San Francisco 49ers: Ranking 5 most important offensive players in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Running Back Raheem Mostert
One might argue a player like wide receiver Deebo Samuel belongs in this spot, yet one can recall the Niners got by with a relatively anemic wide receiver corps for the first half of 2019 and still got off to a red-hot 8-0 start.
Why? It’s because of the running game.
He wasn’t a huge part of the ground attack for the first half of last year, but there was little questioning running back Raheem Mostert was the prime threat here during the latter half and into the playoffs.
And these stats tell you everything you need to know:
Raheem Mostert was a thing from Wks 12-17 (not including playoffs). During this span he:
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) July 1, 2020
- Averaged 12.8 touches per game
- Averaged 1.2 catches per game
- Scored 8 touchdowns on 77 touches
- Scored 46% of his fantasy points off TDs
We are betting on this being sustainable?
San Francisco’s running back room is going to stay crowded heading into 2020, and Kyle Shanahan won’t hesitate using the hot hand whenever possible.
Still, the No. 1 spot as a featured back will be Mostert’s to lose, and some of the most important aspects of Shanahan’s ground game will fall upon a player whose prior accolades merely included being a special teams ace leading up to 2019.
Given the Niners’ reliance on the ground game, Mostert has to be placed this high.