The 49ers Need to Use Jordan Mason

The 49ers need a spark on offense, particularly in their run game.

Two seasons ago, they moved Deebo Samuel to running back halfway through the schedule, and he provided the spark that carried the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.

Last season, the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey at the deadline, and he provided the spark that carried them to the NFC Championship Game.

In each case, the 49ers added a wrinkle to their run game midseason which opponents weren't prepared to stop.

This season, the spark needs to be backup running back Jordan Mason.

Teams have caught on to the way the 49ers use McCaffrey -- he hasn't rushed for 54 yards in a game since Week 4. Simply giving him 20 carries doesn't guarantee victory the way it did for almost a year.

And teams have caught on to the way the 49ers use Samuel in the run game -- he hasn't rushed for more than 38 yards in a game since Week 2 of 2022. The 49ers need a new wrinkle.

That's Jordan Mason. He's averaging 5.6 yards per carry this season, but he has only 21 rushing attempts, and he had zero carries in the past two losses. Kyle Shanahan has to make a concerted effort to use Mason down the stretch this season, because opposing defenses aren't prepared to stop him. 

Mason is nothing like McCaffrey. Shanahan would have to build an entirely different run game for Mason, one that's primarily between the tackles. And that would take time and effort on Shanahan's part. But the work would be worth it.

In 2019, Raheem Mostert carried the 49ers to the Super Bowl as their backup running back behind Tevin Coleman. Mason could do the same for the 2023 49ers if Shanahan only will let him.