49ers evaluate RB depth to ease Christian McCaffrey’s 2026 workload

The San Francisco 49ers are reassessing their running back depth this offseason to identify a dependable No. 2 behind Christian McCaffrey for the 2026 NFL campaign. The goal is to lower the star back’s workload after he led the league with 413 touches in 2025. The review also follows a down year on the ground that marked the lowest rushing efficiency of the Kyle Shanahan era. Team decision-makers want a steadier rotation that keeps the offense on schedule when McCaffrey rests.

San Francisco averaged 3.8 yards per carry and 106.9 rushing yards per game in 2025, with 2.04 yards before contact per attempt. Those figures were the worst of Shanahan’s tenure in key categories and underscored the need for more consistent blocking, sharper reads and a reliable complement to McCaffrey. The 49ers also produced 46 runs of 10-plus yards with a long of 41, numbers the staff believes can improve through personnel competition and schematic refinement.

Urgency rose after veteran Brian Robinson Jr. departed in free agency for the Atlanta Falcons, removing an experienced option from the depth chart. The competition for the RB2 role now runs through Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo and third-round rookie Kaelon Black. Coaches have emphasized that reliability, not just explosiveness, will drive decisions through the offseason program, training camp and the preseason slate.

Beyond protecting McCaffrey from overuse, the staff is focused on avoiding predictable tendencies when rotating backs. The aim is to field a second running back who can hold up in pass protection, contribute as a receiver and run decisively within the system, allowing McCaffrey to come off the field without sacrificing efficiency or telegraphing play calls.

Depth chart after Robinson’s exit

Jordan James’ late-season audition

James, a 2025 fifth-round pick, closed his rookie year with a brief playoff cameo that produced 28 yards on six carries, offering a small but encouraging sample. Earlier injuries limited his availability, but he enters the summer with momentum and a chance to seize the role if he stacks consistent practices. A clean camp could position him as the early favorite for the RB2 job.

Isaac Guerendo’s route back

Guerendo flashed elite speed in 2024 with 420 rushing yards and four touchdowns at 5.0 yards per attempt. In 2025, injuries and ball-security concerns resurfaced, and he went without a touch over the final five games, leaving his path to a significant role uncertain. Special teams value, a healthy offseason and a clean preseason could be pivotal to re-establish trust.

Rookie Kaelon Black’s learning curve

Black, drafted in the third round at No. 90, led the College Football Playoff in both rushing yards (241) and touchdowns (three) last season. His next step is translating that burst into NFL reliability, particularly in pass protection and receiving, to push for early rotational snaps despite not starting a game in college last year.

Coaches’ criteria and workload management

Reliability over explosiveness

San Francisco’s staff has signaled that the No. 2 role will be earned through reliability as much as burst. They are seeking a back who can execute protections, catch the ball cleanly and stay on schedule in the zone and gap concepts. That profile is designed to buy McCaffrey rest without tipping the offense’s intentions or sacrificing efficiency.

Chasing bigger gains on the ground

Explosive runs are another key barometer. The 49ers posted 46 runs of 10-plus yards in 2025 with a long of 41, figures they believe can rise through sharper scheming, better perimeter blocking and more consistent reads from the backs. A sturdier rotation would help maintain pace late in games and reduce wear over a long season.

What to watch in camp

Evaluation points

The competition among James, Guerendo and Black is set to intensify through OTAs, training camp and the preseason. Coaches will track ball security, blitz pickup and the ability to create yards before and after contact within the system. Special teams contributions could break ties at the back end of the depth chart if roles tighten.

Implications for 2026 balance

The primary objective is to identify a back who can handle a steady series-by-series workload. If one contender seizes the RB2 job, the 49ers can better manage McCaffrey’s snaps and revive a ground game that lagged in 2025. If not, the offense risks leaning too heavily on its star again as San Francisco chases balance in 2026.