Unless you're talking about a quarterback or an offensive lineman, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't care too much about the "starter" label. He's going to use his players based on what he wants to do and what the opposition is showing him.
Fantasy football addicts may not like that because they, of course, want to know things like which running back is going to have the most opportunities in Shanahan's offense. Who will be RB1 on Sunday during San Francisco's regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
The answer: Matt Breida.
Also, Tevin Coleman.
The plan is for both to serve as the 49ers' primary back so the Buccaneers will have to prepare for a heavy dose of each.
"We'll have Breida and Tevin doing most of the work," Shanahan said during his Friday-morning KNBR interview on the "Murph and Mac" show. "I see those guys as 1A, 1B, and you can really switch each one up depending on what the series is, what the play is. It really doesn't matter to us.
"Then you've got Raheem (Mostert) who's got a lot of talent, can play running back at a high level. He's also one of the better special teams players in this league, if not the best, so he has a huge role on special teams. We don't hesitate at all to put him in on offense when needed, especially if a guy goes down. We have some packages for him, also.
"All three of those guys can affect the game."
Having two running backs splitting the reps will help in the Tampa heat. It will also help keep the backs healthier. Breida welcomes Coleman's assistance. He dealt with an ankle injury for much of last season and eventually ended up on injured reserve, missing the final game of the season.
Breida finished last year with 814 rushing yards on 153 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns through 14 games and 13 starts while adding 27 receptions for 261 yards with two receiving touchdowns.
"This offense allows running backs to stay in the NFL longer, because you're not taking a pounding," Breida said this week via Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group. "There's guys like Le'Veon Bell or Saquon (Barkley), where you're getting the ball every single game. Those guys are bigger and can do it.
"But at the same time (Shanahan's scheme) is going to prolong your career, and you'll feel better going down the road. As we get toward the playoffs, you'll feel fresher, because you won't have as many carries as those guys do."
That ankle, by the way, is feeling completely healthy and the running back is eager to get back onto the football field.
Breida rushed for 106 yards on 14 carries against the Buccaneers last season while adding three receptions for 34 yards. That's 7.6 yards per carry. Coleman rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries for an average of 4.4 yards per carry with a touchdown in two bouts with Tampa Bay last year.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.
