San Francisco 49ers: Predicting a Week 1 53-man roster, depth chart for 2018
By Peter Panacy
Running Back (4)
Halfback: Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk
San Francisco elected to let running back Carlos Hyde walk in free agency, inking former Minnesota Vikings tailback Jerick McKinnon to a four-year deal with all intentions of him being the featured ball carrier.
McKinnon should be exciting to watch, particularly as a dynamic pass-catching back tailor-suited to Kyle Shanahan’s offense. But who backs him up?
The strongest candidate looks to be second-year pro Matt Breida, although he’ll have fellow 2017 rookie Joe Williams — who was redshirted last season with an ankle injury — in hot pursuit.
Breida has already established himself as a solid backup, while Williams will have to overcome his fumbling issues from last year’s camp and preseason, all the while proving he’s a superior option to Breida in the process. It won’t be easy.
And it won’t be easy overtaking Raheem Mostert either, whom Pro Football Focus ranked one of the best special teamers before he was lost to IR last season.
Breida and Mostert make the cut. Williams doesn’t in this projection.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, one of San Francisco’s two Pro Bowlers last year, is an obvious selection too.