Brian

Hill

Hill is familiar with the playbook after spending the final two months of the 2021 season in San Francisco. He has since had stints in the XFL and CFL. With Jeremy McNichols nursing an injury from the 49ers’ second preseason game, Hill will likely serve as the team’s third active running back for their final preseason game against the Chargers.

With Elijah Mitchell (knee, concussion), Trey Sermon (ankle), Jeff Wilson (knee), and Trenton Cannon (concussion) all ailing, the 49ers need a warm body behind JaMycal Hasty. Hill, 26, has been bouncing around practice squads and the workout circuit all year.

Cleveland will have D’Ernest Johnson, FBs Andy Janovich and Johnny Stanton, and Hill available in their backfield to replace Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton, and John Kelly, the latter three who landed on the team’s COVID list Tuesday afternoon. Johnson remains a touch-based RB1 against New England.

Hill immediately becomes Cleveland’s No. 2 running back upon signing with the organization since Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton, and John Kelly all tested positive for COVID on Tuesday. Hill will be promoted to the active roster behind D’Ernest Johnson if all three players are ruled out for Week 10.

Chicago also worked out Brian Hill and Wendell Smallwood. This doesn’t impact David Montgomery or Damien Williams much, but it doesn’t bode well for Tarik Cohen’s prospects of playing anytime soon if they sign one of these backs. Cohen has struggled to return from an ACL injury suffered in 2020.

Hill will be released with an injury settlement once healthy. Hill was injured in the Titans’ final preseason game but details on the injury are unknown. He was competing with Darrynton Evans for RB2 work in Tennessee. With Hill out of the picture, Evans should be locked into that role, making him a high-upside stash for the unlikely scenario that Derrick Henry gets hurt. Evans will also play on some third downs as Henry is primarily a threat on the ground.

Hill is coming off a career year in Atlanta. With Todd Gurley eroding in real time, Hill was given 100 carries on the year and ran for 465 yards plus a lone touchdown. He also posted 25 receptions for 199 yards despite starting just one game. Hill has the potential to be Derrick Henry’s direct backup if he can surpass former third-round pick Darrynton Evans. As a rookie, Evans only appeared in five games and saw just 14 carries. Hill is now worth a shot in the final rounds of deep leagues based on his chance at gaining a massive role if anything were to happen to Henry. He’ll spend most of his time on the bench as long as Henry is healthy, though.

Hill hasn’t seen double-digit carries in a game since Week 12 and was seemingly passed up on the depth chart by Ito Smith until Week 17. Smith only logged three carries but was also dealing with a rib injury heading into the game. Most of Hill’s yardage came on a 62-yard carry in the fourth quarter. Hill also added 42 yards on three receptions. He finished the 2020 season with 100 carries for 465 yards on the ground, adding 25 catches for 199 receiving yards. Hill only scored once. The Falcons do not have Hill under contract for next year but he played well as Todd Gurley’s backup for much of the year. Interim coach Raheem Morris noted that Smith was the lead-runner toward the end of the season so Atlanta may be comfortable letting Hill walk. He could land in a spot that warrants some fantasy consideration in 2021 but the most likely outcome is that he continues to be nothing more than a strict backup wherever he signs.

Ito Smith led the Atlanta backfield against the Bolts, taking a team-high 11 carries and adding a catch. Todd Gurley saw six totes and two receptions against LA. It’s abundantly clear Smith is the favored back right now, meaning Hill should be dropped in all leagues.

Limited practices late in the week usually mean Gurley will be a go for Sunday. Without Julio Jones (hamstring) in the lineup, every Falcon besides Calvin Ridley is a low-floor option. Gurley is a touchdown dependent RB3 this week against LA. His presence makes Brian Hill and Ito Smith unplayable in all formats.