On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers won a kickfest against the Las Vegas Raiders in their final preseason tune-up. Star running back Christian McCaffrey was never going to play in the game, but somehow, he ended up being one of, if not the biggest, winners of the night.
For the duration of camp, one of the biggest questions surrounding the tailback was his workload. Rookie Kaelon Black, though drafted in the third round, wasn't even invited to the NFL combine, and sophomore Jordan James nursed a fractured rib for most of August. Fortunately for McCaffrey, both backs responded to this concern in the best possible way.
Black started and only received four carries, but he chewed up 28 yards, good for 7.0 yards per touch. James relieved him and did more of the same. He gained 35 yards on eight carries and added a 20-yard reception in his explosive return from injury.
It was Black's second game in which he looked competent, and it was James' first action of the season. While the de facto number two is still yet to be confirmed, the game a major step in the right direction. Earlier in the summer, there was an argument to be made that CMC had no legitimate running mate. Now he might have two.
49ers running back depth may be better than expected
If both backs are able to produce this season, it would go a long way in alleviating some of McCaffrey's heavy burden.
That's not to say that the former Stanford man won't be the bellcow. The starting job is his, and nothing is going to change that. But last year, he gobbled up 77.2 percent of the team's running back carries. It's a number that even the best backs have failed to replicate year after year.
If Black and James can take chunks of work during the regular season, they would be able to help CMC save his strength for the games that matter most. After all, he is now 30 years old. Though he still looks to be in immaculate shape, there is no denying the fact that he is human, and he only has so much tread left on the tires. Every running back has a shelf life, and the 49ers' two backups could help elongate McCaffrey's.
Thursday's game, though a preseason matchup featuring mostly backups, went a long way in instilling faith in the 49ers' running back room. Everybody knows Christian McCaffrey cannot bolster the offense alone. He will need help from his teammates, and that includes his backups.
When he inevitably needs a breather, he can sit on the sidelines and have faith that whoever spells him will be competent enough to keep the offense running.
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