49ers' Jordan Mason: Drops 20/100/1 line in second start
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Mason took 20 carries for 100 yards and a rushing touchdown while bringing in his lone target for four yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to Minnesota.
Mason followed up his impressive Week 1 fantasy performance (28/147/1) with another game of 100-plus rushing yards and his second touchdown of the season. Savvy fantasy managers who snagged Mason when starter Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) and backup Elijah Mitchell (knee) were ruled out prior to last week's win over the Jets have been rewarded handsomely. What appeared to be a hot short-term add is beginning to look like an league-changing acquisition after the aforementioned CMC was placed on injured reserve prior to Sunday's defeat (Week 7 earliest potential return). Mitchell has been ruled out for the entire year, so Mason is set to occupy the lead role in Kyle Shanahan's vaunted zone-run offense for roughly the first half of the fantasy campaign. It would behoove GMs in all fantasy formats to make sure that the Georgia Tech product is not lingering on their league's waiver wire ahead of Sunday's tilt against the Rams.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: RBs to Start
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Christian McCaffrey (calf) will miss Week 2, which makes Mason a must-start running back in all leagues at Minnesota. He ran through the Jets defense with 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown, and he caught one pass for 5 yards on one target. It would be nice if the 49ers gave Mason more work in the passing game, but as is, Mason has top-10 upside in all leagues in Week 2.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Clear avenue to more carries
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Mason is expected to take over as the 49ers' lead back after Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
With Elijah Mitchell out for the season and McCaffrey out until at least Week 6, the San Francisco backfield looks like it'll belong to Mason, who carried 28 times for 147 yards and a touchdown while adding a five-yard reception in the 49ers' Week 1 win over the Jets. Receiver Deebo Samuel (eight carries in Week 1) is also likely to see more involvement on the ground in McCaffrey's absence, while rookie Isaac Guerendo could also become more of a factor in a change-of-pace role once he's further removed from the hamstring and groin injuries that cost him considerable time during training camp and the preseason. Mason has probably already been rostered in most competitive leagues, but managers in shallower leagues should take a peak at the waiver wire in case he's still available.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: In line for more starts
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Mason is slated to serve as the 49ers' No. 1 running back Sunday at Minnesota and beyond with the news that Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) is a candidate for injured reserve, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Coach Kyle Shanahan relayed Friday that San Francisco is considering an IR stint for McCaffrey due to the Achilles tendinitis that is plaguing him at the moment. Shanahan also noted that Thursday's practice was the worst for McCaffrey so far in terms of pain, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. The 49ers have yet to make a decision on McCaffrey past this weekend, but Mason at the very least will start Sunday on the heels of 29 touches for 152 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD in the Week 1 win against the Jets. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel figures to be in the backfield mix as well after handling eight carries Monday night.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: In line to start on MNF
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Mason is slated to be the 49ers' starting running back Monday versus the Jets with Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) inactive for the contest, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Mason will step in for McCaffrey for at least one game due to the calf/Achilles injury that has plagued the latter since early August. In 33 regular-season games in his two-year career, Mason has averaged 5.6 YPC on 83 rushes, hauled in three of four targets for 31 yards and scored four rushing TDs. Elsewhere in the backfield, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor are the 49ers' other available options.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Stashes (RB Preview)
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Stash candidates rostered in between 25 and 50 percent of leagues include Mason, Ray Davis, Braelon Allen, and Khalil Herbert. Mason is now the clear handcuff to Christian McCaffrey, who is 28 years old and has been nursing a calf injury this preseason. If McCaffrey misses a week, we would rank Mason as a top-12 back, like we would most backs in the San Francisco system.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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Mason is now the No. 2 running back in San Francisco behind Christian McCaffrey with Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) out for the season. That makes Mason one of the ultimate lottery tickets this year. McCaffrey is 28, coming off a season with over 400 total touches, including the playoffs, and he had a calf injury in training camp. Mason could be a league winner if McCaffrey were to miss any time.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Replacing Mitchell as No. 2 RB
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Mason's backfield mate Elijah Mitchell (undisclosed) was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
Reports of Mason challenging Mitchell for the second spot on the depth chart actually predate Mitchell's injury troubles this summer, with the Niners apparently impressed by Mason's combination of size (5-foot-11, 223 pounds) and passing-down skills. He's no match for Mitchell in terms of speed, but that may not matter much for fantasy if Mason ever finds himself in the starting lineup under coach Kyle Shanahan. While Christian McCaffrey (calf) seems to be on track for Week 1 against the Jets, there's always considerable injury risk for a running back that piles up snaps and touches the way CMC does. While unlikely to have standalone value while McCaffrey is healthy, Mason is one of the more valuable backup RBs to stash on a fantasy bench -- and he should remain so unless rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo makes a push up the depth chart after missing most of the summer with a hamstring injury.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Scores in preseason return
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Mason (hip) took eight carries for 42 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason finale against the Raiders.
