What’s already been a rough season for the San Francisco 49ers has spiraled into an even worse situation. A team which began the campaign with championship hopes now sits 5-7 due in no small part to injuries to various star contributors.
Now, halfback Christian McCaffrey’s season could very well be over, as could that of second-string RB Jordan Mason. Both players were placed on the injured reserve, with a PCL injury sidelining CMC and a high-ankle sprain shelving Mason. The two backfield mates will miss at least four games, leaving the Niners shorthanded at the position.
The next man up, Isaac Guerendo, is about to become this week’s hottest waiver-wire add. Adjust your claims accordingly.
Eye-popping athleticism
Guerendo isn’t a household name yet, and that’s okay. The 24-year-old was the latest in a long line of running backs selected under head coach Kyle Shanahan in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft. As the 49ers’ fourth-round selection with the 129th overall pick, Guerendo brings a rare combination of size and speed to the table.
While he’s been operating on limited volume in a backup role, the Louisville product has rushed 42 times for 246 yards and two touchdowns this season. He hasn’t seen much passing work, with just five catches for 19 yards on six targets. Guerendo saw his largest workload in Week 8 against the Dallas, against whom he toted the rock 14 times for 85 yards and one score.
With McCaffrey and Mason both sidelined for the next four games, Guerendo is likely in line for a bell cow’s workload moving forward. Standing 6-foot tall and weighing in at 221 pounds, the rookie has prototypical size to handle the majority of the Niners’ backfield touches. What’s most impressive about Guerendo is his eye-popping athleticism at that size, though. He posted a stunning 9.98 RAS grade at the Draft Combine (out of a possible 10.0 score) with a 4.33 40-yard dash, elite composite speed and explosion grades, and a great composite agility grade.
Guerendo displayed his breakaway ability in Week 6 against Seattle when he recorded a 76-yard rush against the Seahawks. He’s capable of breaking loose from the pack in a hurry, but also possesses the size and strength to play like a bruiser back and wear down a defense.
Rest-of-season outlook
The outlook for Guerendo over the coming weeks is a positive one. In the immediate future, he will almost certainly fill the RB1 role in San Francisco’s backfield. The volume will be great, though the team’s strength of schedule for through their remaining four games of the fantasy season is a bit of a mixed bag.
This week’s upcoming contest is a date with the Chicago Bears, who rank 25th in rushing yards allowed per game. In the following week, which is usually the start of most fantasy leagues’ playoffs, they’ll see the 28th-ranked Los Angeles Rams.
However, things get a bit tougher in Week 16 when the Niners take on the Miami Dolphins’ ninth-best rush defense. Guerendo’s fantasy season concludes with a Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions, who possess a top-five run defense.
Of course, there’s a chance that San Francisco brings in a veteran running back to help fill the void left behind in McCaffrey and Mason’s absence. On the other hand, Guerendo knows the playbook and Shanahan’s system, and San Francisco’s already-slim playoff hopes are rapidly slipping away, too.
Must-start for now
Don’t worry too much about the longer-term implications in this backfield, though. For now, Guerendo is a must-start option in fantasy football for the next couple of weeks.
He’s set to receive a significant amount of the volume in what is still a decent San Francisco offense, even despite all their injuries. Guerendo will be worth a lineup spot based on that volume alone, which is more than many halfbacks receive with the increasingly-popular RB-by-committee strategy teams are deploying.
With the workload he’s set to receive, Guerendo’s blend of size and speed could make him a difference-maker in fantasy football. If he’s still available in your leagues, go ahead and place your waiver claim now before it’s too late.
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