3 SF 49ers players who should see more field time vs. Patriots

No. 2: SF 49ers RB JaMycal Hasty

With Raheem Mostert out for a few more weeks with yet another high ankle sprain, the 49ers cadre of running backs gets slimmer yet again.

The rest of the group is Jerick McKinnon, Jeff Wilson, who should be back from injury this week, and undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty out of Baylor, who has shown some real skill with the ball in his hands in spot carries over the last few weeks.

McKinnon has been good at times this season, but the wear and tear of being the every-down back more than expected at this point in the season seems to be impacting the running back’s ability to impact games.

The plan with McKinnon was liely never to make him the bellcow, but injuries to Mostert and Tevin Coleman have forced Shanahan to use him more than he might like.

Enter Hasty, who so far has carried the ball 11 times for 46 yards, a 4.2 yards per carry that would be 29th best in the league (including quarterbacks) if he were eligible.

And while McKinnon is also high on that list (5.1 YPC, good for eighth), he’s shown himself to be best in change-of-direction opportunities as opposed to being the No. 1 starter.

This certainly doesn’t mean Hasty should simply be thrust into the starting role and expected to take on the lion’s share of the rushes — a move that would seem, if you’ll pardon the pun, a bit too hasty for the rookie.

But Kyle Shanahan should look to get him more involved and to do so earlier in the game to make sure all of his backs are available late in the contest.

The rookie has earned the right to show he can do more, and with Mostert and Coleman both out, the time might be Sunday to offer him that chance.