An Incoming Breakout May Await This Second-Year RB
Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers have always found successful rushing production from a ton of underappreciated ball carriers. Running backs like Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason have all found past success in a Shanahan-coached offense. In the roster’s current landscape, second-year running back Isaac Guerendo is an example of that. Guerendo was certainly overlooked in college as he was forced to split carries during his time at Wisconsin and Louisville, only maxing out at 132 rushing attempts in his fifth and final collegiate season. He burst onto the scene during the draft process, blowing up the 2024 NFL Combine with his 4.33 40-yard dash and truly displaying his talent as a downhill runner.
As a fourth-round rookie, he wasn’t expected to contribute much to the 49ers’ rushing attack. However, when reigning OPOY running back Christian McCaffrey was sidelined with a calf injury to begin the season, and Mason got banged up midway through the season, Guerendo was asked to step up as the leader in the team’s backfield. Unfortunately, Guerendo suffered a leg injury late into the season, but by then, his fit in Shanahan’s offensive scheme had already been established. He showed flashes of consistent, effective production, piling up multiple games of 10-plus touches and ending his rookie campaign averaging five yards per carry.
With McCaffrey planning to come back as the starter in 2025, Guerendo will be looked at as his complementary playmaker in the backfield. However, Shanahan should be planning to dial up an increased workload and responsibility for Guerendo while decreasing McCaffrey’s workload. McCaffrey will likely lack any high-level breakaway speed coming off another serious leg injury, indicating a potentially different role as a primary receiver out of the backfield. Meanwhile, Guerendo’s legs are as fresh as a high-potential, young rushing threat can be, as he only totaled 231 carries in college. He possesses the natural game speed the 49ers have missed since Mostert left and should be just as effective by what he has given the team so far. Either way, an incoming breakout season for Guerendo could be the difference in San Francisco finding continued success as a rushing offense.
