With 49ers OTAs in full swing, we’re taking a position-by-position look at the team’s roster to figure out the strengths, weaknesses, potential dark horses to make the team and other nuggets about the players who will be competing for jobs on the 53-man roster.
Every year since head coach Kyle Shanahan arrived in Santa Clara there’s been at least a modicum of uncertainty about what the team is doing at running back.
Shanahan’s offense is conducive to finding success for relatively unknown running backs. Raheem Mostert’s first real shot came with the 49ers in 2019. Sixth-round pick Elijah Mitchell came out of nowhere in 2021, and before that it was undrafted free agents Matt Breida and Jeff Wilson Jr. Each year since 2017 they’ve had a different leading rusher and no surefire starter to place atop the depth chart.
That’s all changed now following the mid-season trade for RB Christian McCaffrey last year. However, the arrival of McCaffrey doesn’t end the discussion at RB for the 49ers. Their depth at that spot is still a crucial element of their success this year.
Let’s take a look at what’s cooking at RB on San Francisco’s 90-man roster: