San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 2018 running back depth chart amid preseason

The San Francisco 49ers have shaken up their depth chart after injuries and grabbing the veteran, Alfred Morris. How will this unit look when the regular season rolls around?

Running back already figured to be a fairly heated training camp battle for the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. Particularly behind one of the Niners’ top offseason acquisitions, Jerick McKinnon.

McKinnon is currently dealing with a calf injury suffered the week after the 49ers’ 24-21 preseason victory over the Dallas Cowboys. His presumed backup, Matt Breida, also suffered a shoulder injury during the contest and likely won’t be available until the regular season this September.

With injuries piling up, it made sense for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. to tab into the free-agent market, grabbing 29-year-old veteran Alfred Morris to help supplement the depth behind McKinnon and Breida. Morris, who thrived under Shanahan with the Washington Redskins between 2012 and 2013, spent last season backing up the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott.

The move raises questions surrounding what now happens with fellow Niners runners Joe Williams, Raheem Mostert and others trying to make it beyond roster cuts this season.

Williams, San Francisco’s fourth-round NFL Draft pick a year ago, has the most to lose after being pressured to “turn up the urgency” his second season at the pro level.

As of now, the Niners are carrying seven running backs on their 90-man roster:

• Alfred Morris
• Jeff Wilson
• Jerick McKinnon
• Joe Williams
• Jeremy McNichols
• Raheem Mostert
• Matt Breida

Jeremy McNichols, a 2017 fifth-round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spent most of his rookie season on the 49ers practice squad after the Bucs parted ways with him after preseason contests last year. At best, he’s a practice squad addition for San Francisco. Same goes with undrafted rookie Jeff Wilson, who hopes to carve out a similar role.

That leaves five players vying for likely three spots on Shanahan’s depth chart.

How will that all pan out?

McKinnon is the bona fide No. 1 option, of course. Barring any further injury setbacks, he’ll be featured in Shanahan’s offense as the top ball-carrying dual-threat option on the ground. And after Breida registered 645 all-purpose yards in 2017 — third best among 49ers offensive players — it’s hard to see San Francisco wanting to move on from him either.

It’s possible Breida’s shoulder injury lingers into the regular season. If it doesn’t, he’ll have as good a chance as any to carve out a spot behind McKinnon.

So that makes for three players — Williams, Morris and Mostert — competing for one likely spot on the 53-man roster.

Mostert’s special teams value will be important here. Pro Football Focus graded him the No. 2 overall special teams ace in 2017, and that ranking won’t go unnoticed by Shanahan and Co. Offensively, however, Mostert offers very little aside from the usual preseason carries he’s already seen over just one week.

With Mostert still on the bubble, Shanahan will have to decide between Morris and Williams. And it’s likely that will be a hefty preseason battle to watch over the next three weeks.

For now, however, let’s go with the notion Shanahan prefers youth over experience. San Francisco’s running back depth chart winds up to be the following for Week 1 in September:

1. Jerick McKinnon
2. Matt Breida
3. Joe Williams

It’s a tough cut for Mostert, who’ll likely latch on with another team seeking special teams help quickly. That’s unfortunate, but it opens up the door for Williams to finally contribute after Shanahan took a flier on him a year ago.

This would also mean the Niners part ways with Morris. But remember, his preseason invite from San Francisco also has the bonus of giving the veteran a chance to audition for any other running back-needy teams heading into the regular season. That’s valuable and not lost on players either.

All of this could change, of course, between now and the regular season. For now, however, let’s go with this prediction until proven otherwise.