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Fantasy Outlook: Carlos Hyde

Will Carlos Hyde enter RB1 territory in 2015?

Will Carlos Hyde enter RB1 territory in 2015?

Heading into his second year in the NFL, San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde will aim to fill the void that the franchise’s all-time leading rusher Frank Gore left upon his departure to Indianapolis. Hyde is poised for a dominant year as he is familiar with being a workhorse and has one of the league’s most talented offensive lines creating lanes for him.

With the 57th overall pick in 2014 Draft, the 49ers selected a complete running back in Hyde, who is capable of being a star in the league. In his final year before entering the Draft, the former Buckeye was an absolute monster, ending his senior year with 1,521 yards rushing and 18 total touchdowns. With Gore on the wrong side of age 30, the 2014 draft was the perfect time for the 49ers to select his replacement. The Ohio State graduate possesses a running style similar to Gore’s and has the potential to be as good as fellow second rounder Eddie Lacy of the Green Bay Packers. He is a runner who is tough to tackle downhill and a valuable asset in gaining tough yards.

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Averaging 7.3 yards per carry his senior year, the 49ers had high expectations for their second round pick. In his rookie year Hyde averaged a respectable 4.0 yards per carry, a number which could be higher had he been given more reps. His respectable speed mixed with his size makes him a tough back to bring down, as noted when he clocked in with a 4.61 40-yard dash time at the combine. By no means is the OSU product a speed demon, but at roughly 230 pounds his physicality makes him a promising prospect as a lead back and borderline RB1 in fantasy leagues. As a second option in former offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s offense, the 23-year-old finished his rookie campaign with 333 rushing yards on 83 carries and four touchdowns. One of the brightest moments of the season came with a bulldozing 28-yard run against Seattle that seemed to sway the momentum of the game.

In 2015, Hyde will be the workhorse while sharing reps with fellow backs Kendall Hunter and Reggie Bush. Bush will mostly be an outlet for quarterback Colin Kaepernick on passing downs and will not greatly diminish Hyde’s production. Not only has the second year back been slimming down this offseason, as General Manager Trent Baalke has said, but the Ohio State Alum gets to run behind one of the best run-blocking offensive lines in the NFL. The 49ers’ offensive line was ranked 10th in the league by Football Outsiders in 2014, despite numerous injuries to several elite starters. The talent of that unit carries a highly valued prospect like Hyde into borderline RB1 territory for 2015. Expect a season near the 1,000 rushing yards mark and a handful of touchdowns.

Look for Hyde to go in the second or third rounds of fantasy drafts. If the prodigy can match Gore’s production, there will be no doubt of his value to fantasy leagues and the 49ers alike. His rookie season showed promise of what is to come, and Hyde looks to prove he is the long-term solution at running back in a playoff-or-bust year for San Francisco in 2015.

Daniel Rogers is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, check out his archive or follow him @DanielRogersFP

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