49ers Pledge to Limit Christian McCaffrey's Workload, But Can They Follow Through?

With Jordan James emerging as a potential backup, San Francisco hopes to ease the burden on their star running back.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:51pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a 49ers running play with Christian McCaffrey, the shapes and planes capturing the motion and energy of the action.A cubist interpretation of Christian McCaffrey's dynamic running style as the 49ers seek to manage his workload in 2026.Indianapolis Today

The San Francisco 49ers have vowed to reduce Christian McCaffrey's heavy workload in 2026, but they've struggled to do so in the past. Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that McCaffrey's high usage as a receiver was necessary due to injuries to other offensive weapons. The team is hoping that 2022 fifth-round pick Jordan James can emerge as a capable backup to help lighten McCaffrey's load.

Why it matters

McCaffrey, who turns 30 this year, has logged a heavy workload in recent seasons, leading the NFL in touches in 2025. The 49ers know they need to preserve their star running back's health for the long term, but balancing that with their offensive needs has proven challenging.

The details

Last season, the 49ers traded for Brian Robinson Jr. to help spell McCaffrey, but Robinson had a career-low 92 carries while McCaffrey set a personal high with 311 carries. Shanahan said it was difficult to take McCaffrey off the field because he was so vital to the passing game with injuries to other skill position players. Jordan James, a 2022 fifth-round pick, appears to be the frontrunner to be McCaffrey's top backup in 2026, though Isaac Guerendo is also in the mix.

  • McCaffrey will turn 30 years old in June 2026.
  • In the 2025 regular season, McCaffrey played 932 offensive snaps, or 83% of the 49ers' total.

The players

Christian McCaffrey

The 49ers' star running back who has logged heavy workloads in recent seasons, including a career-high 311 carries in 2025.

Kyle Shanahan

The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, who has acknowledged the need to reduce McCaffrey's workload but has struggled to do so in the past.

Jordan James

A 2022 fifth-round pick by the 49ers who appears poised to take on a larger role as McCaffrey's primary backup in 2026.

Isaac Guerendo

A 49ers running back who is the second-best pass-catching tailback behind McCaffrey, but needs to improve his running skills to become a viable backup.

Brian Robinson Jr.

A running back the 49ers traded for in 2022 to help spell McCaffrey, but he had a career-low 92 carries while McCaffrey's workload remained high.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“In order for us to be the running team we want to be, in order to have Christian be as good as he can be throughout the whole year, we've got to get someone to help him.”

— Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

“When we play against certain coverages, and there's a linebacker on Christian, that's going to be a problem (for the defense). And if he pulls coverage that's going to help everyone else.”

— Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

“We've definitely got to get better at that. We've never been as low statistically.”

— Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

What’s next

The 49ers will monitor McCaffrey's workload and usage during OTA practices and the preseason to determine the best way to distribute carries between him and his backup running backs.

The takeaway

The 49ers' ability to effectively manage Christian McCaffrey's workload will be crucial to their success in 2026. While they've pledged to reduce his touches, their past struggles to do so suggest it may be an ongoing challenge. Developing Jordan James and other backup options could be the key to keeping McCaffrey fresh for the long haul.