Raheem Mostert is still 49ers leading rusher despite missing 5 games

Raheem Mostert’s injury hasn’t caused him to lose his spot as the San Francisco 49ers’ leading rusher.

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Raheem Mostert got off to a scorching hot start. He had 23 yards for 148 yards and a touchdown on the ground through his first six quarters. Then the injuries began and his fast start was derailed. Mostert has played just four games, but still manages to lead the 49ers in rushing yards.

Here’s what the 49ers’ leaderboard looks like in that category:

Raheem Mostert, 303
Jerick McKinnon, 261
Jeff Wilson Jr., 163
JaMycal Hasty, 135

It’s worth noting Mostert has been limited to just 19 percent of the team’s offensive snaps so far this season. He missed the second half against the Jets with a knee injury. That forced him out of the next two games. He returned for Weeks 5 and 6,  but suffered a high ankle sprain early in the third quarter of Week 6.

His 19 percent is still the second-highest snap rate on the team behind McKinnon’s 46 percent. Wilson and Hasty are both around 14 percent.

All of this points to two key things for the 49ers.

First, Mostert is their best running back. He’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry on 51 attempts. He also has 150 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions. Explosive plays have helped buoy his numbers, but those home run shots are why he’s so effective. The 49ers rushing attack has been missing that element since he went down.

The other inescapable fact surrounding Mostert’s lead in rushing yards is the injuries the 49ers have been saddled with at the position. Mostert has been hurt. Wilson was having his best game when he went out with a high ankle sprain. And Tevin Coleman has only seen action in three contests because of two knee sprains.

Perhaps the best news for San Francisco is Mostert’s return isn’t far off. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated after Week 9 that the running back may be back for Week 10 against New Orleans. He won’t return for that one, but he’s on track to come back after the Week 11 Bye to face the Rams.

There’s a real chance he’s still the team’s leader in rushing yards when he gets back into uniform, and as long as he’s healthy, nobody on the roster is catching him.