The 49ers released running backs Matt Breida and Ke'Shawn Vaughn on Monday. Both players had signed with the team this offseason and were fighting for a roster spot. Breida was signed following the injury to Christian McCaffrey (calf) earlier this preseason. With McCaffrey returning to individual drills Monday, he seems to be on his way back toward playing healthy. Breida and Vaughn will look to sign with a practice squad as the roster cuts continue throughout this week.
Aug 26, 2024 7:07 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running backs Matt Breida and Cody Schrader each handled seven carries in the team's 16-10 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints in Santa Clara on Sunday night. Breida, who returns to San Francisco after spending four years elsewhere, made more of his opportunity, taking his carries for 24 yards and catching both of his two targets for 25 yards. With his own seven carries, the undrafted rookie Schrader managed just 15 yards and caught one of three targets for five yards. San Francisco's running back room is banged up right now, and both players sit behind starter Christian McCaffrey as well as backups Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, and fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo. Neither player is likely to be fantasy-relevant in 2024. Breida would seem to have the inside track out of the two to make the team if the injury problems persist and Schrader is only a fringe deep-dynasty stash.
Aug 19, 2024 1:30 AM EST
Free-agent running back signed an undisclosed deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to a source. The eight-year NFL veteran rushed for 1,902 yards with the 49ers from 2017 to 2019 in his first three years in the league after he went undrafted out of Georgia Southern. After his time in the Bay Area, Breida hopped around the last four years with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. He spent the last two years with the G-Men as backfield depth, carrying the ball 109 times for 371 yards and two touchdowns and adding 37 receptions for 206 yards through the air in 34 games (five starts). The 29-year-old will essentially provide the 49ers with backfield depth behind Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell with rookie Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) out multiple weeks in camp. The Niners also have Jordan Mason, Patrick Taylor and Cody Schrader, so Breida is no lock by any means to make the Week 1 roster.
Aug 5, 2024 9:42 PM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury in Week 16 and was listed as limited on the team's first practice report on Thursday. The good news is Breida has an extra day to recover this week with the G-Men not playing until Christmas Day against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, but his status bears watching as the backup to starting RB Saquon Barkley. The 28-year-old should be available in Week 16, barring a setback the next couple of days. Breida doesn't have any standalone fantasy value with limited volume behind a bell-cow back in an offense that doesn't put up many points. He has only 55 rushing attempts all year for 151 yards (2.75 yards per carry) and one touchdown in 14 total contests. If Breida is limited or out on Monday, rookie Eric Gray would be Barkley's direct backup.
Dec 22, 2023 1:40 AM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida is still the immediate backup for starter Saquon Barkley but remains off of fantasy radars otherwise. The veteran has logged a total of 10 touches over the last four games, averaging just slightly over 20 percent of the snaps. At this time of the season, however, it can benefit fantasy managers to keep the backup of their star running back on their roster. Bench depth isn't as much of a priority as the playoffs arrive. Breida still fits that bill, but there's no reason for him to be anywhere near starting lineups in Week 14 against the Packers.
Dec 9, 2023 11:12 AM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida has been relegated entirely to spelling starter Saquon Barkley whenever the latter needs a break. There are no plays or set packages lined up for the veteran. At this point in the season, Breida is simply insurance for Barkley managers in case of an injury. That's the only reason that the 28-year-old should be rostered, but that's even a shaky excuse. Barkley is the only Giant worth starting in Week 10 and that's on talent alone. The offense has been awful and will likely only get worse with undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy Devito under center.
Nov 10, 2023 5:23 PM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida remains in a reserve role for the team as they head west for their tilt against Las Vegas in Week 9. Since the return of starter Saquon Barkley, Breida is averaging just four carries per game. The veteran is simply an insurance player for Barkley managers at this point. The Las Vegas Raiders' defense allows 140 rushing yards per game, meaning Barkley will be busy early and often. Breida will only spell the starter whenever he needs a rest.
Nov 4, 2023 10:30 AM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida rushed the ball five times for 13 yards and added one catch for four yards in the team's 13-10 overtime loss to the New York Jets. Breida actually tied for the team lead in receiving yards with Darren Waller, who exited in the first half with a hamstring injury. The Giants only totaled seven receiving yards in the game, largely due to an injury to Tyrod Taylor (ribs). Breida remains nothing more than insurance for starter Saquon Barkley, who ran the ball 36 times against the Jets.
Oct 29, 2023 8:26 PM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida, as expected, saw his role dramatically decrease in the 14-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football with Saquon Barkley (ankle) making his return for the first time since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2. Breida finished the exciting game with four carries for 13 yards and failed to catch his only target in the passing game. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor had one more rushing attempt than Breida. The 28-year-old played just 18 of the team's 77 offensive snaps on the night after playing over half of the offensive snaps while Barkley was sidelined. Those that were rostering Breida while Barkley was hurt can now send him back to the waiver wire.
