49ers depth chart: Predicting each running back’s role in 2022

49ers running back room: The featured rusher (Elijah Mitchell)

Raheem Mostert’s Week 1 injury suffered last year opened up the door for Elijah Mitchell to capitalize, and him setting a franchise record for most rushing yards in a single season by a rookie with 963 was quite impressive.

Especially considering two things. First, him being a sixth-round pick, not a lot was likely expected out of him early. Second, he did that over just 11 games played. One can imagine what his numbers would have been if he enjoyed a cleaner slate of health.

That last fact cuts two ways. If Mitchell avoids injuries to a better extent in 2022, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see him on the cusp of earning a Pro Bowl nod, even if someone like Tyrion Davis-Price is getting the bulk of starts. However, missing six games last year does suggest Mitchell is injury-prone, and the 49ers would be wise to stockpile adequate backups to ensure he’s not subjected to too much wear and tear as the season moves along.

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Kyle Shanahan has, however, gone with the hot hand in his running back room over the years. And he’s not shy about employing a rotation either. In Mitchell’s case, this might be necessary. Like Mostert, it might be a bit too much to ask the second-year pro to be a true bell-cow running back.

That all said, and provided he stays healthy, Mitchell should nevertheless emerge as the Niners’ leading rusher this season and could potentially be the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Frank Gore did it back in 2014.