It's a discussion we've had here a bunch this offseason. Who will San Francisco's best running back be? All along I've thought it would be Matt Breida, even when he was considered No. 3 on the depth chart. Now he's inched his way up to be viewed as the No. 2, but I still think he might be the best.
The Niners gave Tevin Coleman the big contract, and he'll open as the starter. I get that. But they gave Jerick McKinnon the big contract one year ago, and most guesses have McKinnon being stashed on injured reserve to start the season.
San Francisco faced Kansas City last night, and Coleman started. But who stood out? Breida, who snuck out of the backfield and made a diving catch of a 20-yard touchdown. On his runs, he just looks a lot quicker than the other players. He's healthy now, and was playing hurt for a lot of last season. Whatever; his 8 carries have gone for 48 yards on the preseason (6.0). Coleman is at 12 for 40 (3.3).
Coleman was pretty good in Atlanta last year, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He's been a capable receiver, important in San Francisco's offense. But he was also ineffective at times, losing yards on a higher rate of his attempts last year than anyone in the league.
Table shows percentage of negative yards on carries for all backs with at least 50 attempts last year. Coleman had the highest rate of such plays. Breida was somewhat better, and yet another San Francisco back, Jeff Wilson, was better than either.
| RUNNING BACK STUFFS, 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Stuff | Yds | Pct |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 167 | 31 | -84 | 18.6% |
| Elijah McGuire, NYJ | 92 | 17 | -34 | 18.5% |
| Dion Lewis, Ten. | 155 | 28 | -58 | 18.1% |
| Adrian Peterson, Was. | 251 | 42 | -82 | 16.7% |
| Ito Smith, Atl. | 90 | 15 | -37 | 16.7% |
| Alfred Morris, S.F. | 111 | 18 | -41 | 16.2% |
| LeGarrette Blount, Det. | 154 | 24 | -54 | 15.6% |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 120 | 18 | -47 | 15.0% |
| Chase Edmonds, Ariz. | 60 | 9 | -23 | 15.0% |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 161 | 24 | -60 | 14.9% |
| Dalvin Cook, Min. | 133 | 19 | -29 | 14.3% |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 99 | 14 | -43 | 14.1% |
| Justin Jackson, LAC | 50 | 7 | -11 | 14.0% |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 210 | 28 | -61 | 13.3% |
| Corey Clement, Phil. | 68 | 9 | -24 | 13.2% |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 237 | 31 | -73 | 13.1% |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 261 | 34 | -99 | 13.0% |
| Nick Chubb, Clev. | 192 | 24 | -45 | 12.5% |
| Josh Adams, Phil. | 120 | 15 | -32 | 12.5% |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 153 | 19 | -47 | 12.4% |
| Alex Collins, Balt. | 114 | 14 | -44 | 12.3% |
| Chris Ivory, Buff. | 115 | 14 | -29 | 12.2% |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 133 | 16 | -41 | 12.0% |
| Isaiah Crowell, NYJ | 143 | 17 | -43 | 11.9% |
| Rashaad Penny, Sea. | 85 | 10 | -17 | 11.8% |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 234 | 27 | -72 | 11.5% |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 181 | 20 | -44 | 11.0% |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 150 | 16 | -31 | 10.7% |
| Nyheim Hines, Ind. | 85 | 9 | -12 | 10.6% |
| Carlos Hyde, 2 tm | 172 | 18 | -29 | 10.5% |
| Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 192 | 20 | -39 | 10.4% |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 80 | 8 | -18 | 10.0% |
| Damien Williams, K.C. | 50 | 5 | -13 | 10.0% |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 121 | 12 | -23 | 9.9% |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 133 | 13 | -28 | 9.8% |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 250 | 24 | -51 | 9.6% |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 304 | 29 | -50 | 9.5% |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 55 | 5 | -6 | 9.1% |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 256 | 23 | -47 | 9.0% |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 56 | 5 | -19 | 8.9% |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 90 | 8 | -16 | 8.9% |
| Royce Freeman, Den. | 130 | 11 | -22 | 8.5% |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 215 | 18 | -37 | 8.4% |
| James Conner, Pitt. | 215 | 18 | -34 | 8.4% |
| Latavius Murray, Min. | 140 | 11 | -24 | 7.9% |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 51 | 4 | -8 | 7.8% |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 258 | 20 | -31 | 7.8% |
| Jeff Wilson, S.F. | 66 | 5 | -9 | 7.6% |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 106 | 8 | -22 | 7.5% |
| C.J. Anderson, 2 tm | 67 | 5 | -13 | 7.5% |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 175 | 13 | -28 | 7.4% |
| Zach Zenner, Det. | 55 | 4 | -7 | 7.3% |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 194 | 14 | -35 | 7.2% |
| Jaylen Samuels, Pitt. | 56 | 4 | -5 | 7.1% |
| Wendell Smallwood, Phil. | 87 | 6 | -17 | 6.9% |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 195 | 13 | -29 | 6.7% |
| Jordan Wilkins, Ind. | 60 | 4 | -10 | 6.7% |
| Kenneth Dixon, Balt. | 60 | 4 | -9 | 6.7% |
| Chris Carson, Sea. | 247 | 16 | -29 | 6.5% |
| Frank Gore, Mia. | 156 | 10 | -17 | 6.4% |
| Mike Davis, Sea. | 112 | 7 | -9 | 6.3% |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 219 | 13 | -27 | 5.9% |
| Kerryon Johnson, Det. | 118 | 7 | -13 | 5.9% |
| Doug Martin, Oak. | 172 | 10 | -23 | 5.8% |
| Sony Michel, N.E. | 209 | 12 | -21 | 5.7% |
| Rex Burkhead, N.E. | 57 | 3 | -8 | 5.3% |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 138 | 6 | -7 | 4.3% |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 51 | 2 | -5 | 3.9% |
| Marcus Murphy, Buff. | 52 | 2 | -5 | 3.8% |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 104 | 3 | -7 | 2.9% |
| James White, N.E. | 94 | 2 | -8 | 2.1% |
| Gus Edwards, Balt. | 137 | 1 | -1 | 0.7% |
A lot the results are a function of the blocking. Atlanta, by drafting a pair of linemen in the first round and signing a pair of veterans, clearly blamed the personnel in front of Coleman for some of his struggles.
But I think it's fair to wonder if Coleman is suited for a lead back role, and if Breida won't emerge as this team's best back. He's the one I'm drafting.
--Andy Richardson