Mon Sep 01 01:20:00 UTC 2025: **49ers Aim to Keep Star RB McCaffrey Fresh with Emerging Backfield**
Santa Clara, CA – The San Francisco 49ers are heading into the 2025 season with high hopes for Christian McCaffrey, especially after he was unavailable to start in 2024. While his presence instantly elevates the offense, a key question looms: how will head coach Kyle Shanahan manage McCaffrey’s workload to keep him healthy and effective throughout the entire season?
With the addition of Brian Robinson Jr. and the potential of a healthy Isaac Guerendo, along with Jordan James, the 49ers possess a potentially formidable three-headed backfield. This depth should allow Shanahan to spell McCaffrey more frequently than in previous seasons.
Shanahan himself acknowledged the importance of having quality backups. “[When] Christian goes out… it’s tough. Because you know he’s such a good runner and such a good receiver. But now, when you have a really, really good back behind him, and we take Christian out and things like that, you’re not so upset… because you know you’ve got a guy coming in there who you shouldn’t miss a beat on.”
While McCaffrey will undoubtedly command the “money downs” and the majority of carries, analysts suggest aiming for a snap percentage closer to his 2022 average (around 72%) rather than the higher figures seen in more recent years. This would translate to a workload split of roughly 65% for McCaffrey, 25% for Robinson, and the remaining 10% for Guerendo and James to compete for.
The unique skillsets of Robinson (power between the tackles) and Guerendo (speed) also open up opportunities for specialized packages that can further reduce McCaffrey’s wear and tear. The 49ers hope that by strategically utilizing their running back depth, they can maximize McCaffrey’s impact throughout a long and potentially championship-bound season.
First Piper 