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Isaac Guerendo is a fantasy football sleeper and value in 2024 fantasy football rookie drafts. Read the fantasy football outlook for the new 49ers running back.
DRAFT PICK: 4th Round (#129 Overall Pick)
TEAM: San Francisco 49ers
ROOKIE DRAFT ANALYSIS: If you didn't know much about former Wisconsin and Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo before the 2024 NFL Combine, you're not alone. But after his performance in Indianapolis, he entered the fantasy football radar -- and the 49ers draft board.
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While bigger-name backs like Jaylen Wright and Trey Benson had excellent showings at the combine and made plenty of headlines, Guerendo was historically special. At 221 pounds, he led all running backs with a 4.33 forty-time and posted a 98-percentile burst score. Size-adjusted speed and athleticism are most important at the running back spot, and he'll now enter the Christian McCaffrey-led running back room in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Given Guerendo's elite athletic profile, it's a mystery why it took him until his fifth college season to surpass 500 yards from scrimmage, but he was buried on the depth chart for four years at Wisconsin. In his one year with the Cardinals, he racked up 1,044 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry and a fantastic 10.6 yards per reception.
RD 4 | PK 129 - 49ers: Isaac Guerendo RB, Louisville
At 221 pounds, Guerendo reached the fastest top speed (24.08 mph), ran the fastest 40 yard dash (4.33), and jumped the highest vertical jump (41.5") among running backs at the 2024 Combine. He is one of five RBs since 2003 to… pic.twitter.com/d0iBqk1drs
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024
McCaffrey is cemented as the 49ers lead back as long as he's healthy, but Guerendo will compete with Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason to be CMC's relief man and backup. Given his efficiency in his final year of college and off-the-charts measurables, even a small role in one of the NFL's best offensive attacks could yield at least minor fantasy production.
If McCaffrey misses a few starts with a minor injury, the 23-year-old rookie has a legit path to starting fantasy lineups in 12-team leagues. This is an early call considering Mitchell and Mason won't just concede their spots on the depth chart, but Guerendo is a key rookie to monitor this offseason. Target him in the third or fourth round of rookie drafts.
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