The Facts: The 49ers signed McKinnon to a big free-agent contract this week – four years for $30 million – after a season in which he averaged a ho-hum 3.8 yards a carry for the Vikings and scored three rushing touchdowns. The numbers, however, didn't interest Kyle Shanahan. Instead he immersed himself in McKinnon's game film, and in his words, got "lost" in what he saw. "There's so many things I liked about him, just visualizing how I would use him and the stuff that we would do," Shanahan said Thursday.

Diehards Line: McKinnon mostly served as Adrian Peterson's backup in Minnesota and started 13 games when Peterson was suspended in 2014 and injured in 2016. That offense was geared toward Peterson's hard-charging, between-the-tackles running style. Shanahan said McKinnon, 25, has the toughness to be a starting running back -- "This guy is violent, doesn't turn anything down," he said -- but his role will be different with the 49ers. McKinnon, who played quarterback, tailback and some wide receiver at Georgia Southern, had 142 catches in four seasons with the Vikings, and Shanahan said there are times when he will line up as a wideout for San Francisco. McKinnon said he felt that the 49ers offense was a natural fit and he noted what similarly skilled runners like Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman were able to accomplish under Shanahan in Atlanta. “I see myself doing those kinds of things," he said. "For me, I feel like the scheme is right. The fit was just perfect for me. I feel like I can’t be in a better situation as a player.” That would be just fine with fantasy owners.