Isaac Guerendo is expected to replace Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on injured reserve as the 49ers' starting running back

Isaac Guerendo is likely to take the place of Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on injured reserve as the 49ers' starting running back. McCaffrey and Mason are out for the rest of the regular season, while Guerendo is at the top of the depth chart. Even with minimal playing time, Guerendo has averaged 5.9 yards per carry and converted 42 totes into 246 yards and two touchdowns. The big-bodied running back is at a size-speed specimen of 6-foot and 221 pounds. He is set to be the top priority in waiver wire fantasy leagues.p
Two major injuries the San Francisco 49ers suffered during their Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills: starting running back Christian McCaffrey left early with a knee injury and top backup Jordan Mason suffering an ankle injury later on in the game, making him exit. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said running backs McCaffrey and Mason are both on injured reserve, the latest blows to a depleted team that already lost veteran Elijah Mitchell to a season-ending hamstring injury.

The 49ers have only two healthy running backs left, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. Guerendo, a fourth-round rookie from Louisville, is expected to be San Francisco's lead back due to the injuries of McCaffrey and Mason. He is on the 53-man roster and on the practice squad. Guerendo, a versatile back, has accumulated 246 yards and two touchdowns on 42 rushes, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
He really showcased his impressive speed at the 2024 NFL Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds. In Week 8, he had a career-high 17 touches and 102 total yards, showing he could handle a full workload. Guerendo's impressive speed and ability to handle a full workload make him a promising asset.
In 2023, Guerendo became a graduate transfer to the University of Louisville, playing for the Louisville Cardinals for his final season of college eligibility. In Guerendo's Louisville home debut in week two of the 2023 season, he rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while also hauling in four receptions for 47 yards.
In week ten of the 2023 season, Guerendo had a career performance rushing for 146 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Virginia Tech. In the 2023 Holiday Bowl, Guerendo rushed for a season high 161 yards and three touchdowns, on 23 carries, but USC won 42-28. Guerendo finished with 810 yards and 11 touchdowns on 132 carries and added 22 receptions for 234 in the 2023 season. After the end of the 2023 season, Guerendo went public to declare for the NFL draft 2024
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San Francisco is expected to add another running back to its roster, while fullback Kyle Juszczyk and wide receiver Deebo Samuel may see increased carries as the team decides how to replace McCaffrey and Mason.