No player in the NFL carried a bigger workload last year than 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. After appearing in only four games in 2024, the first-team All-Pro weapon led the NFL in touches by a wide margin. San Francisco saw backup running back Brian Robinson depart for Atlanta in free agency, and it will now look to the youngest rushers on the roster to spell McCaffrey.
Despite McCaffrey’s league-leading usage, Robinson was effective with limited touches, rushing for 400 yards on 92 carries. No other running backs on the 49ers’ roster logged a carry until then-rookie Jordan James rushed six times in the second half of the team’s blowout playoff loss to the Seahawks.
While the changing makeup of the room could alter usage moving forward, it’s clear McCaffrey’s presence will mean limited opportunities for any other running backs on the roster. That makes the RB2 role a crucial one on the 49ers’ offense, and according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the two players competing for the job are James and rookie third-round pick Kaelon Black.
Third-year rusher Isaac Guerendo could have been the frontrunner for the job holding off two challengers, considering the work he put on the field two years ago in his rookie season. After injuries to McCaffrey and then-RB2 Jordan Mason, Guerendo was tasked with some extended work in three starts late into the year. For the season, he logged 420 yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries, good for 5.0 yards per carry.
Unfortunately, the injury bug has plagued him over the past year. A shoulder issue in last year’s preseason led to Robinson’s addition to the team, and even before Guerendo suffered a pectoral tear in May, it was believed he was facing an uphill battle to remain on the roster in Year 3. Guerendo is aiming to get cleared by the end of training camp, but if the battle between James and Black bears fruit, Guerendo may not get much of a chance to make his case.
Now based on the fact that James’ only rookie touches came in the garbage time of last season, it might be presumed that he isn’t starting from a great spot to fend off Black. However, in addition to the year of experience with the team that James has under his belt, Barrows reported that the way James practiced in the second half of the year caught the eye of the 49ers’ “notoriously hard-to-please offensive coaches.” James is also a bit fresher than Black. Despite coming into the league a year earlier, James is two and a half years younger than Black.
This is because Black spent six years in school at the collegiate level, thanks to his redshirt and an additional year of eligibility granted to student athlete’s in school for the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Starting his education at James Madison, Black earned a starting role in his fourth year with the team. He transferred the next year to join the Hoosiers and performed only a minor role in his first season at Indiana before exploding in a two-man attack with Roman Hemby last year.
While Hemby served as the starter for the 2025 College Football Playoff champions, Black was an explosive thunder following Hemby’s lighting. Hemby out-carried Black 230 to 186, but their rushing yards comparison (1,120 to 1,040) was much closer. Black bested Hemby in yards per carry (5.6 to 4.9) and touchdowns (10 to 7). While the general pre-draft consensus had Black near the back of the top 10 prospects at his position, projecting him to go mid-Day 3, Barrows reported that San Francisco ranked Black as the No. 2 rusher, behind only third overall pick Jeremiyah Love.
Knowing how well Black works in a complimentary role, he may be the perfect option to pair with with McCaffrey, but James experience with the staff and system should give him a bit of a leg up to start. Though McCaffrey is sure to shoulder most of the offensive workload in 2026, an effective RB2 will be needed to keep him fresh, and the first- and second-year rushers will be vying for that honor.
