49ers preseason: Player stock watch after Week 3 loss to Vikings
By Peter Panacy
Running Back Joe Williams
The 49ers have an interesting situation at running back and plenty of competition.
Carlos Hyde should be the No. 1, this we know, but how the rest of the depth chart shakes out is yet to be seen.
More from Niner Noise
- 49ers 2023 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick news and analysis
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
For a good chunk of the night, Hyde and rookie UDFA Matt Breida were the only two runners to see carries. Breida didn’t disappoint, averaging 4.1 yards on seven carries. He seems to be a safe bet to make the roster.
Fellow rookie, Joe Williams, should also appear to be a safe bet. But he hasn’t been much of a factor since Week 1 of the preseason. And he wasn’t again in Minnesota.
As noted earlier, Williams managed just 16 yards on seven carries. Granted, the Niners offensive line didn’t do him any favors. But one would hope to see Williams take advantage of going up against second- and third-string units late in games.
San Francisco likely keeps four running backs on its 53-man roster, and Williams probably winds up being one of them.
For now, though, he’s going to stay behind Breida on the depth chart.