The run has returned, at least after Week 1. And don’t worry, Christian McCaffrey fantasy owners, just sign junk-food connoisseur Jordan Mason. Regardless of who shares the backfield with Brock Purdy, the 49ers will continue to run the ball effectively.
And, according to numbers expert Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, the rest of the league also ran the ball effectively – and often – in Week 1.
Dubow notes the NFL averaged 121.5 yards per game, highest in an opening week since 2008 (121.8). Plus, the league’s 188.3 net yards passing per game were fewest in any week – not just Week 1 – in more than 16 years, since Week 15 of 2007 (187.1).
McCaffrey’s surprise replacement in San Francisco’s 32-19 win over the New York Jets Monday night, Mason recorded 147 yards and a touchdown. Mason, the spark the 49ers needed, signed as an undrafted rookie in 2022.
“I thought he ran like he always does,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan after the game. “When you get him the ball, he breaks tackles, usually gets more than we block for. When we had the good lanes, he always hit them and got a bunch. But JP was awesome today.”
Mason helped the Niners score on eight consecutive drives, ruining Aaron Rodgers’ return. Of course, the Shanahan Offense and its zone-blocking scheme, with either Kyle or Mike at the reins, has dominated the NFL since sixth-round pick Terrell Davis was padding his Hall of Fame resume.
After one week, the 49ers rank tied for third in the league with 180.0 rushing yards per game. The Shanahan offense actually owns three of the top four rushing marks after one week, including the Texans and Saints, where new coordinator Klint Kubiak was impressive in his debut. Houston (213.0), Baltimore (185.0) and New Orleans (180.0) join them on that early perch.
This week, San Francisco heads on the road in a short week, an intriguing matchup at Minnesota (1-0). on road against Vikings on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Minnesota’s Aaron Jones made an impressive debut with his new team, gaining 94 yards on a touchdown on 14 carries (6.7 avg.) against the Giants.
Minnesota’s run defense allowed only 74 yards to the Giants on Sunday, but the Vikings led for more than 52 minutes and New York ran just 21 times.
Go figure, for the first time in league history, teams drafted six quarterbacks over the first 12 selections. Three of them started and only one, Caleb Williams, walked away victorious. And Williams certainly didn’t win by passing.