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San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 3 key offensive players’ stats for 2018

By Bobby Horne

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Running Back Jerick McKinnon

Stat prediction: 227 attempts, 1,063 yards, 62 receptions, 598 yards and 12 total touchdowns

Now some of you might be throwing your hands up in the air telling yourself, “who is this guy? McKinnon with over 1600 yards? What a joke.”

Yes, I think San Francisco 49ers running-back Jerick McKinnon will be a top runner in the NFL in 2018. It’s not as far fetched as some would think.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

The main factor in this is head coach Kyle Shanahan and his offensive system. Everywhere he has gone, he has managed to get the most out of his tailbacks. Even with all of the success Shanahan has had at the position, he has never been able to coach a player with the athletic ability McKinnon has.

In 2017, Shanahan managed to get then starting running back Carlos Hyde (a player that many believed should have been released) to churn out 1,288 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns.

When you look at what Hyde was able to produce in this offense, it doesn’t seem so outrageous to think McKinnon can add 373 more yards and four additional touchdowns.

Coach Shanahan has already publicly stated that McKinnon will be the feature back.

“He’s coming in right now and he’s our starting running back,” Shanahan said, per 49ers Web Zone. “We’re going to always compete and we’ll see how that plays out, but obviously, we brought him here to be our starting back.”

Early in the 2018 offseason during OTAs it has already been made evident that McKinnon is going to be heavily featured in the Niners passing game, reported to be catching several passes during practice — first noted by 49ers senior reporter Joe Fann.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest stars of 2018 OTAs so far

Finally being utilized as a feature back and with the offensive scheme coach Shanahan has put in place, it doesn’t seem all that crazy to think that McKinnon will be a top running back this season.