Oct 16, 2023 12:29 PM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida logged a third straight start in Week 5 in place of starter Saquon Barkley (ankle) but was out-touched by rookie Eric Gray on Sunday. Breida ultimately ran the ball nine times for 21 yards and added one catch for three yards in the team's 31-16 loss to the Dolphins. Gray rushed the ball on 12 occasions. The Giants' offense was still unable to find any traction, even against a below-average Miami defense. New York's only touchdown came on an interception just before halftime. Barkley is getting closer to returning from his ankle ailment, which will relegate Breida to backup duty.
Oct 8, 2023 9:07 PM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida rushed the ball 14 times for 30 yards but turned five receptions into 48 more yards in the team's 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. His highlight of the night (which was also the Giants' longest play of the game) came on a 22-yard catch when quarterback Daniel Jones scrambled out of the pocket and found the running back jetting down the field. This could be the curtain call for Breida, who was filling in for starter Saquon Barkley (ankle). Barkley is aiming to return for the Giants' Week 5 matchup against Miami. If he doesn't, Breida will be serviceable as a flex option for fantasy football managers.
Oct 3, 2023 12:17 AM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida scored a touchdown on limited touches in the team's 30-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The veteran got the starting nod with star Saquon Barkley (ankle) sitting out. Breida only had four carries and three catches for 18 total yards but the entire Giants team only had 11 carries on the night. He salvaged his fantasy performance with the Giants' only touchdown, which came early in the third quarter. Barkley is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and could miss even more time. Breida is worth a spot on your roster until Barkley returns.
Sep 22, 2023 9:12 AM EST
With New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) sidelined for Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers and possibly longer, expect Matt Breida to serve as the No. 1 back. Breida is a reliable veteran, but he has had more than 10 carries in a game only once since 2019, and The Athletic's Dan Duggan also writes that the Giants figure to use a committee approach to replace Barkley. Gary Brightwell has been the No. 3 back the first two games and has performed well in limited opportunities. Rookie Eric Gray hasn't played an offensive snap yet, but the Giants could get him some touches in Barkley's absence. The fifth-rounder's shaky pass protection in the preseason could prevent the coaches from trusting him. Breida is your best bet in fantasy lineups, but don't expect much against one of the best defenses in the league in Week 3.
Sep 21, 2023 10:57 AM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida is in line to receive the bulk of the work out of the Giants' backfield in Week 3 with starter Saquon Barkley (ankle) sitting out. The matchup against San Francisco couldn't be much worse for the veteran. The 49ers have only allowed 130 rushing yards through two games and opponents have abandoned that aspect of their offense early. Former sixth-round pick Gary Brightwell and rookie fifth-round pick Eric Gray may also get some touches out of the backfield. View Breida as nothing more than a desperation play in Week 3.
Sep 20, 2023 8:00 PM EST
New York Giants running back Matt Breida might be the obvious choice to serve as the team's leading rusher if Saquon Barkley (ankle) misses any time after spraining his right ankle in the Week 2 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Breida has the experience and is the incumbent backup after serving in that role in 2022. He played two snaps in Arizona on Sunday when Barkley went out in the waning moments. The 28-year-old veteran has more than 2,800 rushing yards in his career, but the G-Men may not want to attack a tough San Francisco 49ers defensive front traditionally this Thursday night. Breida is also the best back in pass protection on the roster over rookie Eric Gray and Gary Brightwell. He also makes the most sense as a waiver-wire pickup this week if you are in need of RB depth, but fantasy managers may not want to spend much with the Giants not ruling Barkley out yet for Week 3.
Sep 19, 2023 3:27 PM EST
Breida will have additional competition for carries behind Saquon Barkley this season in rookie Eric Gray, whom the Giants took in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Apr 30, 2023 11:42 PM EST
Breida carried the ball four times for 28 yards and caught seven of eight targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles.
Jan 8, 2023 7:19 PM EST
Breida is expected to take on an increased workload in Sunday's game against the Eagles with top back Saquon Barkley (coach's decision) a healthy inactive for the contest.
Jan 8, 2023 12:19 PM EST
Breida carried the ball nine times for 59 yards and caught his lone target for eight yards in Sunday's Week 17 win over Indianapolis.
Jan 1, 2023 5:01 PM EST
Breida carried the football twice for nine yards and did not see any targets in Saturday's loss to Minnesota.
Dec 26, 2022 5:51 AM EST