I can't promise who the No. 2 running back in San Franciso will be. The 49ers have used Elijah Mitchell in that spot the last two seasons -- when healthy. But Mitchell is almost never healthy, so if I spend a late pick on any backup on the roster, it will be Jordan Mason.
This preseason, both Mitchell and fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo have missed most of August with hamstring injuries. Both were back at practice last week, and Guerendo played in last night's exhibition game, but it's been Mason getting most of the first-team reps (with Christian McCaffrey dealing with a calf injury). The depth chart at the team website, for what it's worth, lists both Mason and Mitchell in that No. 2 spot. I will take my chances with the guy who's fully healthy now and is a better bet to stay that way, Mason.
He's been really good with his chances the last two seasons. Most notably he's been healthy, playing in 33 games (Mitchell, in contrast, has played in only 16 of 34). We don't typically do a lot with yards per attempt, which can be a function of the offensive line and system, and is certainly helped in Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco offense. But Mason's 5.6 yards per attempt over his first two seasons is better than anyone the last two years but DeVon Achane, among all backs with 75-plus rushing attempts over that timeframe. What more does the guy need to do?
Table shows all backs with 75-plus carries who've averaged at least 4.5 yards per attempt the last two seasons.
| RUNNING BACK RUSHING, 2022-2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| DeVon Achane, Mia. | 103 | 800 | 7.8 | 11 |
| Jordan Mason, S.F. | 83 | 464 | 5.6 | 4 |
| J.K. Dobbins, Balt. | 100 | 542 | 5.4 | 4 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin, Den. | 76 | 410 | 5.4 | 3 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs, Det. | 182 | 945 | 5.2 | 11 |
| Jaylen Warren, Pitt. | 226 | 1163 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Khalil Herbert, Chi. | 261 | 1342 | 5.1 | 8 |
| Nick Chubb, Cle. | 330 | 1695 | 5.1 | 13 |
| Christian McCaffrey, S.F. | 516 | 2598 | 5.0 | 34 |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 355 | 1777 | 5.0 | 10 |
| James Cook, Buff. | 326 | 1629 | 5.0 | 9 |
| Justice Hill, Balt. | 133 | 649 | 4.9 | 4 |
| Raheem Mostert, Mia. | 390 | 1903 | 4.9 | 26 |
| Kyren Williams, LAR | 263 | 1283 | 4.9 | 15 |
| D'Andre Swift, Phil. | 328 | 1591 | 4.9 | 14 |
| Jeff Wilson, Mia. | 217 | 1048 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Caleb Huntley, Atl. | 76 | 366 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Breece Hall, NYJ | 303 | 1457 | 4.8 | 14 |
| Isiah Pacheco, K.C. | 375 | 1765 | 4.7 | 14 |
| Elijah Mitchell, S.F. | 120 | 560 | 4.7 | 4 |
| James Conner, Ari. | 391 | 1822 | 4.7 | 17 |
| Bijan Robinson, Atl. | 214 | 976 | 4.6 | 8 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E. | 366 | 1659 | 4.5 | 10 |
| Tyjae Spears, Ten. | 100 | 453 | 4.5 | 3 |
| Zack Moss, Ind. | 276 | 1250 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Tony Pollard, Dall. | 445 | 2012 | 4.5 | 18 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl. | 194 | 876 | 4.5 | 10 |
| Ty Chandler, Min. | 108 | 481 | 4.5 | 3 |
San Francisco also puts both McCaffrey and Mitchell on the above table; Mason wouldn't necessarily be nearly as effective on another team. But if McCaffrey misses time, I think Mason would be pretty good -- if they give him a shot. And if it's instead Mitchell, he seems like a poor bet to stay healthy, based on his career thus far.
Inevitably, you have to guess right, and since no one wants to tie up two roster spots on backup San Francisco running backs, there's a decent chance that whoever you choose will be the wrong one. But barring some sort of verbal commitment by Shanahan to one or the other, Mason -- 8 for 42 with a touchdown while working with the starters in last night's exhibition -- looks like the slightly better choice.
--Andy Richardson