Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 best player additions for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers stops short of the endzone on a 51-yard run against Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks to run down the clock late in the fourth quarter on December 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The play set up the winning field goal as the 49ers won 19-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers stops short of the endzone on a 51-yard run against Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks to run down the clock late in the fourth quarter on December 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The play set up the winning field goal as the 49ers won 19-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
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) /

No. 1: Running Back Jerick McKinnon

Team Need: 4

Projected Role: 4.5

Traditional Stats: 3.5

Analytical Stats: 4.5

Potential Impact: 5

It’s nearly a tossup between Richard Sherman and the No. 1 player on our top-grab list for the 49ers in 2018, Jerick McKinnon.

Running back turned out to be a pretty big need for San Francisco this offseason, especially after the Niners elected to let their former starting tailback, Carlos Hyde, leave via free agency. Yet Hyde wasn’t exactly a fit under Kyle Shanahan, whereas McKinnon is.

Sure, McKinnon has never been used in a featured role. He never had more than 570 rush yards during his four previous seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, but one can expect that to change under Shanahan in 2018.

McKinnon is both a scheme fit and dynamic pass catcher out of the backfield — two traits that make the free-agent pickup a massive upgrade for the 49ers offense this season.

Related Story: 49ers film room: What Jerick McKinnon brings to Kyle Shanahan's offense

And while his traditional stats lessen the overall value a bit, there’s little questioning his potential ability to massively impact the offense, making it much more dynamic.

Pro Football Focus assigned McKinnon an overall grade of 84.5 last year — eighth best among all qualifying running backs. More impressively, though, McKinnon is far more than just an offensive weapon. He received a 74.5 pass-blocking grade too, which ranked ninth among the same qualifiers.

Pretty dynamic.

Next: 10 reasons why the 49ers win the NFC West in 2018

What separates McKinnon from Sherman, though, is the probability McKinnon is due for a breakout season and a role that will transform the Niners offense into one of the more potent in the league in 2018.

Cumulative Value: 4.3