Fantasy Index

Around the NFL

San Francisco 49ers

Hightower staking claim to backfield role

Carlos Hyde is the former second-round pick who fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards a year ago. Joe Williams is the fourth-round pick who the team gushed about to an embarrassing degree after selecting him in April's draft. Neither one took the first backfield snap at practice yesterday.

Instead it was Tim Hightower, the 31-year-old free agent signing who was out of the league from 2012 through 2014. Hightower played for new coach Kyle Shanahan in Washington prior to that sabbatical, and as a result has the most familiarity with Shanahan's blocking schemes. He's apparently the only back on the roster comfortable running the outside zone plays that the offense relies on.

The story in the San Jose Mercury News that said Hightower got the first snap noted that Hyde got the second snap (and that Hyde fumbled it). But Hyde drew praise from Shanahan over the weekend. "He started making a move, just his work ethic and just his attention to detail, about halfway through OTAs. And then, coming back five weeks later and being able to see him, he’s even taken it to another level. I can tell he’s put in the work and has given himself a chance to have a good season.”

My major takeaway from these stories is that it's not a two-man battle in the 49ers backfield between Hyde and Williams. It's a three-man battle with Hightower -- or if it is a two-man battle, it's between Hyde and Hightower. Haven't seen anything noteworthy about Williams since all the post-draft hype.

What seems clear is that Hyde could very well be the starting running back, as most expect, but that Hightower is also going to be a factor in this backfield. If nothing else, he's the most accomplished receiver, with a 63-reception season to his credit back with Arizona. Hyde has caught 50 passes in 34 career games. So even if Hightower doesn't claim the top job in the backfield, he's the favorite for passing downs work.

As for Williams, who was a second-round pick in dynasty league rookie drafts, he's looking more like a long-term investment than somebody who should be taken in re-draft leagues this summer. We'll see how the exhibitions shake out, but he looks like the No. 3 right now.

--Andy Richardson

12 Reader Comments:

BILL REHOR

Culver City, CA
2017-08-01T14:10:40Z
While we are reading the tea leaves, did anyone else notice that their sudden and effusive praise of Hyde began right after the Ravens lost Dixon for the year? Maybe they're just trying to hype his trade value...

ANDY RICHARDSON

Port Chester, NY
2017-08-01T14:16:48Z
Trying to think of the last time a team traded for a starting running back. The one that comes to mind is the Colts giving up a first-rounder for Trent Richardson. Guess another is the Bills trading for LeSean McCoy, that worked out better. Doesn't happen very often

DENNIS SALISBURY

Cranston, RI
2017-08-01T14:51:15Z
What could Hyde fetch in a trade (3rd or 4th round), probably too much, right? NFL front offices treasure their draft picks. I do not think there is a deal here. I think the Ravens like West/Woodhead enough that they only want warm bodies behind them for now.

Richard Weber

Fort Myers, FL
2017-08-01T15:15:35Z
I think Hyde has been overvalued, based on the ADPs I've seen so far. I"m still three weeks away from my first draft, so I'm not too concerned about him yet. But I tend to shy away from guys who can't shake the injury bug, and Hyde is one of them.

BEN HOGEVOLL

Siletz, OR
2017-08-01T16:02:06Z
I am going to totally ingnore any info on SF,Clev,Jets,Rams players.You can have all of them.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2017-08-01T17:17:46Z
Clever idea, Bill. Very unlikely that the Ravens head into the season counting on West and Woodhead to be their two main running backs. Neither Buck Allen nor Lorenzo Taliaferro is going to step up and save them. I'm pretty sure they'll add a back, and it makes a lot of sense to add Hyde to the list of candidates. 49ers are more interested in stockpiling draft picks. If they could pick up a 3rd or 4th round pick for Hyde, I'm sure they'd be fine going with Williams and Hightower.

Tavis Medrano

San Gabriel, CA
2017-08-01T23:59:36Z
Hyde is definitely worth a 4th rounder for Baltimore since its going to be a pick more than half way thru the round. But a more likely scenario is Baltimore waiting for Philadelphia to cut either Smallwood, or Mathews or even Pumphries.

ANDY RICHARDSON

Port Chester, NY
2017-08-02T11:26:15Z
Smallwood thought isn't bad. They're not going to cut fourth-rounder Pumphrey (and at 175 pounds he doesn't scream "lead back" anyway). Mathews will have quiet market - teams not eager to gamble on running backs with neck injury concerns.

rick heidorn

Minneola, FL
2017-08-02T21:43:41Z
You all pass on Hyde. I'll pick him in the 5th or 6th round and have me a Top 10 back.

Andrew Napoli

Alexandria, VA
2017-08-03T19:59:42Z
I had Hyde in my keeper league (we get to keep a player for up to three years). So I had him on my team for three straight seasons (i.e., ever since his rookie year). To be honest, he was not a particularly reliable starter in fantasy. He seemed to do extremely well against weak opponents, and get bottled up by average or good opponents. This was likely not solely the fault of Carlos Hyde, but rather the rest of the SF team. If the SF team fell behind, Hyde quickly became an afterthought because he is not used very much in the passing game. Even the Chiperoo couldn't seem to give Hyde enough running room or sufficient carries to make him a fantasy bell cow. I'd say for the three years I owned him, he didn't crack the starting fantasy lineup more than 50 percent of the time. I was so excited to draft him as a keeper, but he really disappointed me. I'll definitely be staying away because I suspect he'll be drafted waaaaaay too early.
Sign in to add a comment

Fantasy Index