Tag: Isaac Guerendo

Fantasy Football: 12 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Audric Estime is the top running back to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

It looks like there’s been a changing of the guard in the Denver Broncos‘ backfield.

Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted last week that rookie Audric Estime could be more involved in the second half of the season, and that’s beginning to play out. Estime led the team’s backfield in snaps (26), carries (14) and rushing yards (53) on Sunday. Javonte Williams (one carry and two targets) seems to have been relegated to passing-down duties.

Estime could be Denver’s new RB1 going forward, and he should be considered a top priority on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Elsewhere on the waiver wire front, wide receiver Cedric Tillman (50%) should be rostered, Dawson Knox (1%) is a streaming tight end option and quarterback Bo Nix (50%) has quickly become fantasy-relevant.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Audric Estime (1%): Estime’s efficiency (3.8 yards per carry) wasn’t great on Sunday, but Payton seems to be a big fan of the rookie, so his workload (14 carries) will likely trend up in the coming weeks.

2. RB Gus Edwards (21%): Edwards (10 carries for 55 yards) split time with J.K. Dobbins (15 carries for 50 yards) on Sunday. Playing in a run-heavy offense, both RBs could be fantasy-relevant going forward.

3. RB Tyler Allgeier (50%): Bijan Robinson remains the star, but Allgeier (11 carries for 59 yards) isn’t going away. Allgeier has standalone flex value and he’s an extremely important handcuff in case Robinson is ever unavailable.

4. RB Trey Benson (16%): James Conner (17 touches for 113 yards) and Benson (12 touches for 87 yards) were both productive on Sunday as the Cardinals cruised to a comfortable win over the Jets. That won’t happen every week, but Benson should be rostered. Note that Arizona has a bye in Week 11.

5. RB Tyjae Spears (42%): Spears (10 touches for 51 yards) wasn’t far behind Tony Pollard (13 touches for 63 yards) in Week 10. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues.

6. RB Braelon Allen (22%): Breece Hall is obviously the RB1, but Allen (seven carries and one target) remains involved. Allen could be a flex option if you’re desperate.

7. RB Cam Akers (16%): Aaron Jones had an injury scare on Sunday before later returning to the game. Akers is worth adding in case Jones does end up missing any time. With Jones missing part of Sunday’s game, Akers got 14 touches for the Vikings in Week 10.

8. RB Ray Davis (19%): He’s just a handcuff behind James Cook at this point, but Davis proved earlier this season that he’s a capable fill-in option if called upon in Buffalo.

9. RB Blake Corum (16%): The Rams have been giving Kyren Williams a heavy workload, and Corum could be an extremely valuable handcuff down the stretch if Williams gets banged up.

10. RB Kenneth Gainwell (2%): Saquon Barkley steps aside when the Eagles have big leads, giving value to Gainwell and Will Shipley (1%) when Philly is a big favorite.

11. RB Keaton Mitchell (5%): The speedy running back returned to action in Week 10 and the Ravens now have a “three-headed monster” at running back. Mitchell is worth stashing, especially in deep leagues.

12. RB Jaylen Wright (5%): De’Von Achane remains the RB1 in Miami, but Wright might be taking the RB2 role away from Raheem Mostert. Wright got the second-most carries (five) on Monday. Mostert was targeted three times as a receiver out of the backfield but got no carries.

Bonus: RB Jaylen Warren (62%) is already rostered in most leagues, but double-check just to make sure he’s not still available in your league. 

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Fantasy Football: 10 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Isaac Guerendo and Tyrone Tracy highlight this week’s list of running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire.

The San Francisco 49ers are going into their bye this week, and there’s some hope that star running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) could be set to return in Week 10. Meanwhile, fellow Niners running back Jordan Mason is now nursing a reaggravated shoulder injury.

With McCaffrey’s status still uncertain and Mason injured, Isaac Guerendo is the top running back to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week. Even if CMC returns after the bye, Guerendo could serve as the RB2 if Mason misses any time.

Elsewhere on the fantasy football waiver wire, Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix (37%) is suddenly a hot target at quarterback, Cedric Tillman (16%) is turning heads at wide receiver and Taysom Hill (20%) is a popular streaming option at tight end.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of ten running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (4%): He’s on a bye this week, but Guerendo could be a crucial handcuff in the second half of the season and if CMC and Mason are ever sidelined, Guerendo is the next man up.

