James has the potential to be the No. 2 running back in San Francisco this season, and he's worth drafting with a late-round pick in all leagues. Christian McCaffrey remains the No. 1 running back for the 49ers, but James will compete with Kaelon Black and Isaac Guerendo for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. The winner of that battle could be an important Fantasy asset as a handcuff since McCaffrey turns 30 in June and just had 450 total touches in 2025. But it also could be a committee if McCaffrey were to miss any time. We'll keep an eye on what happens in training camp, and James could have a chance to showcase his skills, which never happened in 2025 because McCaffrey was healthy. James was a healthy scratch for the first 14 weeks of the regular season before being activated on special teams for the final three contests. He appeared in the playoff loss to Seattle in the divisional round and had six carries for 28 yards and one catch for 7 yards on one target. All reports out of San Francisco were raving about James this offseason, and he could be a lottery ticket with an increased role in 2026.
James fractured a rib during Tuesday's practice, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
It's a rough start to training camp for a player that some had tabbed as the favorite for San Francisco's No. 2 RB job. James should be ready well before Week 1, but missed practice time is a big deal for a player in his situation. The Niners currently have third-round pick Kaelon Black and veteran journeymen Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick for depth behind Christian McCaffrey.
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49ers' Jordan James: Opens camp as RB2
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James appears to be operating as the No. 2 running back behind Christian McCaffrey to begin training camp, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
James already looked like the favorite for San Francisco's top backup job, and a strong early camp will only strengthen his case over rookie Kaelon Black and veterans Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) and Patrick Taylor. McCaffrey remains locked in as the 49ers' offensive centerpiece, but James would carry meaningful fantasy value if he secures the No. 2 role outright. A 2025 fifth-round pick, James suited up for only three regular-season game as a rookie.
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49ers' Jordan James: Could be headed for No. 2 RB role
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James "seems the most likely" of San Francisco's running backs behind Christian McCaffrey to earn the No. 2 role for the upcoming campaign, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Brian Robinson served as San Francisco's No. 2 back last season, but he's since joined Atlanta. That leaves James, Isaac Guerendo, rookie Kaelon Black, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick to battle for position behind McCaffrey, who led the NFL with 413 regular-season touches last year. The 49ers may want to reduce McCaffrey's workload in 2026, but that could hinge on whether a reliable No. 2 back emerges from the above-mentioned group. Wagoner suggests that James has an inside track on the job based partly on his strong play during garbage time in the 49ers' blowout loss to Seattle in the NFC divisional round, when he rushed six times for 28 yards and caught his lone target for seven yards. That's a very small sample size and is far from a guarantee that James -- who didn't play until Week 16 last year -- will take hold of top backup role, though it's worth noting that Guerendo, who may be James' biggest competition for the job, appeared in 14 regular-season games in 2025 but didn't log a single snap on offense.
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49ers' Jordan James: No run on offense in Week 17
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James played just two snaps -- both on special teams -- in Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears.
After he was inactive for each of the 49ers' first 14 games, James suited up in Week 16 as the 49ers' No. 3 running back over Isaac Guerendo. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Oregon played just three snaps on offense in the 21-point win over the Colts, and with Sunday's contest proving to be more competitive, James disappeared from the game plan entirely. James could once again get the nod over Guerendo in Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Seahawks, but with the NFC West title on the line, expect Christian McCaffrey (back) and Brian Robinson to handle all of the available snaps at running back.
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49ers' Jordan James: Active for MNF against Indy
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James is active for Monday night's game against the Colts.
James is getting the nod as San Francisco's RB3 over Isaac Guerendo, who had been active for all 14 games prior to Monday night. James appears poised to make his regular-season NFL debut versus Indianapolis.
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49ers' Jordan James: Inactive Sunday
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James (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
The rookie fifth-rounder was inactive with a finger injury in Week 1. Since then, he's been a healthy scratch. James can't seem to crack a depth chart led by Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo.
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49ers' Jordan James: Not playing Sunday night
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James (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday Night Football against the Falcons.
The rookie running back will now be a healthy scratch for a sixth consecutive game. Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo remain ahead of James, a fifth-round pick in the draft, on the depth chart.
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49ers' Jordan James: Won't play against Tampa Bay
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James (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
The rookie fifth-rounder has yet to see regular-season action and will be a healthy scratch for a fifth consecutive game. Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo will serve as the 49ers' active running backs for Sunday's road tilt.
