Buy or Sell: Carlos Hyde

Carlos Hyde
ADP: 37.1
RB: 15

For the first time in nine seasons, San Francisco will have a new feature back. Second-year RB Carlos Hyde replaces long-time vet Frank Gore, who left for Indianapolis in the offseason.

Last year’s second-round pick groomed for the job last year, scoring four times on 83 carries and producing a 4.0 yards per carry clip.

Can Hyde provide a younger, fresher version of Gore? Or will taking on the main role for the 49ers prove to be too much of a gig for this youngster to handle?

Buy: Andy

When Frank Gore left San Francisco for Indianapolis this spring, it was assumed second-year RB Carlos Hyde would become the main guy, especially with Kendall Hunter was nursing an ACL back to health.

Then the team signed Reggie Bush as a free agent and rugby star Jarryd Hayne became a popular camp star and it seemed the luster might be wearing off.

But Hyde has taken all of the reps with the first team in camp and reportedly has a handle on at least the main role. He’s reportedly improved on his pass protection, so he doesn’t have to come off the field in all passing situations. So, at best, Hyde is the bell-cow. At worst, Bush will see some third-downs and Hunter may work in some.

So what does it mean? In drafting Hyde, you’ve got a younger, bigger, fresher back slotting into a role that has produced between 255 and 282 carries the last four seasons. Hyde also is capable out of the backfield, producing 12 catches in a limited role last season.

And this is a team that is going to want to run the ball. With an inconsistent QB and major losses to the defense during the offseason, San Francisco’s best chances of winning games is going to be controlling the clock and keeping that defense off the field.

I will grant that as a late fourth round pick, Hyde is unproven and perhaps a bit uncomfortable. There is a lot of uncertainty in San Francisco heading into the season. But one player you can count on this year to step into Frank Gore’s old role is Hyde. This is the role the 49ers assumed he would take when they drafted him last year. He’s not a steal, but he should be a comfortable pick at this spot.

Sell: Vomhof

I thought Carlos Hyde was the top running back in the 2014 NFL Draft, and now, after backing up Frank Gore for a year, he’s the lead back in San Francisco’s run-first offense. He’s a young and talented, but I want nothing to do with him in fantasy football this year.

In reality, I’m selling the 49ers, not just Hyde. I just don’t trust this team to perform well enough to support the type of game script he needs to succeed.

The defense suffered some major setbacks this offseason—Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Chris Borland retired, and Chris Culliver signed with the Redskins—so this club will struggle to stop anyone. That means the 49ers will be playing from behind, which could benefit Reggie Bush more than Hyde.

Hyde loses a lot of appeal if he’s relegated to being a two-down back on a crappy, low-scoring team. And, on top of that, the 49ers lost two of their top offensive lineman—LG Mike Iupati (Cardinals) and RT Anthony Davis (retired)—this offseason, so Hyde might not have as much room to run.

In the end, my biggest knock on Hyde is his price. He’s going in the early to mid-fourth, ahead of safer RBs like Frank Gore and higher-upside WRs like Jordan Mathews.

There’s way too much uncertainty to justify using that high of a pick.

Previous Buy/Sell: Brandin Cooks

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