Niner Noise
FanSided

Power ranking the 49ers’ 5 best position groups entering 2019

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Running Back

Running back wasn’t particularly a position in question at the end of 2018. Sure, there were some serious injuries, namely the torn ACL suffered by Jerick McKinnon before Week 1 even began.

But after his backup, Matt Breida, averaged 5.3 yards per carry over the course of the season — good for fourth best among NFL qualifiers — it didn’t seem to matter too much. The 49ers tailbacks would be awfully deep entering 2019.

Then the Niners brought aboard a Kyle Shanahan favorite, Tevin Coleman, who is the shoo-in candidate to assume starting duties this season.

Coleman, like McKinnon, is a dynamic pass-catching running back, who serves to only add to Shanahan’s intricate offense.

Breida, meanwhile, is possibly San Francisco’s best pure rusher on the roster, which adds yet another dynamic to the duo of pass catchers within this position group.

Sounds like a pretty potent unit.

Shanahan’s offense remains a run-first one, and the trio of starting-caliber tailbacks guards against attrition and injury, while also adding different skill sets the head coach will ultimately use to great extent this upcoming season.