Rookie running back Matt Breida didn’t take long to impress the 49ers coaching staff. The undrafted free agent began his ascension during OTAs in June, flashing breakaway speed and surprising toughness for his 190-pound frame.

And his play throughout training camp and the preseason vaulted him to second on the depth chart behind incumbent starter Carlos Hyde, who expects a prominent role for his new backup.

“He’s going to be used just as much as I’m be used. So it’ll be good for us. We keep each other fresh and (we’ll) tear this season up,” Hyde said.

The 49ers relied heavily on Hyde during the last two seasons as the featured runner in former coordinator Geep Chryst and Chip Kelly’s offense. But Hyde’s usage could change this season with new coach Kyle Shanahan dialing up plays.

Shanahan orchestrating the Falcons’ attack last season rotated Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, who averaged 14 and nine carries per game, respectively. Hyde during his last two seasons as the 49ers’ starter averaged nearly 17, but dealt with foot and shoulder injuries that hampered his production. He’s missed three games last season after sitting out the final nine in 2015.

Adding Breida should give San Francisco a new speed dynamic to compliment Hyde’s physical style between the tackles. Shanahan’s run-first offense will rely heavily on play action to set up aggressive throws deep down field for quarterback Brian Hoyer.

“Matt is going to be a big part of this offense. He has a lot of speed and a lot of talent the coaching staff can utilize,” Hyde said. “We go together good, like a thunder and lightning combo.”

Breida jumped on the radar during his first two seasons at Georgia Southern by combining for 3,094 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns. But a coaching change for 2016 played a role in Breida’s average per carry dropping from 7.9 to 3.8. He wound up going undrafted after not getting an invite to the scouting combine.

But Breida impressed at his pro day, running an unofficial time of 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, jumping 42 inches in the vertical and bench pressing 225 pounds 23 times.

Breida initially seemed like a long shot to make the roster. The 49ers had Hyde and invested a fourth-round pick in Utah’s Joe Williams, whom Shanahan made a strong case for after general manager John Lynch removed him from the draft board after he quit football early last season.

Williams wound up going on injured reserve with an ankle injury suffered late in preseason. And the 49ers decided Breida was worth keeping over veteran free agent addition Tim Hightower, who had just 20 yards on 11 preseason carries.

San Francisco also traded for former Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs, who Breida passed over quickly during his ascension up the depth chart. The three running backs on the 53-man roster are Hyde, Breida and journeyman Raheem Mostert, who’s expected to have a key role on special teams.