Isaac Guerendo DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

An MRI exam on Monday morning revealed that San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (ankle, knee) suffered an MCL sprain and an ankle sprain in the loss to the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to a source. Guerendo will have plenty of time to heal up in the offseason, and the best news is that he didn't suffer any damage to his ACL. Both of the injuries are to his left leg. The 24-year-old fourth-round pick didn't see much of an opportunity in 2024 until late in the season when both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) were ruled out for the year, but when he did get his chances, he was pretty effective out of the Niners' backfield. Guerendo finished with 5.0 yards per carry for 420 yards and four TDs on 84 carries through 16 games. He should serve as valuable insurance for McCaffrey in 2025.

Per head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (knee, ankle) has likely picked up an MCL sprain but will undergo more testing on Monday to confirm the severity of the injury. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported the news. That'd be a best-case scenario for the rookie, who was carted off in the first quarter of his team's 47-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Guerendo was bent up awkwardly not even two minutes into the contest and quickly ruled out afterward. San Francisco has been unable to keep a running back healthy this season, as they've had four suffer serious injuries. It's been a disappointing year for the 49ers -- a team with Super Bowl aspirations that won't make a playoff appearance in 2024 after a campaign riddled with injuries. They'll hope for better in 2025.

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (knee, ankle) exited during the first quarter of Sunday's Week 18 game against the Arizona Cardinals. He has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest. It was an ugly scene in Arizona as Guerendo's leg bent awkwardly while he was being tackled. He was in noticeable pain while being carted off the field, and the 49ers ruled him out with both knee and ankle injuries very quickly. He finishes Sunday's contest with two carries for five yards. All in all, he registered 420 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns while splitting time as a depth option and starter this season. Patrick Taylor Jr. will lead the 49ers' backfield for the remainder of Sunday's contest.

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) is off the injury report and ready to roll for a Week 18 matchup with the Cardinals in Arizona. Last week at home versus Detroit, Guerendo took just nine carries for 34 yards but snagged all four targets in the passing game for 65 yards. Arizona's defense represents a favorable opportunity for Guerendo to finish his first NFL campaign on a high note -- they have allowed the 10th-most half-PPR points per game (21.9). Last week, they allowed 14.7 points to Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams. With the 49ers having been eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago and playing their final game of 2024, head coach Kyle Shanahan should give Guerendo his classic heavy lead-back usage while assessing Guerendo's role in 2025. This could be especially true with the 49ers injury issues -- backup Joshua Dobbs is starting for an injured Brock Purdy (right elbow), wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib, wrist) is out, and tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) is questionable. Guerendo is a back-end RB1 in Week 18.

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo had a useful fantasy day during a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. The former high school wide receiver took nine carries for just 34 yards but saved his day through the air by catching all four of his targets for 65 yards. With most fantasy leagues in the books after Monday night, it's fair to say that Guerendo comported himself well in his rookie season by flashing the speed, receiving chops, and scheme fit that caused the 49ers to trade up and select him in the fourth round. Guerendo figures to draw another start while vying for his fifth 10-plus-point half-PPR performance in Week 18's meaningless game in Arizona.