SF 49ers: Biggest winners, losers from Week 7 thrashing of Patriots

Loser: SF 49ers Running Back Jerick McKinnon

Running back Jerick McKinnon was given a rest day, according to Kyle Shanahan when speaking to the media after the game (h/t 49ers Webzone). That means his lack of production — three carries for minus-1 yards — should not be held against him, nor should his lack of snaps. However, McKinnon, out of any player, came out of this game a loser for a very simple reason: his backups.

Before his injury, Jeff Wilson Jr. was running like a possessed man, and when he left the game, rookie tailback JaMycal Hasty came in and played nearly as well. The run game was flourishing.

With Tevin Coleman nearly returning, and Hasty having flashed in two games now, one has to wonder if McKinnon might be losing some ground in the running back room. Obviously, he had no control over Sunday, and I’m positive he was as happy as everyone else was with seeing his fellow backfield compatriots wreak havoc.

But when a game turns into a blowout and is so clearly one-sided, most of the times, the only losers for the winning team are the players who didn’t get to play.