Marcus Lattimore

Ex-NFL RB Marcus Lattimore was stunned the 49ers selected him as a fourth-round draft pick. He spoke about it and said, "I mean, why would you take a running back with two horrible knee injuries?" He elaborated, "I did pretty good, I played good in college, but if I'm a GM I don't think I would do it."

Fantasy Impact

Lattimore spent his two-year career buried on the depth chart and never played a down in the NFL, which is even a substantial bust on a fourth-round pick. He currently works for the University of South Carolina as a student ambassador.

When asked about Head Coach Jim Harbaugh on CBS radio's "We Need to Talk", the recently retired former 49er Marcus Lattimore defended his former coach stating "It's more the outside people, stirring things up.....the vibe we got in the locker room, the players love him. We love everything he [does], the way he structures our practice, we're always competing. One day he may give us the day off, and that doesn't happen a lot.

Fantasy Impact

Retired and not seeking employment from his former organization, the former Gamecock has no incentive to be anything but honest in his opinions of his ex-employer, and it seems as if that the embattled coach Harbaugh still has control of the 49er locker-room. Lattimore's candid statements show that national reports of internal dysfunction are overblown at best and erroneous at worst. While the story is still developing, look for the 49ers to circle the wagons and rebound against the reeling Raiders.

Marcus informed the 49ers Wednesday, that he intends to retire. “After prayer and careful consideration, I have decided it’s time to end my professional football career,” said Lattimore. “I have given my heart and soul to the game that I love, and it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life and help others. I have given every ounce of my energy toward making a full recovery from my knee injury, and I have made a lot of progress. Unfortunately, getting my knee fully back to the level the NFL demands has proven to be insurmountable."

Fantasy Impact

Even though he hasn't done anything on the field for the 49ers, I feel it is a huge loss for them as well as the NFL. He seemed like a great young man and a great teammate. The 49ers are very thin at running back, and may look to sign a free agent.

Marcus Lattimore practiced this week for the first time since injuring his knee almost two years ago. He reportedly had some soreness in his surgically repaired knee on Friday and stayed in the trainer's room. It now looks as if Lattimore is weighing all his options, and retirement is one of them.

Fantasy Impact

This would've been a great comeback story for a great athlete and person. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we'll ever see Lattimore back to his old self, if at all, on the NFL field.

Coach Harbaugh announced that Marcus Lattimore will make his season debut on the practice field this Wednesday. The 49ers have those 3 weeks to activate Lattimore to the roster.

Fantasy Impact

Let's say Lattimore is activated, he is 3rd on the depth chart and the two running backs in front of him aren't lighting up the scoreboards. There is no reason to add Lattimore, even in the deepest of leagues.