Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Predicting the future at running back in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball off to Carlos Hyde #28 during their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball off to Carlos Hyde #28 during their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 15: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers grabs the face mask of Jared Crick #93 of the Houston Texans as he rushes in the first half at Reliant Arena at Reliant Park on August 15, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 15: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers grabs the face mask of Jared Crick #93 of the Houston Texans as he rushes in the first half at Reliant Arena at Reliant Park on August 15, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers have an uncertain future at running back next season, especially with No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde a pending free agent. Niner Noise offers up predictions for what happens here in 2018.

The San Francisco 49ers’ situation at running back could go one of a number of different directions next season.

Much of this is predicated what happens with the Niners’ top running back this season, Carlos Hyde, and his pending free agency. Should Hyde return next year, we’ll likely see a trio of Hyde, Matt Breida and Joe Williams in the backfield.

But if Hyde departs, then what?

In this slideshow, we’ll explore the situation at running back heading into this offseason and into 2018. And we’ll also come up with predictions for how this group forms between now and Week 1 of next year.

Should we expect general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to dip into free agency? Or are there additional options to be had in the upcoming NFL Draft?

Let’s take a look.