San Francisco 49ers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 21: Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during the National Football League Game between the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings on October 21, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (24) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave (79) during the first half of an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 18, 2018, at TIAA Bank Field. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. RB T.J. Yeldon (Jacksonville Jaguars)

The San Francisco 49ers were dealt a devastating blow late last summer just on the eve of the 2018 regular season. Running back Jerick McKinnon, who was coming off a year in which he gained a career-best 991 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns with the Minnesota Vikings, was expected to play a major role in Kyle Shanahan’ offense in 2018. But the free-agent pick up suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice and didn’t take the field all season. He’s on the mend and figures to be ready for the upcoming season. And McKinnon is also expected to be the team’s main threat out of the backfield.

But what about depth at the position, as well as an insurance policy should the former Vikings’ performer suffer a setback? The Niners do have Greg Breida, who ran for a team-best 814 yards and three scores in ’18. But it’s worth noting that the team’s second and third-leading rushers, Alfred Morris and Raheem Mostert, are slated to become unrestricted free agents later this month.

One-time Jacksonville Jaguars’ starter T.J. Yeldon has quietly amassed 3,174 yards from scrimmage and a dozen touchdowns in 51 regular-season games. With Leonard Fournette nursing injuries this past year, he made five starts and finished with 41 yards on the ground in 14 outings, albeit one score. More significantly, he was Jacksonville’s second-leading pass catcher with 55 grabs, good for 487 yards and four touchdowns. That kind of versatility could indeed be intriguing to Shanahan.