Grades, analysis from 49ers nail-biting win Week 1 over Lions

49ers Running backs

Players: Raheem Mostert, Elijah Mitchell, JaMycal Hasty

Grade: A+

Raheem Mostert showed tremendous burst on his first two runs, racking up an easy 20 yards on two carries before he injured his knee, unfortunately. For Mostert, another injury is simply heart-breaking, but luckily, it seems to not be season-ending.

For the 49ers, it was equally lucky that their backups came ready to play.

JaMycal Hasty had one carry, which he took for a touchdown, and one target, in which he caught the ball and evaded a would-be tackler to convert a first down on third down. There’s not much more you can ask from his performance.

Kyle Juszczyk, who’ll be included as a back, wasn’t involved in any particularly interesting plays, but as an old-school fullback just opening holes and blocking defenders, he played quite well.

The real star of the show was Elijah Mitchell, who rushed for 105 yards at an easy 5.5 yards per carry clip as well as a touchdown. Mitchell, whose aggressive north-south running style coupled with speed and power, led me to believe he’d be the unsung hero of the 49ers season, was extremely effective, and his ability to break tackles made him significantly more valuable. It was a constant sight to see Mitchell fall forward for a couple of extra yards, a skill that endears a running back to any team.

The 49ers have a deep stable of backs, and they filled their roles to a tee in this game. Fantastic showing by this position group.