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49ers' Jordan James: Healthy scratch again
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James (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Rams, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
Thursday marks the fourth consecutive game that James has been a healthy scratch after missing Week 1 due to a finger injury. The 49ers will once again roll with a three-man backfield of Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo for Thursday's NFC West bout. James' next chance to make his NFL regular-season debut is Week 6 against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 12, though he's unlikely to play in that game unless McCaffrey, Robinson or Guerendo were to miss time.
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49ers' Jordan James: Healthy scratch verus Jacksonville
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James (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
James will be a healthy scratch for the third week in a row. With the rookie fifth-rounder inactive, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo will serve as the backup running backs behind starter Christian McCaffrey. James also missed Week 1 with a finger injury, so his next opportunity to make his NFL regular-season debut will come Week 5 versus the Rams on Thursday, Oct. 2.
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49ers' Jordan James: Good to go for Week 2
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James (finger) doesn't have an injury designation heading into Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Saints, Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
James suffered a broken finger in early August and didn't suit up Week 1 against Seattle. However, the rookie running back logged an LP/LP/FP progression in practice this week and wasn't given an injury designation heading into the weekend. Though that means James could make his NFL debut Sunday, he may see limited or no work on offense as SF's No. 4 running back behind Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo.
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49ers' Jordan James: Tracking to play Week 2
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James (finger) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
The rookie fifth-rounder was not cleared to play against Seattle in Week 1 due to a broken finger that he suffered in early August. He has opened the week with back-to-back limited practices, but 49ers' general manager John Lynch relayed Thursday that James will be "ready to go" against the Saints on Sunday, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports. If he is cleared to make his NFL regular-season debut, James would likely struggle to see backfield snaps as the 49ers' RB4 behind Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo.
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49ers' Jordan James: Limited at practice
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James (finger) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
James was once again limited at practice to open the week as he continues to recover from a broken finger that he suffered in early August. The 21-year-old will have two more opportunities to log a full practice before Sunday's contest against the Saints.
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49ers' Jordan James: Not playing vs. Seattle
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James (finger) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
James broke his finger in early August, which limited his practice participation this past week. He won't play in Sunday's regular-season opener, but the good news for the 49ers is that Christian McCaffrey (calf) has been cleared to play, with Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo serving in rotation. James' next chance to make his 2025 regular-season debut is Week 2 against the Saints on Sunday, Sept. 14 in New Orleans.
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49ers' Jordan James: Doubtful for Week 1
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James (finger) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest in Seattle, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The broken finger that James suffered in early August thus is poised to delay the rookie fifth-round pick's pro debut. Whenever he's healthy, though, there will be a chance for him to mix into the 49ers backfield if Christian McCaffrey's recent calf injury lingers or even develops into Achilles tendinitis as it did a season ago. At the moment, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo are the healthy running backs on San Francisco's active roster.
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49ers' Jordan James: Limited in Thursday's practice
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James (finger) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
James broke his finger in early August and has been a limited participant in each of the first two practices of the week. The rookie fifth-rounder figures to see minimal work out of the backfield this season. However, with Christian McCaffrey popping up on Thursday's injury report due to a calf injury, James could be thrust into the RB3 role behind Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) if McCaffrey is unable to play in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Seahawks.
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49ers' Jordan James: Back on practice field
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James (finger) returned to practice Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
James missed some time early in training camp due to a knee injury and then broke a finger not long afterward that required surgery, resulting in him missing the 49ers' entire preseason slate. Despite the time away from the field, the rookie fifth-round pick survived roster cuts and resides in a backfield led by Christian McCaffrey and followed by newcomer Brian Robinson and second-year pro Isaac Guerendo. As a result, James may be a regular inactive on game days, even when he's healthy enough to be available.
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49ers' Jordan James: Returns to practice
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James (knee) returned to practice Monday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
James was back after missing just a few days, while fellow backup running back Isaac Guerendo is out again due to an apparent shoulder injury he suffered Saturday. With Christian McCaffrey resting, James may even get a chunk of the first-team reps Monday as the 49ers prepare for Saturday's preseason opener against Denver.
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49ers' Jordan James: Headed to Bay Area
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The 49ers selected James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 147th overall.
James initially saw work as a part-time contributor with the Oregon Ducks in 2023, when he racked up 107 carries for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns working in tandem with Bucky Irving, but the former took over the lead job last season and posted workhorse numbers, racking up 233 totes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors. He didn't test particularly well at the combine and isn't viewed as a home-run threat, but he's quick to find the hole and get downhill. James joins a 49ers team that dealt Jordan Mason to the Vikings this offseason, leaving Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo (knee/ankle) at the top of the depth chart. Given McCaffrey's injury history, there's a non-zero chance James will see the field as a rookie if he can beat out Patrick Taylor for third-string duties.
