Trey Sermon Picking Up Steam as 49ers Top Running Back

It’s no secret that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan loves using the running back by committee approach. 

Shanahan and the 49ers have had a different leading rusher in each of the past four seasons, and while some of that is because of injuries, it’s also because Shanahan loves leaning with the hot hand in games. 

49ers Leading Rusher By Season Under Kyle Shanahan

• 2017: Carlos Hyde
• 2018: Matt Breida
• 2019: Raheem Mostert 
• 2020: Jeff Wilson

Mostert is expected to be the 49ers starter in 2021, but he played in just eight games in 2020 due to injury. That led to Wilson (600 rushing yards in 12 games) leading the team in rushing last season. 

After Mostert surprised everyone and outplayed both Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman in 2019, it’s possible that this year’s third-round pick, Trey Sermon, could find himself as the 49ers’ leading rusher. 

Mostert has better odds to lead the league in rushing on WynnBET (+10000) than Sermon (+30000), but history tells us that someone new could tote the rock more for the 49ers in 2021. 

After Breida led the team in rushing in 2018, he finished third on the team in carries in 2019 with 123 even though he was second in rushing yards at 623. Coleman (137 carries for 544 yards) and Mostert (137 carries for 772 yards) both factored into the backfield, and it’s hard not to expect a similar split in 2021 with Sermon, Mostert and Wilson. 

Sermon has +3000 odds to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and he could make some major noise if he finds the hot hand in Shanahan’s backfield. 

The 49ers are going to employ a run-heavy attack whether Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance is under center, and if Mostert struggles to stay healthy again, the rookie could take advantage of the opportunity in the backfield.

The odds listed in this breakdown are available over at WynnBET. Make your pick in New Jersey, Indiana or Colorado.