2. RB Tyrone Tracy (47%): Devin Singletary is back healthy, but Tracy remains the RB1 in New York. He dominated the team’s backfield touches on Monday Night Football with 20 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown. Tracy’s concussion status should be monitored, but he is a priority add off the waiver wire this week.

3. RB Tyler Allgeier (51%): Allgeier is sharing touches with Bijan Robinson. Allgeier got 12 carries on Sunday and Robinson got 13. Robinson (seven targets) is much more involved in the passing game, but Allgeier has standalone value as Atlanta’s RB2.

4. RB Braelon Allen (25%): The Jets are a mess, but Allen (12 carries) remains in the mix alongside Breece Hall (16 carries). He’s a potential flex play or an RB2 candidate in deep leagues. 

5. RB Khalil Herbert (5%): He was a healthy scratch on Sunday, but with the NFL’s trade deadline approaching, Herbert could get a fresh start soon. Herbert is worth stashing in case he lands on a RB-needy team.

6. RB Ray Davis (17%): James Cook is the guy in Buffalo, but Davis is an important handcuff with some standalone value.

7. RB Blake Corum (17%): Corum is another important handcuff behind Kyren Williams.

8. RB Trey Benson (17%): Completing the handcuff trio is Benson, who is an important stash behind James Conner, who has never played a full season.

9. RB Keaton Mitchell (4%): He returned to practice last week and could be on track to return to the active roster last week. Mitchell is worth stashing in deep leagues.

10. RB Kimani Vidal (7%): He’s mostly a handcuff behind J.K. Dobbins right now, but Vidal has made the most of his limited touches with the Chargers.

Bonus RBs: Tank Bigsby (69%), Bucky Irving (69%), Jaylen Warren (62%) and Jonathon Brooks (60%) are already rostered in most leagues, but double-check just to make sure they’re not still available in your league. 

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Former Wisconsin running back leads 49ers to victory over Cowboys on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Former Wisconsin running back scores first NFL touchdown on “Sunday Night Football”

Former Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the San Francisco 49ers’ 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

The former Badger took a hand off from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy from the 4-yard line and plunged in for the score. His touchdown was the first of three third-quarter touchdowns by the 49ers. It put the team up 13-10 — a lead it did not relinquish.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 9: Penn State makes a statement

Guerendo finished the evening with a team-high 14 carries, 85 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, plus three receptions for 17 receiving yards.

Here is his touchdown:

The former Badger’s role has steadily increased since joining the team as a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He has become the team’s primary option at the position with star Christian McCaffrey out with an injury.

His evening against Dallas could have looked even better in the stat sheet. Instead of adding another touchdown in the game’s closing moments, Guerendo smartly slid to end the game.

Guerendo played for five years at Wisconsin (2018-2022) before transferring to Louisville for the 2023 season. He was never able to win the full-time starting job with the Badgers thanks to recurring injuries and the emergence of Braelon Allen in 2021.

The speedster’s best college output was, by far, his 810-yard, 11-touchdown 2023 season with Louisville. Otherwise, he totaled 99 carries, 582 yards and six touchdowns in his years with the Badgers.

Guerendo is up to 37 carries, 227 yards and one touchdown in his rookie NFL season. He and the 49ers will be back on the field on Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

49ers offense gets boost from unlikely source vs. Cowboys

Shoutout to Isaac Guerendo.

The San Francisco 49ers’ offense was stuck in a little bit of a rut Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, but an unlikely hero helped them turn it around.

In the first half of a 30-24 win over the Cowboys, the 49ers scored only six points. Their run game in particular struggled with running back Jordan Mason churning out only 18 yards on six carries in the first quarter and change.

A shoulder injury wound up forcing Mason into the locker room before halftime, opening the door for rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo. He entered the game with just 23 carries on the season, including only one in Week 7 against the Chiefs.

Sunday wasn’t the first time Guerendo got an opportunity for extended playing time, but it was certainly his best outing. He rushed for 85 yards on 14 carries and scored his first-career touchdown. He also got to 85 yards with a long run of just 19.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game that the improvement for Guerendo has been clear.

