3 of top 8 rookies in rushing yards play for 49ers

The 49ers’ 2021 draft class hasn’t contributed yet in the way the team might’ve anticipated. However, while No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance and third-round pick Trey Sermon have been largely absent, and sixth-round selection Elijah Mitchell has been dealing with an injury, they all managed to land in the top eight among rookies in rushing yards through six weeks.

Perhaps most impressively, the 49ers were on a bye in Week 6 which gave other first-year players a full extra game to slide past the San Francisco rookies.

Of the 259 players selected in this year’s draft, 18 were running backs. There were also 10 quarterbacks taken. San Francisco was responsible for two of those RBs drafted and one of the quarterbacks.

Here’s what the top eight looks like:

RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position: Round 1, Pick 24

Stats: 102 carries, 388 yards, 2 touchdowns 3.8 yards per carry

RB Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position: Round 2, Pick 35

Stats: 69 carries, 320 yards, 1 touchdown, 4.6 yards per carry

RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position: Round 4, Pick 126

Stats: 72 carries, 281 yards, 1 touchdown, 3.9 yards per carry

RB Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position: Round 6, Pick 194

Stats: 45 carries, 189 yards, 1 touchdown, 4.2 yards per carry

RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears

Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Draft position: Round 6, Pick 217

Stats: 40 carries, 179 yards, 1 touchdown, 4.5 yards per carry

RB Michael Carter, New York Jets

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position: Round 4, Pick 107

Stats: 47 carries, 165 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3.5 yards per carry

RB Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Draft position: Round 3, Pick 88

Stats: 31 carries, 135 yards, 1 touchdown, 4.4 yards per carry

QB Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Chris Coduto-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position: Round 1, Pick 3

Stats: 27 carries, 133 yards, 1 touchdown, 4.9 yards per carry

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