Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The 49ers backfield is a murky mess. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Elijah Mitchell the 49ers’ RB1 is currently injured.
Death, taxes, and Shanahanigans.
We have officially notched two preseason games on our belts. There is one final game to try to comb through the tangled web of running backs on the 49ers and the only two running backs that are bonafide locks to make the roster are Mitchell and Jeff Wilson Jr. — or so we thought.
No, Kyle Juszczyk, I didn’t forget about you. I just have you labeled as a fullback.
Assuming Wilson Jr. stays in the Bay Area, three spots all but locked up. That leaves JaMycal Hasty, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jordan Mason, and Trey Sermon all battling for those final two spots.
Mitchell has obviously planted his flag as the lead back, despite his inability to stay healthy. Wilson provides consistent play making ability and a highly coveted veteran presence at the position.
WHO WILL BE THE ODD ONES OUT?
If you have either lived in a rock or had your head buried in the sand, then you probably think Sermon is considered a lock to make the roster.
After all, he was the next Kareem Hunt just a year ago and seen to be the back that dripped with league winning upside. So what happened?
Two things:
- As an undrafted rookie, Mitchell flat beat him out for the lead role in training camp. A narrative dating back to Sermon’s college days, where he consistently failed to beat out running backs at Oklahoma and Ohio State.
- In his second season, he still looks lost and struggles to run through any sort of contact.
TDP and Sermon both have nearly identical on paper draft capital. TDP was taken 93 overall while Sermon was taken with pick 88. However, the 49ers traded two fourth round picks in 2021 to trade up for Sermon.
Looking at the numbers, the answer should be crystal clear.
Yards after contact per rush through two preseason games for the 49ers:
- JaMycal Hasty: 4.9
- Jordan Mason: 4.1
- Tyrion Davis-Price: 3.2
- Trey Sermon: 1.6
Based on performance this offseason and preseason, TDP and Hasty should be safe. TDP is a rookie that has flashed this offseason and Hasty is effective in both the running and receiving game.
Mason has averaged 5.8 yards per carry while Sermon has managed a measly 1.6.
Regardless, the draft capital alone will likely force the 49ers to commit another roster spot to the running back position to keep Sermon while Hasty would likely get relegated to the practice squad.
As far as fantasy goes, Mitchell and Wilson Jr. are must drafts while all eyes should be kept on Mason should he make the roster.
TDP and Sermon will just cannibalize each other.
RANKINGS SUMMARY
The Wolf is lower on Mitchell than the consensus, ranking him RB25 (-3 vs ECR), while TDP is next at RB57 (+10 vs ECR), and Wilson Jr. slides in at RB65 (+3 vs ECR).