Mason returned from a minor hip issue that cost him the 49ers' previous preseason game. The 25-year-old started the contest with Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) sitting out with minor injuries. This is the second strong showing from Mason this preseason, as the veteran backup continues to build a case to challenge Mitchell's status at No. 2 on the RB depth chart. This will be McCaffrey's show once the regular season kicks off, but Mason is a name to remember in the event the starter is unable to go at any point this year.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Mason (hip) is participating in Wednesday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Mason missed last Sunday's preseason game against the Saints due to hip soreness, but his return to practice could set the stage for him to play in Friday's exhibition finale versus the Raiders. Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) also resumed practicing Wednesday, and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) did so Tuesday, so San Francisco's backfield suddenly looks healthy behind top back Christian McCaffrey (calf), who remains on track for Week 1.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Has hip soreness
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Coach Kyle Shanahan clarified after Sunday's 16-10 preseason win over the Saints that Mason sat out due to hip soreness Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The team doesn't sound overly concerned with Mason's injury, as he appears healthier than the team's other top running backs at the moment, but he got the night off Sunday nonetheless. Mason's next chance to take the field will come in Friday's preseason finale against the Raiders.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Sitting out with minor injury
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Mason (undisclosed) won't play in Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Mason is dealing with what is being described as a minor injury. The 49ers are thin at running back with Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) all banged up as well, leaving more opportunities for Patrick Taylor, Matt Breida, Cody Schrader and Ke'Shawn Vaughn.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Star of opening drive Saturday
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Mason rushed six times for 34 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason tilt against the Titans.
Unquestioned starter Christian McCaffrey (calf) sat out Saturday's preseason opener along with the rest of San Francisco's star players, affording Mason the opportunity to start the team's exhibition opener against Tennessee. The 25-year-old was featured heavily on the 49ers' opening drive and wound up scoring the only first-half touchdown for his club. Mason's strong start to the preseason schedule has the running back in a position to seize the primary backup role behind CMC, with Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and rookie Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) both missing Saturday's contest to injury.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Working with starters
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Mason is getting regular first-team reps while Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) recover from injuries, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The opportunity is particularly interesting because there were reports of Mason challenging Mitchell for the second spot on the depth chart even before Mitchell and McCaffrey suffered their respective injuries. Mitchell's speed and running ability are proven commodities, but Mason may have advantages in terms of pass blocking and receiving skills, and nearly any player has the edge over Mitchell when it comes to durability. Maiocco notes that Mason has "greatly improved" his route-running and hands, making a case to be more involved on offense after taking nearly three-fourths of his snaps on special teams the past two years. That said, the injuries to McCaffrey and Mitchell aren't considered serious, so it's still possible Mason enters Week 1 mostly playing special teams. The San Francisco backfield also has rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo, who has missed all of training camp with a hamstring injury.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Could push Elijah Mitchell
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Mason has made a strong impression on coach Kyle Shanahan this summer and could challenge Elijah Mitchell for the No. 2 RB role, Jordan Elliott of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Mason initially made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2022 and has since seen action in 33 of 34 regular-season games, logging 181 snaps on offense and 494 on special teams. He's thus far remained behind Mitchell when both have been healthy, but it's possible the Niners would prefer Mason in the backup role due to his advantages in size (5-foot-11, 223 pounds), durability and blocking. Mitchell is much faster but also smaller (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), and he has nearly as many missed games (24) as receptions (28) through three NFL seasons. The addition of rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) means a trade could even be in play, with Mitchell being the main candidate as he heads into the final season of his rookie contract. Of course, none of them will play much on offense unless Christian McCaffrey misses time with an injury.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Gains 48 yards as RB2
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Mason took six carries for 36 yards and caught his only target for 12 yards in Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Rams.
