The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their season with a dominant 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, and what jumped out immediately wasn’t just the score. Christian McCaffrey, the guy who usually hogs every single touch, saw his workload split “fairly equal” with Kaelon Black. Black, the 24-year-old rookie, took 14 carries for 65 yards, while McCaffrey had 15 touches for 88 all-purpose yards, averaging a ridiculous 6.8 yards per carry. This isn’t just a one-off; it’s an early signal that something fundamental might be shifting in San Francisco’s run game.
CMC’s Fresh Legs Are a Game Changer
Think about it: McCaffrey, a three-time first-team All-Pro, is in his 10th season. Last year, he was logging 83% of the team’s offensive snaps and averaging 18 rushes per game through the first five weeks, grinding out a tough 3.1 yards per carry. He earned a reputation for never wanting to come off the field. He even said in June he preps his body to play every snap if needed, viewing practice as the time for monitoring, not games. But in Week 1, even in a blowout, he was still looking “as spry as he has in a while” in the fourth quarter. That’s because Black was eating into those snaps, keeping McCaffrey’s legs fresh. Head coach Kyle Shanahan even admitted he was “a little surprised at the end just that Kaelon got more than Christian,” insisting it wasn’t a deliberate plan. But intentional or not, it was genius. McCaffrey himself gets it, saying, “When you can keep backs fresh, it’s a good change of pace for defenses.” He even name-dropped duos like Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, or Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, as examples of how good it is “to keep people fresh.”
Black’s Power Is Real and Shanahan’s Not Afraid to Ride the Hot Hand
This isn’t just about McCaffrey, either. Kaelon Black isn’t just a backup; he’s the real deal, and he offers a contrasting style. Offensive lineman Colton McKivitz pointed out Black runs with a “mean streak,” something that was obvious all through preseason and in Week 1. Last season, no other non-McCaffrey tailback had even 10 carries in a game. McCaffrey dipped below 15 touches only twice. So, Black’s 14 carries against the Rams are a massive statement. It shows San Francisco is not only deeply committed to their run game but also totally willing to ride the hot hand, even if it’s not their superstar. They might be begging their star to take plays off, and it finally seems like McCaffrey is willing to do it because Black is “good enough to do that.”
This newfound balance in the 49ers’ backfield, whether by design or happy accident, gives them an extra gear. With McCaffrey getting those crucial breathers and Black proving he can handle a sizable workload, this could be huge for the Niners’ season. Keep an eye on those touch counts in the coming weeks. If this trend holds, the 49ers’ offense just got a whole lot tougher to stop.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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