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The 2024 NFL season has yet to begin, but there is already a key injury that has people wondering who the backup running back for the 49ers is. Star ball carrier and pass-catching weapon Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a calf injury that could sideline him for multiple weeks, and even if he's ready for Week 1, he could carry greater injury risk.
Stashing "handcuff" running backs from teams with great offenses and aging starters is a great way to get a potential edge in the case of an injury, so let's examine who the top CMC handcuff is.
Who is the 49ers' backup running back? Which RB should you draft in fantasy football? Let's dive in.
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San Francisco 49ers RB2 Candidates
Mitchell impressed as a rookie following the Week 1 season-ending injury suffered by Raheem Mostert in 2021. He tallied 207 carries for 963 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 19 receptions for 137 yards and another score. However, he's been limited to just 16 games over the last two years as the injury bug has continued to bite him. In fact, he's dealing with a hamstring injury in the middle of training camp this year. He's still likely the leader to be McCaffrey's primary backup, but the team could lose faith in his ability to stay healthy.
Mason went undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2022, but he has appeared in 33 of 34 possible games since entering the NFL. He's racked up 83 carries for 464 yards (5.6 YPC) and four rushing scores in his limited role. If his efficiency carries over with a larger workload, he could have legitimate fantasy football value.
Guernedo turned heads at the 2024 NFL Combine by running a 4.33 40-yard dash at 221 pounds. That might be as impressive as a 165-pound player running in the 4.2s. However, he's yet another 49ers RB dealing with an injury (hamstring), so he hasn't gotten much action to begin his first offseason. He could never command a hefty workload in college, and it might take him a year or two to develop into a contributor for San Francisco.
Breida spent the first three seasons of his pro career with Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers from 2017 to 2019. They just brought him back on August 5, but he was likely brought in as a deep depth option following the slew of injuries in the running back room. The 29-year-old has lost a step since his first tenure with the organization, so it's tough to get excited about him.
Who is Christian McCaffrey's Backup in Fantasy Football?
Although injury developments and camp performances could switch things up, Mitchell should continue to be viewed as the first man off the bench when McCaffrey needs a breather or cannot suit up. The team might opt to go toward a committee approach if McCaffey misses any regular-season action, but Mitchell has the most experience in the system and has proven to be effective when healthy.
SLIME CANNONS @EliMitch15 TD!
📺 #SFvsDAL on CBS/Nickelodeon/49ers App pic.twitter.com/VcCNREMwkH— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 16, 2022
That said, the 49ers have one of the rare backfields that contain more than one or two backs with fantasy intrigue. In deep setups, both Mitchell and Mason should be stashed, and Guerendo should be stashed in even deeper leagues or dynasty formats. At this point in the offseason, we can't know for sure what Shanahan's strategy for life without McCaffrey would be, but signs point toward Mitchell becoming a weekly RB2.
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