Pierre Thomas to 49ers: Updated Fantasy Advice for RB After Signing

The San Francisco 49ers, beset by a number of injuries at the running back position, signed veteran Pierre Thomas on Tuesday, according to the player's agent, Lamont Smith.  

But should fantasy owners care?

Well, maybe. Starting running back Carlos Hyde has been dealing with a foot injury all season that could continue to sideline him, Reggie Bush was potentially lost for the season due to a knee injury, and backup Mike Davis suffered a hand injury this past week as well, leaving the team's backfield in disarray, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. 

If Hyde, the team's starting running back, remains sidelined for the foreseeable future, Thomas is absolutely worth owning and potentially even flexing for fantasy owners. He'll certainly be the most appealing option in a backfield that, at the moment, includes recently signed veteran Shaun Draughn, per 49ers.com, and Kendall Gaskins, who was promoted from the team's practice squad this past week.

Matthew Berry of ESPN.com sees a fit for Thomas in San Francisco:

Still, fantasy owners shouldn't assume they are getting a weekly, guaranteed starter in Thomas. He was out of the league for a reason, and the 49ers currently rank 18th in rushing yards per game and 32nd in yards per contest. Add in the fact that starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been benched, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, and Thomas is walking into an offense that is an absolute mess. 

Should he be owned in all formats? Yes. 

Should he be started on a weekly basis? Nope.

If Hyde is healthy, Thomas has very limited fantasy value, and even if Hyde remains sidelined, it's unlikely Thomas will ever be anything more than a flex consideration depending on the matchup. Pick him up, but temper your expectations.