4 bold predictions for 49ers 2023 season
By Peter Panacy
49ers bold prediction No. 2: Jordan Mason starts more games than Christian McCaffrey
This is actually more complex than it seems, but it makes sense.
For starters, second-year pro Jordan Mason would have to get the nod as San Francisco's No. 2 running back behind the All-Pro, Christian McCaffrey, over others like Tyron Davis-Price.
Assuming that happens, how would Mason get more starts that McCaffrey?
Well, head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't always give the most snaps and touches to the running back who starts.
Case in point, back in 2019, it was actually Tevin Coleman who got the most regular-season starts (11) over Raheem Mostert (zero) despite the latter leading the team in rushing.
Mason might wind up being the first-quarter "tester" on the field to help wear down opposing defenses and to identify what they're doing. Then, Shanahan will turn to McCaffrey later in games.