The San Francisco 49ers have not been good at running the football this season. That is why head coach Kyle Shanahan needs to let running back Isaac Guerendo out of the doghouse to try and boost the rushing attack.
San Francisco ranks 28th in rushing this season, and the offense has precisely zero rushing touchdowns on the season.
That's simply not going to cut it.
However, the 49ers' passing game ranks 13th and the run game ranks 28th. https://t.co/7nHJDHutgx
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 30, 2025
Star running back Christian McCaffrey has still been effective as a receiver, but he has struggled to get much of anything going on the ground, which raises uncomfortable questions about the offensive line. He has just 225 rushing yards in four games this season, and there are no quick fixes to remedy the situation.
The 49ers traded for Brian Robinson prior to the regular season to give McCaffrey a solid backup, but the former has been very limited on the ground as well. In four games, Robinson has just 96 yards on 22 carries.
Clearly, the 49ers need to try something different.
It's time 49ers unleash Isaac Guerendo
That is why it would not hurt to try and get Guerendo involved in the rushing attack. He has been completely iced out of the backfield this season as he has not received a single carry and has been limited to special teams duties.
The trade for Robinson showed the Niners were not very high on Guerendo even though he flashed promise in his rookie campaign in 2024, rushing for 420 yards in 16 games on 84 carries.
The 25-year-old displayed impressive burst at times last season, and there is an argument to be made he is the fastest running back on the active roster. McCaffrey is still an incredible athlete, but he may not have the same speed and acceleration he had when he was younger. Robinson is more of a short-yardage back known for his strength rather than his speed.
Why not get creative and get Guerendo some action to try and mix things up a bit?
Even if it is just a few touches a game, it does not hurt to get the second-year pro involved in the rushing attack and give McCaffrey a breather. Maybe Guerendo can break one off and get something positive going that will trickle throughout the rest of the offense and open up more opportunities for play action.
Shanahan is headstrong, and when a guy is in his doghouse, it often takes time for him to get out of it. But Shanahan needs to recognize that whatever he is doing with his typically successful rushing attack is not working and should give Guerendo some opportunities.