With The First Pick
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NFL Draft: Five rookies who had quietly strong seasons in 2017

By Maxwell Ogden

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 14: Marcus Williams #43 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball after a interception against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 14: Marcus Williams #43 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball after a interception against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers

Drafted: Undrafted
Position: Running Back
Season Statistics: 16 games played, 105 attempts, 465 yards, 2 touchdowns, 22 first downs; 21 receptions, 180 yards, 1 touchdown, 9 first downs
Pro Football Focus Grade: 73.1

There’s a legitimate possibility that the San Francisco 49ers will lose running Carlos Hyde to free agency. San Francisco has an abundance of cap space, but it also has a franchise quarterback to re-sign and multiple holes to fill on both sides of the ball.

One of the players who seems to be making the decision to let Hyde walk possible is undrafted rookie turned intriguing success story Matt Breida.

Breida finished the 2017 regular season with 465 yards on the ground and another 180 as a receiver. He averaged a more than respectable 4.4 yards per carry, thus translating a productive Georgia Southern career into a strong start to his NFL tenure.

While the overall numbers may not necessarily compel you, it’s the final two weeks of the season that created the strongest reason for optimism.

Breida ran the ball 11 times for 74 yards and a touchdown during the 49ers’ riveting 44-33 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. He followed up by running the ball 12 times for 72 yards in Week 17, and added 32 yards as a receiver—giving him more than 100 yards from scrimmage.

Beyond the numbers, Breida seemed to be developing a great rapport with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo—a potential sign of things to come.

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