Fantasy Upside
For the second consecutive offseason, the 49ers added one of the top available free agent RBs. After Le'Veon Bell and Mark Ingram found new homes, Tevin Coleman was the best remaining player and the Niners weren't going to let him get away, signing the former Falcon to a two-year $8.5 million contract. Last year Jerick McKinnon signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the club. After he got hurt Matt Breida became the team's top back. Coleman joins that mix as the 49ers attempt to bring more playmakers into Kyle Shanahan's offense. Remember, Shanahan loved Coleman during the coach's stint as Falcons' OC, helping the running back score a single-season high of 11 touchdowns in 2016.
Fantasy Downside
As ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested, Coleman, Breida and McKinnon now give the 49ers the type of 1-2-3 punch many NFL teams seek but which don't generate the kind of touches fantasy owners prefer. The problem is obvious. Last year Breida, Alfred Morris, Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert (all but Morris remain on the roster) combined for 417 touches. As CBSSports.com suggested, Coleman may only get half that many -- and that's without factoring in what McKinnon might contribute.
2019 Bottom Line
Proceed with the requisite caution given the crowded field. But Coleman's past success under Shanahan makes him among the more appealing committee backs out there. In addition, with McKinnon, Breida and Mostert coming off injuries that limited them all offseason, Coleman appears to have the jump them as camp opens.