San Francisco 49ers: Rookie RB JaMycal Hasty ready to explode?

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back JaMycal Hasty could quickly become a big-time playmaker.

The San Francisco 49ers have been hit hard with the injury bug this season and no position has been hit harder than running back. Both Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are out for the foreseeable future, and Tevin Coleman has not played since Week 2. As of right now, Jerick McKinnon and undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty are the only two healthy backs on the roster.

The 49ers have limited McKinnon’s touches through most of the season. While he could certainly take on an expanded workload with all of these injuries, it would be nice to see them give the rookie a larger opportunity.

Hasty has carried the ball 20 times for 103 yards this season and has looked impressive with the ball in his hands. Despite his undrafted status, Hasty was an interesting draft prospect who probably should have been taken at some point in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has shown his upside early in his career with the 49ers and could explode into a dynamic playmaker with an expanded opportunity.

What to like about Hasty’s game

Hasty shows an impressive combination of short-area quickness and contact balance that makes him incredibly difficult to bring down. He is extremely elusive in the open field and has impressive burst when he finds a crease.

While there is obvious upside in his game as a runner, do not sleep on Hasty’s ability to be an impact receiver out of the backfield. He showed soft hands and impressive route-running ability in college and was obviously a weapon after the catch. If the San Francisco 49ers want to get him out in space, creating touches for him as a receiver would certainly make sense.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is an offensive genius who does a great job of making the most out of his offensive playmakers. Hasty is a dynamic offensive weapon who could really become an impact player with more touches.

The San Francisco 49ers need someone to make an impact out of the backfield and Hasty stands out as the premier option right now. His combination of elusiveness and contact balance is impressive and Shanahan will undoubtedly put him in the best possible situation to succeed. Expect Hasty to get a heavy workload going forward. Can he make the most out of it? I sure like his chances.