The San Francisco 49ers head to Crescent City for a Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. With George Kittle and Brock Purdy suffering injuries last week and Brandon Aiyuk still on the mend from an injury he suffered last season, who could step up for the 49ers?
The obvious answer would be two standout players from Week 1. Christian McCaffrey looked close to his old self against Seattle while Ricky Pearsall had the type of performance that could set the tone for a breakout season.
But in a game where San Francisco is likely to try and protect quarterback Mac Jones as much as possible, the backfield could be busy enough for two running backs to eat in fantasy this week. If that’s the case, look no further than a still relatively new face.
Coming over in a trade with the Washington Commanders late in camp, there were questions about how much of an impact Brian Robinson Jr. could have in Week 1. They were valid questions that were answered to the tune of a nine carry, 33 yards to go along with one catch for four yards.
While not overly efficient, it was noteworthy that Robinson received double digit touches right out of the gate with his new team. With Jones stepping in for Purdy and Kittle on the IR, it’s entirely possible that both Robinson and McCaffrey get upwards of 15 touches on Sunday.
On the flip side, the Saints defense did a very good job of containing the Arizona Cardinals on the ground last week. While they did surrender 146 yards, 52 of those came on one carry to Trey Benson.
Of course, it’s widely accepted that the 49ers offensive line is better than that of the Cardinals. Even still, Kyle Shanahan will have to scheme up ways to get the ball to his running backs in space.
That’s where Robinson recording two targets last week is interesting. He only recorded 20 catches last season, but had 36 in 2023. Those numbers aren’t eye popping, but they do show that Robinson has the ability to contribute in the short passing game, an aspect of the offense that Shanahan could emphasize with a backup quarterback under center.
With San Francisco trying to stay afloat until they get healthy, the formula for success is simple: control the ball, limit what Mac Jones has to do, and lean on the ground game. That formula will likely lead to enough touches in the back field for both Robinson and McCaffrey to be viable fantasy options this week.
