Power ranking the 49ers’ running backs in 2019 before training camp
By Peter Panacy
NFL Experience: 4 Years. . Tevin Coleman. 1. team. 42.
Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers have never shied away from trying to improve positions, even if they felt they had adequate depth there.
The Tevin Coleman signing is a pure example of that. And with both Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida being held out until training camp, Coleman made the most out of the team’s OTA and minicamp sessions, essentially getting all the first-team reps during practice.
And there are the previous reasons, too, as Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney pointed out:
In Kyle Shanahan's final year in Atlanta (2016), Tevin Coleman averaged 13.6 yards per catch. He averaged 17.7 yards per reception when lined up as a receiver, including 13.2 ypr after the catch. #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) March 13, 2019
Expect Shanahan to have some more fun deploying Coleman this season, especially considering San Francisco’s depth at running back.
Prediction for 2019
For the fantasy football gurus out there, Coleman is an owner’s dream. As long as he stays healthy, the running back will see a good amount of use as a standard runner, while also getting his share of touches in the passing game.
Yes, Shanahan won’t shy away from using McKinnon and Breida in various sets over the course of 2019. But the 49ers offense gets only more dynamic with Coleman’s presence.
dark. Next. 5 bold predictions for the 49ers, the NFC West in 2019
One might expect Coleman to be the primary ball carrier from this position, and that’s just fine. Yet the true impact could be felt by Coleman’s pass-catching abilities when, paired with the other two offensive weapons, only serves to make San Francisco more explosive on that side of the ball.