whom the Niners selected in Round 4 of the NFL Draft, has a long ways to go to secure the No. 1 tailback spot. Lynch wasn’t even sold on him early in the draft.

But what Williams does have is breakneck speed. And he essentially was the hand-picked tailback selected by Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan wants his guys in his system, so Williams already has that box checked off.

Hyde doesn’t necessarily.