There hasn’t been a more surefire bet on the San Francisco 49ers roster than Christian McCaffrey getting a ton of touches whenever he’s on the field. Remedying their reliance on the 30-year-old running back will be a key for the 49ers’ offense this season, but the group behind McCaffrey on the offseason roster contains more questions than answers.
The 49ers backup RB group and which players, if any, separate themselves as a potential touch-stealing RB2 will be a major story line throughout training camp.
McCaffrey led the NFL in touches last season for a third time. The first time he did it he played three games the following year. The next time he did it he played in five games. Not only does San Francisco need to find an adequate backup who can shoulder some of the load for McCaffrey, they may also need to find a player capable of stepping into a starting role if McCaffrey misses time.
The depth chart behind McCaffrey is going to be a vital piece of the 49ers’ roster if they want to be a viable Super Bowl contender late into the season.
Let’s dive into the 49ers’ RB room as our training camp previews continue:
Who’s on the 49ers’ roster at RB?
Are there any updates on the RB depth chart?
McCaffrey will remain atop the depth chart, but what happens behind him remains to be seen after Brian Robinson joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. James was the No. 3 RB last year, but Black was a third-round pick in this year’s draft and figures to push for snaps in his first season. Guerendo, a 2024 fourth-round pick, will also be in the mix as long as he stays healthy. Although his inability to get on the field last year doesn’t bode well for his future on San Francisco’s roster.
What are the position battles?
It’s a free-for-all for roster spots behind McCaffrey. The 49ers generally have a starter, backup and special teams contributor active on game days. That ability to contribute on special teams may wind up ultimately deciding which RBs stick on the back of the roster.
What’s the position’s biggest question mark?
It’s the backup RB situation. The 49ers have to figure out a way to give McCaffrey a break if they want him to maintain maximum effectiveness into January, but they also have to figure out a way to maintain an effective all-around offense when he’s not on the field. That’s where James, Black and Guerendo come in. Whichever one from that group can establish himself as a reliable RB2 will quickly become one of the 49ers’ biggest keys to success this season.
How many RBs will the 49ers keep?
San Francisco pretty reliably keeps four RBs and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. This year it’s easy to see them holding on to four with McCaffrey, Black, James and Guerendo with one of the three listed as a healthy scratch on gamedays. Depending on how camp goes for the latter three on that list we could see a player like Taylor, who has vast special teams experience, sneak in over someone like Guerendo if Guerendo doesn’t carve out a role on offense.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Key 49ers position group starts training camp with huge question marks
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
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By Kyle Madson, Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