“I think he’s learned from each run he’s gotten,” Shanahan said. “There are a couple runs earlier in the year that he did alright on, but we grade him pretty hard, everybody pretty hard. And he had a couple, like four-yard runs we thought he could have got seven yards on. We go pretty hard on him. And then you watch how he takes that to practice and everything we’ve really kind of been pushing him with, he’s been real coachable, he’s not a sensitive guy, he’s real detailed and he’s very poised for a rookie. Things aren’t too big for him and didn’t get a lot of preseason, but once he got healthy there and throughout this year, I feel he’s gotten better each week.”

Guerendo also played a big role in the 49ers’ Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks, but he struggled to find running room in that game before a 76-yard run late in the fourth quarter helped the 49ers seal the victory. He finished the game with 10 carries for 99 yards.

He was more consistent Sunday night with runs of 19 and 15 yards on his first two touches. He flashed his speed and his power, and in general looked more patient in waiting for running lanes to develop.

Shanahan also said Guerendo was running well enough that they didn’t even try to put Mason back in the game after he came out for the second half with his helmet on — a sign he was ready to go.

Guerendo rewarded the 49ers’ faith in him by going for 47 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the second half. He also contributed as a pass catcher, hauling in three of his four targets for 17 yards.

The talent has always been apparent with Guerendo, he just wasn’t catching on the way we’ve seen other RBs do in Shanahan’s scheme. Sunday night was his coming out party and it came in a game where the 49ers desperately needed their run game to get rolling to help them turn things around after a rough first half.

With Christian McCaffrey set to return soon, Guerendo may not get another opportunity as a lead RB this season, but he took his opportunity Sunday night and played well enough to be a major cog in a huge 49ers victory.

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49ers 4th-round pick gets 1st career TD

Isaac Guerendo punched in his first career touchdown on Sunday Night Football against the Cowboys.

After Jordan Mason exited the game in the first half with a shoulder injury, the San Francisco 49ers turned to rookie rusher Isaac Guerendo. The fourth round pick stepped in for Mason and delivered in scoring fashion to start the second half.

Following a long catch and run from George Kittle, the rookie out of Louisville punched in his first touchdown run of his young career. Guerendo burst through the trenches for a four-yard touchdown to cap off the 49ers’ first drive of the third quarter.

Via @49ers on Twitter:

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Fantasy Football waiver wire: 15 running backs to target in Week 7

Isaac Guerendo headlines this week’s list of running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire.

As we wait for tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets to wrap up Week 6, fantasy football managers are already considering their waiver wire options for next week.

The top option at wide receiver this week is Josh Downs (49%). Zach Ertz (54%) is a quality tight end option, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (27%) will be eligible to return from injured reserve next week. 

Today, though, we’re focusing on running back. We’ve put together a quick list of 15 running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire ahead of Week 7. If you’re looking for reinforcements at RB, consider these options.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (1%): Christian McCaffrey’s status remains murky and fellow running back Jordan Mason has an AC joint sprain. That could leave Guerendo as the next man up for the 49ers and he impressed on Thursday Night Football with 99 yards on 10 carries, including a 76-yard sprint to seal the game.

2. RB Tyler Allgeier (43%): He remains an important handcuff behind Bijan Robinson, and Allgeier has standalone value in Atlanta’s two-back offense. He got 18 carries and scored a touchdown on Sunday.

3. RB Tyrone Tracy (45%): Even if Devin Singletary returns from a groin injury this week, Tracy has played well enough to continue getting carries. Tracy turned 23 touches into 107 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

4. RB Ty Chandler (34%): Coming out of the Vikings’ bye week, Aaron Jones has an uncertain status due to his hip injury. If Jones misses this week’s game, Chandler will be Minnesota’s top running back.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (44%): Travis Etienne is considered “week-to-week” with a hamstring injury, leaving Bigsby as Jacksonville’s RB1. D’Ernest Johnson (1%) is also worth a look in deep leagues after he got eight touches on Sunday.

6. RB Jaylen Wright (9%): De’Von Achane might be able to return from a concussion this week following Miami’s bye, but Wright should have a role going forward after rushing for 86 yards last week.

7. RB Alexander Mattison (36%): Mattison led Raiders running backs in carries (14), rushing yards (33), targets (five) and catches (five) on Sunday. His efficiency hasn’t been great, but Mattison scored on Sunday and he should remain fantasy-relevant thanks to his volume.

