Each week leading up to the start of training camp, 49ers.com will assess the team's roster as we get closer to the season. In this installment of the 49ers roster breakdown, we will take a look at the running back position including fullback Kyle Juszczyk and where the unit stands among the rest of the league heading into the 2024 campaign.
Previous Installments: Quarterbacks | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Cornerbacks
The San Francisco 49ers running back corps enters the 2024 season with stability and a few new additions. Following a successful 2023 campaign, the unit remains largely intact from the previous season. The only departure from this position group was former third-round draft pick Tyrion Davis-Price who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
To bolster depth, the team signed former Green Bay Packers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. on a one-year deal, drafted Isaac Guerendo in the 2024 NFL Draft and added undrafted rookie free agent Cody Schrader.
At the forefront of the group is Christian McCaffrey, the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year and Pro Football Focus' top-ranked running back ahead of the upcoming season. CMC will be staying in The Bay for the foreseeable future, as in June, the running back inked a two-year extension that will keep him in red and gold through the 2027 season.
During the 2024 offseason, PFF crowned the 49ers for having the No. 1 backfield in the NFL for a second straight year.
"It should be no surprise the Niners take the No. 1 spot here," PFF analyst Trevor Sikkema wrote. "McCaffrey generated the most PFF wins above average among running backs last season, at 0.25. Elijah Mitchell also remains a very solid RB2 option with rookie Isaac Guerendo as the upside RB3. Throw All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk into the list, and the 49ers more than deserve this ranking."
Position Breakdown
Running Backs
- Isaac Guerendo – 1st Season
- Jordan Mason – 3rd Season
- Christian McCaffrey – 8th Season
- Elijah Mitchell – 4th Season
- Cody Schrader – 1st Season
- Patrick Taylor Jr. – 4th Season
Fullback
- Kyle Juszczyk – 12th Season
Running Backs Breakdown
The 49ers selected Guerendo in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft from the University of Louisville.
Guerendo began his collegiate football career at the University of Wisconsin in 2018. After redshirting his freshman year, Guerendo appeared in 23 games between the 2019-22 seasons where he recorded 582 yards and six touchdowns on 99 rushing attempts. He also notched 124 yards and a touchdown on 20 receptions. In 2022, Guerendo also played as the team's primary kick returner, tallying 443 yards on 19 returned kicks and earning an All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention.
The running back later transferred to Louisville for his final season of college football (2023). He played in all 14 games and registered 132 carries for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Mason is entering his third season with the 49ers. He originally joined the team as an undrafted free agent and made the San Francisco's initial 53-man roster in 2022.
Throughout his first two years in the league, Mason has appeared in 39 games and recorded 476 yards and 4 touchdowns on 85 attempts (including postseason).
After playing for the Carolina Panthers for 5.5 seasons, McCaffrey joined the 49ers midway through the 2022 season.
Throughout his seven-year career in the NFL, McCaffrey has appeared in 91 games and recorded 6,185 yards and 52 touchdowns along with 4,320 yards and 29 touchdowns on 509 receptions.
McCaffrey closed out the 2023 season as the NFL rushing yards leader (1,459 yards) and the NFL scrimmage yards triple crown winner (No. 1 in scrimmage touchdowns, touches and yards). He was also a unanimous AP First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2023 alongside winning the PFWA Offensive Player of the Year Award and the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Mitchell is entering his fourth season with the 49ers. He was selected by the team in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Throughout his first three years in the league, Mitchell has appeared in 35 games and recorded 1,760 yards and 21 touchdowns on 411 attempts. In 2021, Mitchell set the 49ers franchise record for a rookie by rushing for 963 yards and doing so over just 11 games.
Schrader is entering his first year in the NFL after signing with the 49ers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of Missouri.
The running back appeared in 55 games over six seasons at Missouri (2022-23) and Truman State (2018-21) and registered 925 carries for 5,455 yards and 62 touchdowns as well as 101 receptions for 825 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, Schrader recorded 276 rushes for a program record 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns as well as 22 receptions for 191 yards, earning AP First-Team All-America and First-Team All-SEC honors.
Taylor Jr. is entering his fourth year in the NFL, and his first year with the 49ers. He originally entered the league after signing with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Throughout his three-year NFL career with the Packers (2020-23), he has appeared in 34 games and registered 65 carries for 261 yards and one touchdown along with 14 receptions for 69 yards.
In 2023, Taylor appeared in 11 games and tallied 32 carries for 141 yards and 11 receptions for 49 yards. Taylor also appeared in two postseason contests with the Packers.
Fullbacks Breakdown
After playing for the Baltimore Ravens for four seasons, Juszczyk joined the 49ers ahead of the 2017 season.
Throughout his 11-year career in the NFL, Juszczyk has appeared in 172 games and recorded 211 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground along with 2,464 yards and 16 touchdowns on 262 receptions.
Juszczyk finished the 2023 season with 194 scrimmage yards in addition to key blocking assignments and received his eighth-consecutive Pro Bowl selection and his first-ever AP First-Team All-Pro honor.
