Rookie Kaelon Black Emerges as Reliable Sidekick for Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black is leading all NFL rookies in rushing yards, providing a vital complement to Christian McCaffrey and easing his workload.
🧠AI AnalysisPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- Kaelon Black leads rookies in rushing
- Christian McCaffrey workload reduced
- Shanahan trusts both running backs equally
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has found a reliable backup for star running back Christian McCaffrey in rookie Kaelon Black. Selected in the third round out of Indiana, Black currently paces all NFL rookies with 303 rushing yards. Most notably, Shanahan stated that he has no hesitation calling any play regardless of which of the two backs is on the field, highlighting the seamless transition when Black rotates into the offense.
The addition of Black has allowed the team to successfully manage McCaffrey's workload. After leading the league with 24.3 touches per game last season, McCaffrey's average has dropped to 17.3 touches this year. This reduction has kept the offense productive, with the 49ers currently ranking seventh in the league in rushing with 135.3 yards per contest, coming off a season-high 190 rushing yards against the Las Vegas Raiders where Black contributed a career-best 70 yards on 11 carries.
While Black continues to develop his receiving skills alongside second-year running back Jordan James, his physical running style and willingness to learn from veterans like McCaffrey and Trent Williams have drawn praise from teammates and coaches alike. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk noted the rookie's relentless work ethic and consistency, traits that have quickly earned him a trusted role in the San Francisco backfield.
- Kaelon Black leads all NFL rookies with 303 rushing yards this season.
- Christian McCaffrey's touches per game decreased from 24.3 last year to 17.3 this season.
- The 49ers rank seventh in the NFL with 135.3 rushing yards per game.
What to watch next: Monitor Black's snap counts and rushing volume as the 49ers continue to balance touches between him and McCaffrey in upcoming matchups.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7776685/2026/11/13/kaelon-black-49ers-christia… ↗
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