Fantasy Football: 49ers Running Backs are a Weekly Toss Up

There is nothing more frustrating in fantasy football than when you aren’t sure about whether or not to start a player. It’s that overthinking that tends to lead to a loss for your matchup. That’s when you start to feel instant regret and question your logic behind starting that player.

Well if you have any of the San Francisco 49ers running backs, you currently have that issue. When deciding on who to put in your starting line up, the 49ers running backs are a weekly toss up. Both Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman are talented players, that would flourish as the bell cow of an offense. However, you just never know with them because not a single player receives the bulk of the carries.

That is the issue with having players in an offense that operate by committee. Breida and Coleman will get consistent touches, but not a heavy workload. Shockingly enough, they haven’t been featured too much in the passing game. They’re more than capable at excelling as recievers, but it’s been clear that Kyle Shanahan doesn’t want to use them that way, excluding screen plays.

The dream for a fantasy football team is to have a “plug and forget” lineup. The more you can take away the random chance factor, the better your season outcome will be. With Breida and Coleman on your team, that consistency will not be there. Sure, it will pay off at times like with Coleman against the Carolina Panthers in week eight. But you’re playing with fire when you have to ponder whether or not to start one of these guys.

The 49ers’ offense could be rich with fantasy stars. They already have George Kittle and now Emmanuel Sanders who’re both trustworthy in your lineup. Breida and Coleman on the other hand are not. Once again, the committee running game is tough. Shanahan can just ride whoever is the hot hand.

If there is any running back you should bank on weekly it is Coleman. That is just based off the history he has with Shanahan and Breida has been in and out of games with injuries. Overall, the 49ers’ running backs are a weekly toss up. Sunday morning when you finalize your lineups is always stressful if you have any of these two players.