49ers should ‘kick tires’ on these 4 players by NFL trade deadline

49ers Trade Target No. 3: RB Matt Breida, Bills

The 49ers could stand firm with their current running back room, and that might work out just fine enough. After all, to support the two healthy backs, Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell, the Niners are anticipating second-year pro JaMycal Hasty returning from his ankle injury soon, and veteran rusher Jeff Wilson Jr. is also expected back later this year after suffering an offseason meniscus tear.

Or, just as possibly, San Francisco could further restock the running back room, too. Considering this current group is averaging 4.2 yards per carry this season, 14th in the league after six weeks but far from the dynamic number head coach Kyle Shanahan is accustomed to.

Running back Matt Breida, who spent his first three years in Shanahan’s offense, is currently buried on the Buffalo Bills’ depth chart and likely won’t see much playing time unless injuries start to pile up in western New York.

Breida could be had on the cheap, both financially and in terms of draft compensation. Perhaps nothing more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick.

Yes, re-adding Breida would create yet another logjam at the position, and Shanahan needs to get back to using the ground game more anyway. But, considering the prior success Breida had in the 49ers offense before winding up in Shanahan’s doghouse in 2019, it certainly wouldn’t be a problem to bank on that kind of success again at a low cost.

All the while guarding against more injury attrition.