In a league that’s increasingly pass-obsessed, the power-running 49ers aren’t the only exception.

Last year, the Niners ranked third in the NFL in rushing attempts (505), but had 41 fewer than the top-ranked Bills.

With that in mind, any guesses which team the 49ers beat out Friday to select Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde with the No. 57 pick in the second round?

Yes, the Bills were working the phones to trade up for Hyde, the third running back selected who was viewed by many analysts as the draft’s best at the position.

The Bills were presumably looking to deal their third-round pick, No. 73, as a part of a trade-up package. They were seeking a trade partner during the late-arriving run on running backs. After a running back wasn’t among the first 52 picks for the first time in league history, three (Washington’s Bishop Sankey, LSU’s Jeremy Hill and Hyde) were taken in a four-pick span.

“We knew we wanted to get up, back into the second round,” Bills director of player personnel Jim Monos said to the team’s Web site, via buffalorumblings.com. “We had the ammunition to do it. We kind of looked at each other and said ‘Hey, let’s make some calls, see if we can get back in this.’”

Instead, the 49ers beat them to the back. Hyde, a 6-foot, 235-pound bruiser, had 1,527 yards, averaged 7.3 yards a carry and scored 15 touchdowns last year. The 49ers landed him after trading two just-acquired picks – a second-rounder (No. 63) and fifth-rounder (No. 171) – to the Dolphins for No. 57.

“They got our guy,” said Monos. “You win some, you lose some.”

*****************************************************************

Perhaps the Bills hope a run-game emphasis will help them mirror the 49ers and Super-Bowl-champion Seahawks, who ranked second in rushing attempts (509) last year? The 49ers and Seahawks are the only teams to rank in the top four in rushing yards in each of the past two seasons.

After missing out on Hyde on Friday, Buffalo traded a fourth-round pick to the Eagles on Saturday for running back Bryce Brown. The Bills signed 49ers free-agent running back Anthony Dixon in March and still have C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, who combined for 1,813 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2013.

That said, the Bills, like the 49ers and Seahawks, aren’t ignoring the forward pass: After selecting quarterback E.J. Manuel in the first round last year, they traded up last week to select Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins No. 4 overall.

*****************************************************************

As last week’s late run on backs illustrates, the running back position has been increasingly devalued in the NFL. A back hasn’t been taken in the first round since 2012.

The 49ers and Seahawks, however, have invested in the position in the draft. The Niners have selected a running back in the past six drafts, while Seattle has drafted four running backs since 2012.

After landing Hyde late in the second round Friday, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was asked if the de-emphasis on the position has worked in the 49ers’ favor.

“Well, I can’t speak for the rest of the league,” Baalke said. “We just felt at that pick, it was great value. We like the player. We like him a lot and we see him as a strong fit into our system and the type of back that can come in here and give us great competition at that position.”

*****************************************************************

After attending the 49ers’ local pro day last month, UNLV wide receiver Jerry Rice Jr. landed with another Harbaugh.

The son of the 49ers legend has been invited to try out at the Ravens’ rookie minicamp, which starts Friday.

Rice Jr., who attended Menlo High in Atherton, is a former walk-on who had 20 career catches at UCLA and UNLV, where he transferred for his senior season.

“I’m going to enjoy the moment, but it’s a business trip,” Rice Jr. told the Baltimore Sun. “I’m coming in and treating like an interview process. I’ve got to make sure I play to the best of my abilities and submit a good resume. Hopefully, they like what they see, I want to make it very hard for them not to sign me.”