SF 49ers: 3 players who help Nick Mullens most in 2020

Nick Mullens Crutch No. 2: SF 49ers RBs Raheem Mostert and Jerick McKinnon

I’m cheating slightly here for two reasons.

First, we don’t know how long Raheem Mostert‘s MCL sprain is going to keep him out of action, so it isn’t quite clear if he’ll be a part of the game plan for much of or any of Nick Mullens’ run as the starter.

For another, Mostert and Jerick McKinnon, when fully healthy, provided different things for Mullens to lean on.

With Mostert, it’s mostly his ability as a more traditional running back, although he’s done well in the passing game so far this season with six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown so far this year.

Having a strong running game, especially against teams with more suspect defenses like those coming up on the schedule, would be a boon to any quarterback.

In the case of McKinnon, he’s less a traditional runner and more of a receiver in a running back’s body, although his 55-yard scamper on 3rd-and-31 early in the second half of Week 2 was very impressive. He could prove to be an excellent option out of the backfield for Mullens to lean on as McKinnon continues to get more and more opportunities in his first NFL action in two years.

Ideally, both will be available for the whole of the season, not to mention during Mullens’ starts. But having the security of a strong run game and the type of dynamism McKinnon can provide as a receiver would help make the SF 49ers’ quarterback’s job all the easier.