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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more