Sleeper Files: Matt Breida
by Tommy Harvey
Do you remember when Matt Breida was a thing in regards to fantasy football? After
Jerick McKinnon was injured in 2018, Breida became the go-to guy for the San
Francisco 49ers. In his second full season, he became a force with 814 rushing yards
and 5.3 yards per carry. Breida also proved to be competent as a receiver out of the
backfield with 27 receptions. He overtook Alfred Morris for the starting job and was
seemingly a fantasy gem heading into 2019.
In 2019, the 49ers signed free agent RB Tevin Coleman to work alongside Breida. With
McKinnon still struggling to return from a torn ACL, Coleman and Breida were supposed
to work similarly to how Coleman and Devonta Freeman worked in Atlanta. Breida
showed tremendous speed on an 83-yard TD run against Cleveland, as he reached an
unreal 22.3 MPH (the fastest in the NFL in 2018 according to NFL NextGen Stats).
However, he sustained an ankle injury around the midway point of the season.
As Raheem Mostert emerged as the top RB in San Francisco, Breida became less and
less of an option. After he came back from injury, he suffered a case of fumble-itis and
lost more and more carries. As the postseason neared, his role completely diminished.
Looking for a fresh start and another opportunity, Matt Breida was traded to the Miami
Dolphins for a 5th round pick this offseason. Looking for a homerun hitter with breakaway speed and
dynamic playmaking ability, the Dolphins are hoping Breida can return to his 2018 form.
Pairing with fellow free agent RB signing Jordan Howard, Breida can once again
become a relevant fantasy football player.
2020 Prediction and Fantasy Outlook:
120 carries 612 rushing yards 5.1 yards per carry 4 rushing TDs
38 receptions 342 yards receiving 2 receiving TDs
In 12 team leagues, I’ve been seeing Matt Breida going in the mid to late 8th round at
around RB40. I would seriously start thinking about taking him more in the early to mid
7th round as the overall RB29-30 (around the same ADP as New England RB Sony
Michel and Washington RB Derrius Guice). If healthy, Matt Breida would be a solid
RB3 or FLEX option.
You can follow me @DynastyProsTom
Tommy Harvey has been producing and editing content for Dynasty Pros since the beginning. He is an avid fantasy football player, having played in various leagues for 15 seasons. While he specializes in dynasty leagues, Tommy also enjoys Redraft, C2C, Devy, IDP, Best Ball, and DFS. He also Co-Hosts of The Dynasty Pros Fantasy Show.