Ty Davis-Price or Jordan Mason? Kyle Shanahan said the two will compete in practice this week to see who will be the No. 2 runner behind Jeff Wilson on Sunday. "We'll go with the hot hand in the game."

Wilson might have to earn his playing time, despite being the starter and a popular waiver pick up this week. If one of Davis-Price or Mason steps up, it wouldn't be a shock to see Shanahan give them more work. Deebo Samuel will likely factor in the running game as well. Wilson is at least the guy this week but there may be some reason to worry about his long term fantasy value.

Jeff Wilson appeared in nine games last season after recovering from a torn meniscus in a knee. When he did play, he didn't look much like the player who led the team in rushing in 2020. Another year removed from that injury, Wilson appeared to be closer to his former self in training camp, though he managed just 22 yards on nine carries after replacing Mitchell at rain-soaked Soldier Field on Sunday.

"We've always been comfortable with Jeff, just because of his experience and what he has done here," Kyle Shanahan said. "We know what we're going to get."

Related players: Elijah Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk, Jordan Mason, Marlon Mack, Deebo Samuel

What the Niners may not be comfortable with is what's behind Wilson at this point, though. Davis-Price is a rookie who was inactive in Week 1 behind undrafted rookie Mason. Mason played on special teams, however. The team signed Mack but he couldn't make the Texans roster. It's possible Samuel sees an uptick in rushes. The team seems like a Wilson injury away from a big problem at RB.

49ers are signing former Texans’ RB Marlon Mack to their practice squad, per source.

Related players: Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk, Jordan Mason

Wilson is expected to be the starter but Mack gives a little more security on the depth chart should he be needed as Davis-Price is a rookie.

Due to the sprained MCL that Elijah Mitchell suffered Sunday at Chicago, the sophomore running back is expected to miss about two months.

Related Players: Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jordan Mason

The 49ers' yearly injury woes continue right out of the gate, with Mitchell unlikely to return until at least the middle of the season. Behind him in Week 1, Jeff Wilson logged nine rush attempts and ran 17 routes, the fourth most on the team behind Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings. It would appear he is most likely to fill in as the team's RB1.