Against all odds, the injury bug has once again struck the San Francisco 49ers. After Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason were placed on injured reserve, rookie halfback Isaac Guerendo stepped up in Week 14 and filled in admirably as the lead back with 128 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
However, Guerendo’s big day came to an early end when he sustained an injury which has now been revealed as a foot sprain. The 49ers are on a short week and have a date with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football this week — will Guerendo play, and if not, who’s the next man up?
Will Guerendo play on Thursday?
The rookie running back played just 56% of snaps on offense before exiting Week 14’s contest early. The good news is that Guerendo flashed a ton of talent and looked like a potential fantasy league-winner while on the field. He put up 26.8 points against the Bears and handled the majority of work before he got hurt.
While the injury is unfortunate, both for a young player in the midst of a potential breakout and for fantasy managers, the other positive is that Guerendo’s ailment doesn’t sound serious. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team will “evaluate him over the next few days to see if he’ll have a shot” at playing in Week 15.
If Guerendo is able to suit up vs. the Rams, go ahead and put him in lineups for Week 15. However, there are a couple of waiver-wire options available if the rookie can’t go.
Who’s next up?
Neither of these names are likely to inspire confidence in fantasy managers, however, this is the 49ers we’re talking about. Shanahan and his staff have a history of turning little-known halfbacks into serviceable starters. Look at Raheem Mostert’s healthy run in San Francisco, Elijah Mitchell’s breakout season, and even Jordan Mason’s time as the starter earlier in this campaign. It’s conceivable that whoever steps up in this backfield could produce this week as a fill-in.
The favorite to assume lead back duties is Patrick Taylor Jr. The 26-year-old entered the NFL in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers and spent the next two seasons moving back and forth between the practice squad and active roster. Following a brief 2023 stint with the Patriots and another with Green Bay, Taylor made his way to the 49ers this season.
He has just 392 scrimmage yards in his career, but Taylor got the majority of the work for the Niners once Guerendo went down. He toted the ball seven times for 25 yards and one touchdown and played 33% of snaps. Could he be a serviceable back in fantasy against the Rams in this week’s NFC West clash? Sure, but he’s a risky RB2/FLEX option in what could quickly become a shootout.
There is a sleeper option on the roster, especially if Taylor gets scooped off waivers in your league. Last week, the 49ers claimed Israel Abanikanda from waivers after he was released by the New York Jets. The 22-year-old was a fifth-round selection by the Jets in 2023, but was a casualty of a fairly deep RB room which includes Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. Abanikanda is talented, though, having led the ACC in rushing with 1,431 yards and pacing the entire FBS in rushing touchdowns as a junior in 2022.
Is there a chance he leads the Niners’ RB room this week? Yes, albeit a very slim one. He hasn’t been in San Francisco long, so he’s surely still learning the playbook. On the other hand, per reporting by the San Francisco Standard, Shanahan said “I haven’t studied him a ton in the NFL, but he was a guy that I had good notes on from college and liked. And I know our scouting department thought he was the best guy out there being available. So in our situation, especially glad to get him here.”
What to do before Thursday Night Football?
Fantasy managers are left with a choice. Do you submit a waiver claim for the guy who immediately filled in following Guerendo’s injury, or take a calculated gamble on the superior talent who hasn’t gotten a chance yet?
If Guerendo can’t play Thursday, hopefully, you’ll have chosen the right one. It’s more likely Taylor would be the lead back in this scenario, through Izzy is looming in the background.
With that said, the rookie’s status remains in question, so be sure to monitor his injury designation as kickoff approaches — there’s definitely a chance he takes the field, even with the short week.
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