49ers pre-training camp 53-man roster prediction: Who survives cuts?

49ers' Running Backs

HB Christian McCaffrey

HB Elijah Mitchell

HB Jordan Mason

HB Isaac Guerendo

FB Kyle Juszczyk

The top of this list is also quite easy, as Christian McCaffrey, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, heads into another season where he'll look to be among the league's most productive players regardless of position. Next to him is fullback Kyle Juszczyk who may be heading into the back end of his career but is still the best in the league at his position.

Behind McCaffrey, we know that Elijah Mitchell is talented but has struggled to stay on the field, and that Jordan Mason is talented but hasn't been given many shots to prove himself in regular-season games, and that rookie Isaac Guerendo is incredibly fast but his production in college left much to be desired.

All that to say that there's quality here, but whether 49ers' head coach Kyle Shanahan will give any of these guys a chance to give McCaffrey a breather or avoid taking so many hits remains to be seen. But it is vital that someone, likely Mitchell or Mason, takes hold of the backup role in order to do so.

Guerendo's speed is a weapon that will keep him around on this roster, especially with the new kickoff rules maybe favoring a guy with experience as a running back as opposed to just straight line speed.