Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Starting lineup predictions as training camp starts

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 30: Mike Person #78, Kenny Wiggins #65 and Anthony Davis #76 of the San Francisco 49ers participate in drills during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 30: Mike Person #78, Kenny Wiggins #65 and Anthony Davis #76 of the San Francisco 49ers participate in drills during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Running Back

Halfback: Carlos Hyde

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk

Running back Carlos Hyde has been a pretty big headline leading up to training camp, much of it focused on whether or not he could even make the 53-man roster.

But the latest buzz just before training camp suggests otherwise, at least according to general manager John Lynch (h/t Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee):

Hyde, who enters a contract year this season, is likely the favorite to start at running back. While it’s possible the Niners want to shift the primary duties to fourth-round draftee Joe Williams sooner rather than later, the latest conclusion has Hyde starting off as the No. 1 tailback to open the season.

It’s a prove-it year on a number of different levels.

Meanwhile, the Niners have a versatile weapon in fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Juszczyk figures to be more than just a lead blocker, which is why San Francisco gave him a lucrative deal this offseason. He’ll act as a receiving weapon, an H-back of sorts, in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.