8. RB Sean Tucker (1%): The Bucs had a blowout win over the Saints on Sunday, so Tucker might not get 14 carries on a regular basis, but he’s worth a look after rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown.

9. RB Antonio Gibson (43%): Rhamondre Stevenson remains sidelined with a foot injury and Gibson led New England’s backfield in Week 6 with 13 carries and four targets.

10. RB Braelon Allen (37%): Allen is an important handcuff behind Breece Hall and he has standalone value in a shared backfield.

11. RB Audric Estime (1%): Javonte Williams lost a fumble and dropped a pass on Sunday while Estime led the team’s running backs with a 6.5 yards per carry average. Granted, that was on a very small sample size of two carries, but if Williams continues to struggle, Estime will likely get more work in the coming weeks.

12. RB Kimani Vidal (2%): The rookie rushed twice for 14 yards and hauled in two receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Consider Vidal in deep leagues.

13. RB Trey Benson (20%): Benson doesn’t have much standalone value, but he’s an important handcuff behind James Conner, who has never played a full season.

14. RB Blake Corum (18%): Corum is another running back worth stashing behind Kyren Williams.

15. RB D’Onta Foreman (4%): Jerome Ford is dealing with a hamstring injury, which could lead to a bigger workload for Foreman.

Bonus: Nick Chubb (79%) and Jonathon Brooks (60%) are already rostered in most leagues, but double check just to make sure they’re not still available in your league. 

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Report: 49ers RB Jordan Mason gets good news on shoulder injury

A Jordan Mason update with good news:

The San Francisco 49ers and running back Jordan Mason may have avoided a disaster.

Mason injured his shoulder in the second quarter of the 49ers’ Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He returned for the second half, but exited after aggravating the shoulder on the first play of the third quarter. He spent the remainder of the game on the sideline and head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t have much information after the game.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday morning reported the injury is believed to be an AC joint sprain that isn’t considered serious. Mason will undergo further testing Friday.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan will speak with reporters Friday afternoon and may have a further update on the 49ers’ breakout star.

If the 49ers can manage to avoid anything major with Mason it would be a significant win for them given the impact he’s had on their offense. Their run game struggled without him in Seattle, save for rookie RB Isaac Guerendo’s game-sealing 76-yard run. Guerendo would be Mason’s replacement if he’s unable to suit up in Week 7 vs. the Chiefs.

Mason finished Thursday’s game with 73 yards on nine carries. He also ripped off a 38-yard run in the game, marking his longest rush of the season.

After Week 6 he’s up to an NFL-best 609 yards on an NFL-high 114 carries.

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WATCH: Former Wisconsin running back wins game for 49ers on Thursday Night Football

WATCH: Former Wisconsin running back wins game for 49ers on Thursday Night Football

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo announced his arrival in the NFL on Thursday night.

The fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft took 10 carries for 99 yards in the 49ers’ 36-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. His final touch was that arrival moment: a 76-yard breakaway run that sealed the 49ers narrow victory.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger on an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 ranked by career earnings

San Francisco was beginning a drive on its own 19-yard-line up 29-24 with 1:39 remaining in the game. Seattle still had all three timeouts, so the 49ers needed to pick up a first down to ice the game.

Guerendo did just that, and then some. He took the ball all the way inside the Seahawks’ 5-yard-line before sliding down and ensuring a victory — a veteran move from a first-year player.

Here’s the full sequence:

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1844577927318602184

Guerendo joined the 49ers as the No. 129 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He’s seldom played to date — totaling just 12 carries for 41 yards in the first five games of the season.

Thursday Night was his career-high in carries, yards and yards per carry. That volume could continue into the future with star RB Christian McCaffrey still out indefinitely. The former Badger will continue to battle with Jordan Mason for those snaps in McCaffrey’s absence. Mason took nine carries for 73 yards against the Seahawks and has generally impressed thus far this season.

Guerendo is finding his role at the NFL level after playing for five years at Wisconsin (2018-2022) and one at Louisville (2023). 2023 with the Cardinals was his best collegiate season — 132 carries, 810 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, 22 receptions and 234 receiving yards.

He never was able to hit his stride with the Badgers. Injuries played a big role, as did the presence of program great running back Braelon Allen.

That hasn’t hindered the talented running back to begin his NFL career. That 76-yard run could be a jumping off point as the 49ers continue to look for an answer at the position.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

49ers rookie RB may cut into rising star’s carries

Is a rookie coming for some of Jordan Mason’s carries?

