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The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly anticipated to lean on rookie operating again Isaac Guerendo for the rest of the 2024 common season.
In response to ESPN, Guerendo is making ready to “carry a heavy workload” after the Niners positioned each Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on injured reserve following final weekend’s loss to the Buffalo Payments.
The fourth-round pick of Louisville hasn’t gotten a ton of utilization behind McCaffrey and Mason on the depth chart, however he has delivered when referred to as upon, dashing for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries.
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After being named NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months final season, McCaffrey started 2024 on the shelf resulting from an Achilles harm.
McCaffrey missed the primary eight video games of the season, however Mason stuffed in admirably, dashing for 685 yards and three touchdowns throughout that stretch.
Throughout the 35-10 loss to Buffalo, McCaffrey suffered a knee harm and Mason went down with a excessive ankle sprain. Each had been positioned on IR, which means they have to miss not less than the subsequent 4 video games.
The earliest both participant can return could be a Week 18 sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals, which may very well be an enormous contest for the Niners.
After reaching the Tremendous Bowl final season, 2024 has largely been a wrestle for the 49ers, and accidents to key gamers have been an enormous cause why.
At 5-7, the 49ers are in final place within the NFC West, though they solely path the division-leading Seattle Seahawks by two video games.
Given their expertise, it’s not exterior the realm of risk that the 49ers may nonetheless run the desk and win the division.
Nevertheless, to ensure that that to occur, they’ll probably want their operating sport to fireside on all cylinders, and so they must depend on a rookie to make that occur.
The 6-foot, 221-pound Guerendo has a uncommon mix of dimension and velocity, and he has already proven a capability to supply in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system when given the chance.
Guerendo has little or no behind him when it comes to high quality depth at operating again. Patrick Taylor has rushed 72 occasions for 286 yards over 4 NFL seasons with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and 49ers, whereas Israel Abanikanda rushed 22 occasions for 70 yards final season with the New York Jets.
Since all indicators level towards Guerendo being the clear go-to man in San Francisco’s backfield, he may very well be a possible league winner for fantasy soccer managers who had been fortunate sufficient to accumulate him off waivers.
He is also a season saver for the 49ers, and it begins with a pivotal residence sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.