49ers running game in focus: three questions Kyle Shanahan must answer at the position

The San Francisco 49ers are heading into another summer with a familiar storyline around their running back room. A recent preview from Yahoo Sports frames the issue plainly, asking whether Kyle Shanahan will commit to the running backs around the offense, or continue to treat the position as a work in progress. The bigger backdrop is that, in Shanahan’s first few years as head coach, the running back spot has functioned like a revolving door rather than a settled identity.

From there, the questions become about role clarity. In Shanahan’s offense, the running back is not just a downhill runner. The position is asked to earn trust as a pass protector, to handle play-action responsibilities, and to become a reliable part of the run game’s “decision tree” that depends on the front the defense shows. That means that trust tends to show up in repeated touches and consistent assignments, not only in highlights.

Yahoo Sports’ framing also points to timing, specifically that the early part of Shanahan’s tenure did not settle quickly. Even without naming any single player or moment, the concept matters because continuity is often what turns an offense from “good on a few looks” into “good on most drives.” When the running back rotation is constantly changing, the scheme can still function, but the comfort level, reads, and execution details can vary from week to week.

The second question embedded in the preview is whether Shanahan can find the right balance of options. A modern Shanahan backfield typically needs more than one skill set. The offense can use differences in running style and receiving usage, but those differences still must line up with what Shanahan wants to call on third down, in the red zone, and in high-leverage runs. If the team keeps mixing and matching too often, it can dilute the operating rhythm that coaches want from the position group.

The third question, as presented in the Yahoo Sports preview, centers on trust itself. For the 49ers, trust is expressed in usage patterns, how quickly a back earns reps, and whether the running game looks coordinated rather than improvised. At the NFL level, earning that trust usually requires consistency across the areas coaches value most, including protecting the quarterback, processing the run-game keys, and executing routes on plays where the running back becomes an outlet.

What to watch next is whether training camp and the preseason, if played, produce a clearer hierarchy in the running back room. A sharper pecking order would answer the question of commitment, suggesting Shanahan feels confident enough in the backfield to repeat the same foundational patterns. If the rotation remains fluid, it would indicate the team still sees ongoing development needs, and the offense may be more dependent on matchup-specific usage.

For now, the most actionable takeaway is that the running back position is more than a depth-chart headline for San Francisco. In Shanahan’s scheme, the backfield affects everything from play-action efficiency to third-down conversion chances, because it influences how defenses react to the formation and the protection rules. The 49ers’ ability to create consistent running-game returns will likely hinge on whether Shanahan can answer these trust questions with a stable group.

If the 49ers do settle on a clear core, the upside is straightforward: better continuity in the offense’s timing and a reduced need for constant adaptation. If they do not, the downside is also clear: an offense that can be dangerous on the right play calls, but not as reliably mapped across drives. Either way, the running back situation remains one of the central battles for San Francisco’s summer evaluation process.