Matt Breida

Matt Breida

29-Year-Old Running BackRB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Breida spent the last two seasons with the Giants, and while he appeared in every game for New York, he failed to make much of an impact with the ball in his hands. The 29-year-old averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and scored only one rushing touchdown in each campaign while making modest contributions as a receiver. While he posted some strong numbers with San Francisco earlier in his career, he's never been able to to repeat them outside of Kyle Shanahan's scheme. A free agent, Breida could provide some experienced depth for a new team in 2024. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Released by the 49ers in August of 2024.
Gets let go
RBFree Agent
August 26, 2024
Breida was released by the 49ers on Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Breida was working to make the most of a reunion with San Francisco, but he'll unfortunately fall short of making their 53-man roster. The veteran running back spent the first three seasons of his career with the franchise, but he's spent time with the Dolphins, Bills and Giants since that point.
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2023 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Matt Breida lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2024 Matt Breida Split Stats
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matt Breida See More
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45 days ago
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56 days ago
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237 days ago
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Backfield Breakdown: 2023 RB Season Review & 2024 PPR Rankings
244 days ago
Breece Hall gets the No. 2 spot in Jerry Donabedian's initial 2024 PPR rankings for RBs after leading the position with 95 targets this past season.
Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes, Air Yards & Personnel from Week 18
269 days ago
Incentives and milestones had a big impact on Week 18 fantasy scoring and helped drive a throwback week for some of the league's older running backs.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Breida served as the Giants' clear-cut No. 2 running back last season, but that didn't translate into much output with Saquon Barkley functioning as a workhorse within the team's offense. Breida finished the campaign with 54 carries for 220 yards, with both marks representing the second-lowest totals of his six-year career. The veteran saw his most work as a pass catcher since 2019 as a 49er, tallying 20 catches for 118 yards, and his overall contributions led New York to re-sign him this offseason. The Giants also selected running back Eric Gray in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, but the rookie isn't expected to usurp Breida on the depth chart. As long as Barkley remains healthy, though, Breida likely will play a nominal role again.
After a few good seasons in San Francisco to begin his career, Breida has become a journeyman, spending 2020 in Miami before landing with Buffalo in 2021. The speedy Georgia Southern product saw only 12 offensive snaps through the first nine weeks last year before getting a little work in the middle of the season, amassing 172 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns over a three-game stretch. Breida faded from relevance again after that, as Devin Singletary seized the lead role in the Bills backfield, but it was enough to earn Breida a modest one-year contract with the Giants after they released Devontae Booker. New York could be a good spot for Breida to rehabilitate his value and earn a slightly larger deal next offseason, considering Saquon Barkley looked like a shell of his old self last year while 2021 sixth-round pick Gary Brightwell mostly played special teams.
Breida is probably looking at the No. 3 running back role on a deep Bills team, but it's not like Devin Singletary or Zack Moss wowed last season, so the speedy veteran will certainly get his share of chances after running for 254 yards and a 4.3 average on 59 carries with the Dolphins last season. Assuming Breida does make the final roster, the Buffalo running back group is starting to look like a true committee heading into the 2021 campaign. Breida's wheels could help him emerge as a change-of-pace option in that context.
For the second consecutive season, Breida topped 5.0 yards per carry as part of the 49ers' dynamic running attack while also having trouble staying healthy, missing three midseason games with an ankle injury. Once Breida returned, Raheem Mostert had usurped his spot in the pecking order, and Breida failed to get more than 12 snaps in a game from Week 14 through the Super Bowl. Breida received a second-round restricted free-agent tender early in the offseason, but he was then traded to Miami for a fifth-round pick on Day 3 of the draft. Heading into his fourth season, the 25-year-old remains explosive, having recorded the top speed of any ballcarrier in 2019 when he hit 22.3 mph on an 83-yard touchdown run in Week 5. His smaller frame at 5-10, 190, and durability issues likely will limit his workload with his new team, and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's scheme will be a downgrade from Kyle Shanahan's, but with Jordan Howard around to handle the heavy lifting between the tackles, Breida should still do some damage as the lightning to Howard's thunder. The Dolphins did trade for Lynn Bowden just prior to the regular season, and the rookie third-round pick possesses traits as a gadget player and potential change-of-pace option, but Breida's job should be his to lose.
The backfield's getting crowded in San Francisco. Tevin Coleman joined the 49ers this offseason from the Falcons, and Jerick McKinnon should be recovered from the torn ACL that wiped out his 2018, but Breida could still see a sizable role thanks to the one trait he possesses that Kyle Shanahan prizes above all others - blazing speed. The third-year back's 22.09 mph top speed on a touchdown run in Week 12 was the fastest recorded in the league last year, and his 5.3 YPC and 8.4 YPT placed him among the league leaders at running back. The 49ers' decision to load up on backfield talent might end up being a necessary measure, as McKinnon has dealt with some hiccups late in the rehab process, leaving him as a question mark for the upcoming season. At 5-10, 190, Breida isn't built to take frequent pounding between the tackles, but as long as the scheme finds ways to get the ball in his hands in space, he shouldn't need a lot of touches to rack up useful production.
An undrafted rookie free agent last year, Breida fell into the No. 2 spot on the 49ers' depth chart early last season and held his own. Checking in at 5-10, 190, the scatback ran a blistering 4.37 40-yard dash at his pro day, and while his speed didn't translate into huge gains as a rookie - he managed only two runs of 20 yards or more on 105 carries - he did show the toughness to run between the tackles on occasion while posting 4.4 YPC. With Jerick McKinnon out for the season, opportunity knocks for both Breida and Alfred Morris. Look for the 49ers to ride the hot hand out of the gate, but McKinnon's injury transforms Breida from a late-round flyer to a vital part of an offense with some upside.
The undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern was picked up to provide depth at the running back position for the 49ers. Standing at just 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, what Breida lacks in size he makes up for in the speed department (4.37 40 time during his pro day). He emerged as a surprise favorite for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart late in the preseason, with his spot seemingly confirmed when the Niners cut Tim Hightower and placed Joe Williams on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Breida profiles as Carlos Hyde's top backup -- a role that could potentially include regular passing-down snaps.
More Fantasy News
Back in San Francisco
RBSan Francisco 49ers
August 5, 2024
Brieda has agreed to a deal with the 49ers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
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Struggles in reserve role
RBNew York Giants
January 10, 2024
Breida went without a carry while playing five snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Eagles.
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Plays five offensive snaps Monday
RBNew York Giants
December 26, 2023
Breida caught his only target for three yards in Monday's Week 16 loss to Philadelphia. He did not log any rush attempts.
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Cleared to play against Philly
RBNew York Giants
December 23, 2023
Breida (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Monday's game against the Eagles, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
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Considered limited Friday
RBNew York Giants
Hamstring
December 22, 2023
Breida (hamstring) was considered a limited participant on the Giants' estimated injury report Friday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could rejoin Giants
RBFree Agent
June 17, 2024
Breida might be re-signed by the Giants ahead of training camp, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The team only has five running backs on the roster at the moment, which likely isn't enough to get through training camp. Breida has spent the last two seasons with New York and wouldn't have a learning curve in picking up coach Brian Daboll's system, making him an obvious candidate to supply depth. Breida would be a long shot to crack the 53-man roster in Week 1 ahead of Devin Singletary, Eric Gray or Tyrone Tracy, however.
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