There aren’t many No. 1, workhorse running backs in the NFL anymore. San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason certainly fits the bill though.

Mason has taken full advantage of his opportunity to be the 49ers’ lead RB with Christian McCaffrey sidelined by Achilles tendinitis, and he’s worked as essentially the 49ers’ lone running back during the first three weeks of the season. That may change soon.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday in his press conference indicated that rookie RB Isaac Guerendo may start becoming a bigger factor in the backfield.

“He showed on film what he has been showing us,” Shanahan said of Guerendo’s five-carry, 19-yard performance in Week 3. “We’ve been encouraged about him for a while. He got off to a late start with his training camp injury, but we were encouraged with his preseason play. Everyone, I think, saw that with his kick return and stuff. He had two runs in that game that were encouraging and always a chance to get more.”

It’s unlikely that Mason suddenly starts splitting carries with Guerendo. He’s been too successful to just remove from the field too often. Mason is up to 342 yards and two touchdowns on a league-high 67 attempts.

However, Guerendo drew a fascinating comparison from 49ers offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster. He compared the rookie fourth-round pick to former 49ers RB Raheem Mostert.

Mostert was known for his downhill style and his home run speed that made him a threat to score a touchdown every time he touched the ball. While Mason has been good, he’s not a home run threat. His longest run of the year is just 24 yards. His longest touchdown of the year is 10.

Guerendo may be able to provide some of the long explosive play ability that Mason doesn’t have. That doesn’t mean he should start seeing 10-12 carries a game, but he had five in Week 3 after getting only one in the first two weeks combined.

It’s reasonable to think Guerendo could start snagging eight or so carries per game to lighten some of the workload on Mason, and to add the big-play element the 49ers’ backfield is missing.

Mason is still RB1, to be sure, but Guerendo appears to be on the verge of becoming more of a factor.

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49ers rookie RB draws comparison to former 49ers playoff hero

Are the 49ers about to develop the new Raheem Mostert?!

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo finally got some real NFL work in his third regular season game.

After getting one carry for no yards in Week 2, Guerendo had five carries for 19 yards in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams. He had another five-yard carry called back for holding.

While his numbers were pedestrian, 49ers offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster said Guerendo nearly ripped off a long touchdown run.

“Loved him. Loved him,” Foerster said in a press conference Thursday. “We had, oh man, if you guys watched the all 22, if you saw the play, [LG Aaron] Banks went up to get a linebacker and kind of didn’t go right at him, he kind of slipped and fell on his butt and, but it was right about on the 50. That’s a good feeling, right on the emblem. He fell backwards and missed the linebacker on that play. If he’d have got on that guy, there was a crease that he, I would’ve loved to see if he would’ve hit it. If he just could have, I thought he might have split the safety.”

The home run run plays have been missing from the 49ers’ offense so far this season. That one evaded Guerendo on Sunday, but Foerster’s comparison for the rookie fourth-round pick from Louisville indicates he could be seeing more time in the backfield soon.

“He reminds me of another 31 [Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert] we had here in his running style,” Foerster said. “He’s got that upright, good-speed running style. And I’m not putting him in that category yet, but he really does. I want to see him get a chance to get, we just haven’t gotten him the space yet. I like him. He’s got a ways to go, obviously. He’s got a lot of developing to do. And that position is a hard, tough position. But he’s nothing but a positive upside. He really looks to be that, I won’t say change of pace. Shoot, he could be your lead dog, but he’s got that little, that extra gear we’ve been looking for in a change between, Christian’s playing fast, JP’s playing fast, but he’s got a little bit something different from those guys.”

Mostert worked largely in a reserve role until 2019 when he broke out late in the year and sent the 49ers to the Super Bowl with a 29-carry, 220-yard, four-touchdown performance in the NFC championship game. His specialty with the 49ers was the explosive run play where every touch was liable to go to the end zone.

It would be a huge boost for the 49ers offense if Guerendo starts executing those big run plays the way Mostert did. Starting RB Jordan Mason’s longest carry of the season is just 24 yards. Having a threat in the run game who can flip the field or score a long touchdown on the ground would make life easier on the 49ers’ offense. And if Guerendo turns into Mostert, they need to start getting him the ball more often.

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