San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde has been treated like he's going to be the backup to Frank Gore, as we said on Monday. Hyde will suit up against the Houston Texans on Thursday for San Francisco's final preseason game, and seeing what Hyde's workload ends up being is one of the more intriguing storylines of the game.
Carlos Hyde is a player to watch in 49ers’ preseason finale; might have fantasy value
Carlos Hyde, a rookie second-round pick, might be Frank Gore’s backup. We break down the fantasy implications.
Thearon W. Henderson
Since Kendall Hunter went down with an injury and LaMichael James was hurt for about a month, Hyde took the snaps immediately after starter Frank Gore. When James returned for the third preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, Hyde took on the same role, and left the game relatively early. In all three games, he's left somewhat early and given way to other backs who are fighting for roster spots.
Fantasy Impact: Fantasy owners should pay close attention to what Hyde does in this game. If he plays well that’s good, but it’s also notable if he doesn’t get much playing time. If he doesn’t, that’s likely a sign that the 49ers are confident in Hyde’s ability to carry the ball behind Gore. Hyde could be a valuable handcuff to Gore, though we still need to see a little more before we’re confident on what that running back depth chart will look like.