MVP hopeful Christian McCaffrey (calf) was rested Week 18, so primary backup Elijah Mitchell started Sunday's tilt. Mason wound up logging 27 snaps on offense (44 percent) to Mitchell's 32 (52 percent). While both tailbacks nearly split McCaffrey's playing time Sunday, Mitchell (14-52-1) wound up having more plays executed for him and also nabbed the only touchdown the backfield duo would produce in the loss. Mason wraps up the 2023 campaign with numbers (40-206-3) similar to his rookie year (43-258-1) while also serving as one of the 49ers' top coverage men on special teams.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Sleeper RBs
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There's a good chance Mason could be the lead running back for the 49ers in Week 18 against the Rams, and I would use him as a flex option in all leagues in that scenario. Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out, and I'd be surprised if the 49ers played Elijah Mitchell much after he missed three of the past four games with a knee injury. Tyrion Davis-Price could be added off the practice squad to share touches with Mason, who has four games this season with at least four carries, and he scored a touchdown in three of them. This isn't an easy matchup against the Rams, but they also are resting players in preparation for the postseason. Keep an eye on what develops prior to Sunday, but Mason has plenty of upside if Mitchell joins McCaffrey on the sidelines in Week 18.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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There's a good chance Mason could be the lead running back for the 49ers in Week 18 against the Rams, and I would use him as a flex option in all leagues in that scenario. Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out, and I'd be surprised if the 49ers played Elijah Mitchell much after he missed three of the past four games with a knee injury. Tyrion Davis-Price could be added off the practice squad to share touches with Mason, who has four games this season with at least four carries, and he scored a touchdown in three of them. This isn't an easy matchup against the Rams, but they also might be resting players in preparation for the postseason. Keep an eye on what develops before Sunday, but Mason has plenty of upside if Mitchell joins McCaffrey on the sidelines in Week 18. Now, if we find out that Mitchell will play in Week 18, I'll replace Mason with Mitchell in the column later in the week.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Could be busy Sunday
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Mason could get significant playing time at running back Sunday against the Rams, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Mason has mostly played special teams this season,, sitting behind Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Elijah Mitchell on the depth chart for offense when the latter two backs have both been healthy. Week 18 may be another story, however, as the Niners have locked up the top playoff seed in the NFC and won't have McCaffrey available for their final regular-season game. The calf injury McCaffrey suffered Week 17 might also make the team more cautious with his top backup, Mitchell, who has a lengthy injury history of his own. It thus won't come as any surprise if Mason and/or practice-squad member Tyrion Davis-Price ends up leading the ground attack this Sunday against the Rams.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out for Week 18 against the Rams, and I'd be surprised if the 49ers played Elijah Mitchell much after he missed three of the past four games with a knee injury. If we find out that Mitchell (37 percent rostered) is playing this week then make him the priority, but I expect San Francisco to be safe and lean on Mason here. This isn't an easy matchup against the Rams, but they also might be resting players in preparation for the postseason. Mason has four games this season with at least four carries, and he scored a touchdown in three of them.
