Should I Pick Up Kimani Vidal or Isaac Guerendo? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14

Well, here we are again. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) are injured, vacating highly desirable roles for fantasy running backs.

The 49ers are mathematically alive in the NFC West with five games to play, while the Chargers are jostling for a Wild Card spot, meaning both teams are still going for it.

For fantasy managers gunning to make a playoff run of their own, that means two candidates, Kimani Vidal and Isaac Guerendo, could be highly influential options for the next month. But which one deserves the most consideration?

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Isaac Guerendo Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook

The rookie from Louisville already had two big performances this year by rushing for a combined 184 yards, a touchdown, and catching three passes in Weeks 6 and 8. The rest of the year, however? Just 62 yards and two catches total, though he did score Sunday against Buffalo after McCaffrey departed the game and the Niners trailed 28-3.

.@49ers TD 🙌 Rookie @isaacguerendo takes it to the house!

📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/S7l9fCO7P8

— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024

Guerendo has played more than 30% of the 49ers’ snaps only once, but times have changed for head coach Kyle Shanahan's backfield. Now that running back Jordan Mason (ankle) is also headed for injured reserve, Guerendo becomes the de facto No. 1 running back on one of the NFL's top offenses.

Kimani Vidal Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook

A fairly popular sleeper pick in deep league drafts and dynasty formats, Vidal has spent more games inactive (seven) than active (five) in his rookie season.

He did log one PPR top-25 finish by catching two passes for 40 yards and a touchdown in Week 6, but the Chargers have been reluctant to trust Vidal with more work. In the past five weeks, he has nine carries for 27 yards, a stretch that included three straight weeks of being inactive.

With Dobbins injured, the Chargers certainly will turn elsewhere, but the best bet is on Gus Edwards, who played over half of L.A.’s snaps in Week 13 -- double that of Vidal. Fellow running back Hassan Haskins, who played for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, played 45% of the snaps in Week 12 and scored a touchdown two weeks before that.

Should I Pick Up Kimani Vidal or Isaac Guerendo for Fantasy Football?

The Shanahan offense had made fantasy-relevant players out of afterthought running backs before, whether it was Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida, or Elijah Mitchell. Guerendo could be next on the list.

Breaking: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey suffered a potentially season-ending PCL injury, Kyle Shanahan announced in the team's postgame presser. pic.twitter.com/oJeUma7Zhy

— ESPN (@espn) December 2, 2024

Vidal certainly could be worth stashing for the stretch run, but betting on the Chargers' murky backfield is a high-risk move.

Guerendo has far less competition for carries and targets and should be valued as a lead running back. At this juncture of the season, the 49ers back is worth whatever FAAB it takes to acquire him.

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