San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo is about to receive the biggest opportunity of his debut season. The 49ers lost both Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason in Sunday night's blowout defeat to the Buffalo Bills. McCaffrey suffered a potentially season-ending PCL injury, and Mason has already landed on IR with a high ankle sprain. Guerendo appears primed to take advantage of an increased workload.
The 49ers selected Guerendo with the No. 129 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after he enjoyed an impressive pre-draft process. As a prospect at Louisville, the speedy runner exploded in 2023 after transferring from Wisconsin. Guerendo rushed for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry and sharing the backfield with fellow draftee Jawhar Jordan.
Guerendo entered the pre-draft process as a 220-pound back with outstanding speed for his size. After impressing at the East-West Shrine Bowl, he continued lighting the circuit on fire at the NFL Scouting Combine. Guerendo ran a blazing-fast 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, the third-fastest result of any participant, and the fastest among all running backs. It was also the fastest time among non-first-round picks, with Xavier Worthy (4.21) and Nate Wiggins (4.28) being the only prospects to run better results.
That's what tempted the 49ers to spend a fourth-round pick on Guerendo despite already having a lot invested at the position through McCaffrey and Mason. "The San Francisco 49ers have been up there on my list," Guerendo told The Draft Network exclusively in March, nearly two full months before they drafted him. They showed consistent interest.
Guerendo had been serving as the No. 2 behind Mason for a large portion of the season because it's been such a tumultuous campaign for McCaffrey. A tricky calf injury prevented McCaffrey from making his 2024 debut until Week 10. Guerendo had impressed throughout previous opportunities.
Guerendo rushed for 99 yards via just 10 carries in a primetime October win over the Seattle Seahawks. That performance was highlighted by an explosive 76-yard gain, the second-longest running play this season (Derrick Henry, 87). Guerendo's game-changing speed was on full display.
ISAAC GUERENDO. 76-YARD RUN TO START THE DRIVE.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Pt3BWP6JEF
Guerendo impressed again just two weeks later in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Avon, Indiana native rushed for 85 yards and his first career touchdown via just 14 carries, averaging an effective 6.1 yards per carry. Guerendo also added 17 receiving yards to his offensive totals, surpassing 100 yards of offense for the first time in his career.
It's been a difficult season for the disappointing 49ers, but they're still averaging a seventh-best 139.6 rushing yards per game. With offensive linemen like Trent Williams and Dominick Puni starring up front, Guerendo should locate rushing lanes to exploit. Pairing that with his game-breaking speed elevates his potential.
The 49ers were smitten with Guerendo through the pre-draft process. He's flashed in spurts when afforded opportunities earlier this season. With McCaffrey and Mason now sidelined for the foreseeable future, Guerendo could experience an end-of-season breakout.
