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Gold Diggers: Why do the 49ers invest so much in running backs?

Nary a 49ers game goes by without one of the broadcasters mentioning that Kyle Shanahan (like his father before him) can get production out of any running back. While that does appear to be accurate, Michelle Magdziuk wondered on today’s Gold Diggers podcast why Shanahan continues to invest premium assets into a position he can frequently pluck from anywhere.

There is no question that Kyle Shanahan can get production out of running backs nobody has heard of before. Even if you only count his time in San Francisco, the list is impressive. In 2018, undrafted free agent Matt Breida ran for almost 1,000 yards and more than 5 yards per carry.