For the past two weeks, 49ers RB Raheem Mostert has led the team in rushing and looked like the clear-cut top option as Matt Breida has struggled to stay healthy. Most recently against the Rams, Mostert rumbled for 59 yards on just 7 carries (8.4 YPC), while also adding 4 catches for 19 yards. This solid effort came just one week after Mostert glided through the Green Bay defense for 87 yards on 12 carries (7.3 YPC). Considering Breida cannot maintain health and is once again questionable after aggravating his ankle injury, Mostert is a Week 8 Waiver Wire priority add.
Any long-term RSJ Reader knows I’ve got a soft spot for Kyle Shanahan RBs, and Mostert looks primed and ready to be the next “Creature” to randomly emerge and dominant in this Zone Blocking Scheme. The Shanahan’s are known for turning no-names into dominant runners, and thus far Mostert has looked like a glove-like fit when provided chances. He entered the league in 2015 as a return specialist, and even in college was lightly used as an actual runner. Still, the Purdue product comes with blazing 4.38 speed, and he’s flashed the necessary vision, patience and surprising tackle-breaking skills to thrive here in his limited chances thus far.
True, Mostert would be tough to trust in a three-headed committee. But, after racking up ankle, shoulder, and knee ailments over the last few weeks, Breida is a ticking time bomb injury-wise. He’s fallen quite far on the Season Long Big Board as a result. In fact, the team is considering resting him, as when asked if they might approach his latest setback more cautiously, Shanahan said, “That’s something we’ll have to look into hard… It’s based off how he looks in practice.” The timing couldn’t be better, as Mostert would be facing off with a Cardinals defense that has surrendered by far the most FPs to RBs this season. Considering both the high-upside Week 8 streamability, plus the high long-term handcuff ceiling, Mostert needs to be among the top Waiver Wire considerations after the Raiders RBs.
