The San Francisco 49ers shocked many by their third-round selection when they took running back Kaelon Black. The team prioritized adding another playmaker for their backfield to ease the workload on Christian McCaffrey.
So, what does the 49ers’ run game look like after this shocking move?
A Look at the 49ers’ RB Room After Drafting Kaelon Black
Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey is not just one of the best running backs in the NFC, but he is one of the best running backs in the entire NFL, and he is coming off a great campaign. With all the offensive injuries the 49ers faced in 2025, McCaffrey was the focal point of the offense and played great.
Last year, McCaffrey had over 2,000 scrimmage yards, running for 1,202 yards and catching 924. According to PFSN’s RB Impact Metric, he had an impact score of 82.4 last season, ranking fifth in the league.
The 49ers star has shown, during his time in the NFL, that he is a lethal threat in the receiving game. McCaffrey was hurt in 2024, but he had an MVP-level year in 2023. When healthy, he is electric.
However, his health could be a question mark next year. Since McCaffrey was super heavily involved, it could take a toll on his body. McCaffrey is 29, approaching the dreaded 30s, where players tend to regress.
So, as amazing as McCaffrey is, he might not play every game next year.
Jordan James
The second back listed on PFSN’s depth chart is Jordan James, who was drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round last year.
He played just three snaps on offense, though, last year. James attended Oregon, where he played very solidly last year, rushing for 1,267 yards and averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
There is a chance that if McCaffrey gets hurt or the 49ers want a rotational back, he could come in.
Kaelon Black
The 49ers’ newest back is part of the National Champions, the Indiana Hoosiers. With other Hoosiers getting drafted, such as Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders or Omar Cooper Jr. to the New York Jets, the 49ers have theirs.
Black is coming off a solid year. He had 1,040 yards rushing and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Black is strictly a running back, though, as he had only 36 receiving yards on four catches.
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Black earned a C grade and ranked 91st according to PFSN’s College Runningback Impact Metric.
Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo was drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He did not take any offensive snaps in 2025. However, in 2024, he had 420 rushing yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry.
Guerendo came out of Louisville, where he never had over 1,000 rushing yards in a season. However, in his last season at college, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry.
Patrick Taylor Jr.
Before joining the 49ers in 2024, Taylor Jr. was a part of the Green Bay Packers. Taylor Jr. has never had more than 200 rushing yards in a season.
Overall, head coach Kyle Shanahan has a lot of running backs to choose from. Shanahan has shown himself to be one of the better run designers, so the 49ers’ run game should be electric next year.
