Christian McCaffrey is poised to remain the centerpiece of the 49ers’ offensive strategy and the benchmark for running back contracts in the near future. However, reducing his workload is a priority for the team in 2024, and there are various options available to achieve this goal.

McCaffrey boasted an 81% offensive snap share, leading all running backs in the league in 2023, and played every offensive snap on three separate occasions last season. While his exceptional performance on the ground and in the air earned him Offensive Player of the Year accolades and a lucrative extension, the 49ers are concerned about reducing his physical strain. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently discussed the team’s approach to the backfield moving forward.

“We have players who can handle the rushing duties,” Shanahan stated, as reported by The Athletic’s David Lombardi. “We need to protect Christian from overexertion. He tends to resist coming out regardless of the circumstances, and I believe we could rotate him out more frequently… If he continuously endures the physical toll of 20 carries per game, although he is more than capable and has showcased durability, we’d like to distribute that workload among other players as well.”

The 49ers have reliable backup options in Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason, although injuries have plagued Mitchell. Mitchell has played only 16 games and carried the ball 120 times over the past two seasons, and both he and Mason are impending free agents. The potential departure of both backs in 2025 influenced San Francisco’s decision to add rookie players to the mix this spring.

This initiative involved selecting Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round of the draft. The former Louisville player demonstrated exceptional speed during his college career, despite limited usage between 2018 and 2022 at Wisconsin. This lack of wear and tear could work in his favor if he secures an offensive role early on with the 49ers. At present, however, Matt Barrows notes that Guerendo’s most probable opportunity for playing time during his rookie season is as a kick returner.

San Francisco has benefited from McCaffrey’s continued good health during his tenure with the team, and with a contract binding him to the Bay Area until 2027, both the team and player aim to prevent a recurrence of the injuries he experienced during his time with the Panthers. It will be interesting to observe the extent to which the 49ers utilize their other running backs this season with the objective of lightening McCaffrey’s load in mind.