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The San Francisco 49ers have a lot of running backs currently on their roster heading into offseason workouts.
Including 2025 third-rounder Kaelon Black, the 49ers have six running backs competing for an undetermined number of spots in 2026. Black joined Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick. McCaffrey and Black are likely locks to make the team, but some recent remarks from Kyle Shanahan suggest James is a favorite to be the RB2.
Those comments were made before the draft, though. Black may be in the mix to be McCaffrey's direct backup now, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. His addition could spell the end of Guerendo in San Francisco, too.
"[Kaelon Black] will compete with James for the No. 2 role," Tafur wrote. "Guerendo, drafted in the fourth round just two years ago, seems like he is buried and will be looking for a new team."
This is a blunt assessment of the 49ers' running back situation, but likely not far off base.
Shanahan said he had Black ranked as their No. 2 running back in the 2026 class, so it stands to reason they'd want him to see some snaps in 2026 and spell McCaffrey. James, who was a fifth-rounder in 2025, didn't see much work this past season because of his early-season injury and getting buried on the depth chart. Now it looks like he'll have to battle the rookie for a role. Guerendo didn't record any carries in 2025 after rushing 84 times for 420 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL insider backs prediction for 49ers RB depth chart
Continue reading...
Including 2025 third-rounder Kaelon Black, the 49ers have six running backs competing for an undetermined number of spots in 2026. Black joined Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick. McCaffrey and Black are likely locks to make the team, but some recent remarks from Kyle Shanahan suggest James is a favorite to be the RB2.
Those comments were made before the draft, though. Black may be in the mix to be McCaffrey's direct backup now, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. His addition could spell the end of Guerendo in San Francisco, too.
"[Kaelon Black] will compete with James for the No. 2 role," Tafur wrote. "Guerendo, drafted in the fourth round just two years ago, seems like he is buried and will be looking for a new team."
This is a blunt assessment of the 49ers' running back situation, but likely not far off base.
Shanahan said he had Black ranked as their No. 2 running back in the 2026 class, so it stands to reason they'd want him to see some snaps in 2026 and spell McCaffrey. James, who was a fifth-rounder in 2025, didn't see much work this past season because of his early-season injury and getting buried on the depth chart. Now it looks like he'll have to battle the rookie for a role. Guerendo didn't record any carries in 2025 after rushing 84 times for 420 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL insider backs prediction for 49ers RB depth chart
Continue reading...
