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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 25 players for 2018

By Chris Wilson

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers Jerick McKinnon
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 17: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 17, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

5. RB Jerick McKinnon

Similar to his father before him, Shanahan has a proven record of turning late-round or undrafted running backs into productive NFL starters. Given his running back philosophy, it was no surprise when the 49ers’ head coach pushed to draft running back Joe Williams, or when he leaned on undrafted rookie RB Breida during the 2017 season.

And then, the San Francisco 49ers made free-agent RB Jerick McKinnon one of the most expensive running backs in the league.

Over their joint tenure with the team, Shanahan and Lynch have demonstrated when they decide they want a player, they’ll do whatever it takes to get him — whether it means trading up to select a player early in the draft, or overpaying a player in free agency.

Shanahan really wanted McKinnon, which means the fifth-year player will have a prominent role in the 49ers’ offense in 2018. After four years as a change-of-pace runner, McKinnon will have his first chance to be a feature back — and the team’s running game will hinge on whether he’s successful in his new role.