Training Camp Battles: 49ers RBs


 It's July and the 2021 NFL Season is rapidly approaching. As it does, I'm going to be looking at some key position battles throughout the league each Monday as a preview of the upcoming NFL Season.

Another backfield in flux is in San Francisco. The 49ers have used a plethora of backs the past few years, but this off-season it seemed like some clarity was coming as Tevin Coleman moved on to the Jets and Jerrick McKinnon moved on to the Chiefs. That left Raheem Mostert and last year's fast riser Jeff Wilson to lead the backfield.

Then the NFL Draft came, and the 49ers moved up to take Ohio State running back Trey Sermon in the Third Round. It raised more than a few eyebrows. Then the team grabbed Elijah Mitchell in the Sixth Round and later signed Wayne Gallman, creating a crowd again.

The backfield got a little clarity as Wilson suffered an injury that will knock him out until November at the earliest. Still, it's fair to assume the 49ers didn't move up in the 2021 NFL Draft to snag a back they don't plan to play.

I think this comes down to a split between Mostert and Sermon, and that by the end of the season the 49ers will have used four or five running backs at various times, just like we've typically seen. For fantasy, Mostert is the one I think finishes the highest, but I only have him as an RB3. I think Sermon gets enough work, and we see Mostert miss time as he frequently has, which will let other backs play a role. And I think Wilson will get some time when he's back.

Mostert is in a contract year, and it seems likely this is the year the torch passes. It's a good offense that produces for fantasy, but it can be a frustrating group to rely on week-to-week. That figures to continue in 2021.

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