Raheem Mostert is a record-breaking running back. His 220-yard, 4 touchdown performance vs. Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game set a record for the most single-game rushing yards in 49ers history. One of the main gripes many 49ers fans have about their team's Super Bowl loss is a failure to feature Mostert more in the 4th quarter. So, why does Mostert only rank 16th on this list?
Kyle Shanahan, much like his father, can find a starting RB at a Taco Bell. Before Mostert, Matt Breida was the undrafted free agent (UDFA) who dominated in the 49ers backfield. In 2018 the 49ers saw this formula play out, as Mostert & Brieda were lost to injury and from the bottom of the parts pile, Kyle Shanahan found Jeff Wilson Jr. to fill in and still manage roughly 4.0 yards per carry. In 2019, the 49ers used all their RBs to varying levels of success. The most successful was Mostert, hence him owning the lion's share of the work down the stretch. But before it was Mostert it was Breida (623 rush yards, 1 TD, 5.1 YPC), Tevin Coleman (544 rush yards, 6 TDs, 4.0 YPC) and even practice squad standout Wilson Jr. (3.9 ypc, 5 total TDs).
Mostert is the best player of this group, but it's plain to see that production from the RB back position is not hard to come by in a Kyle Shanahan offense.
2019 Performance
Raheem Mostert put up some big numbers in limited features in this 49ers offense in 2019. While he wasn't listed as a starter in any of the 49ers' 16 regular season games, his role increased greatly down the stretch as Matt Breida's role decreased. During the regular season Mostert saw a total of 151 touches, amassing 952 total yards (772 rush, 180 receiving) and 10 total TDs. Add 336 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs from the 49ers 3-game playoff run and his combined 2019 contribution to the 49ers reflects just how well he played (1,296 total yards, 15 total TDs). PFF gave Mostert an all-around grade of 75.5. This number is intriguing as fellow 49er RB Matt
Breida graded out at nearly identical numbers in 2018 (75.8) & 2019 (73.1). Other notable players with a similar PFF grade in 2019: Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliot (77.1), Tennesee RB Derrick Henry (76.2) & Cincinnati RB Joe Mixon (75.3).
2020 Cost
The price tag for Mostert is relatively low. He comes with a $3.2 million cap hit and is signed through 2021. If the 49ers were to release him before 6/1/20, they could save $2.5 million against the cap. Nobody can imagine this happening, as Mostert is the perfect fit for the 49ers offense, comes at a discount and has added value due to his special teams versatility. While Mostert may not cost the 49ers much, he may cost RBs Tevin Coleman & Matt Brieda their jobs.
Future Outlook
Expect Mostert to be a big part of the 49ers offense for the next 2 seasons. The Shanahan offense doesn't place a large money value on the position, and rightfully so. The 49ers can take cast-away players and turn them into dominant runners. With that being known, Mostert will most likely play through his contract (barring an injury of some sort) and I would fully expect the 49ers to be combing through the college ranks and the practice squads to groom another set of bargain bin backs to continue this tradition well into the 49ers' future. The Mosterati is a 2-year lease, enjoy the ride.
Next: No. 15 Kwon Alexander
- Gilbert Brink
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Written by:49ers outsider, residing in the Hudson Valley, representing 30+ years of the 49ers experience
