Jordan James Fantasy Stats

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James could step in as the primary backup this weekend against the Miami Dolphins. Rookie back Kaelon Black (groin) is currently listed as questionable for the Week 2 matchup in Miami. If he gets downgraded, James figures to move into the primary backup role behind Christian McCaffrey. James was inactive for Thursday's season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The 22-year-old probably won't have a role normally unless there is an injury in the backfield. This could be his opportunity to prove he deserves more playing time. Black saw 14 carries during the season opener, so James could be an interesting handcuff if the rookie is unable to go.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James was a healthy scratch in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. After battling rookie Kaelon Black in training camp, James appeared to lose the backup role and was inactive for the season opener in Melbourne, Australia. James has played only three games in his NFL career and has yet to record a stat. With him as the clear RB3 and the team's ability to use fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Deebo Samuel Sr. as emergency running backs, James does not appear likely to have a role this season unless both Black and star Christian McCaffrey are injured. Fantasy managers can safely drop the second-year back, with Black the clear backup in San Francisco.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James seems to have lost his appeal as a handcuff option in fantasy football. Heading into the back half of August, it seemed like James was in line to earn the No. 2 running back role behind Christian McCaffrey, especially after Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) was placed on the PUP list. Instead, James is third on the depth chart while rookie Kaelon Black occupies the backup role. In years past, we have seen that the 49ers' No. 2 running back only has fantasy value when McCaffrey misses time. In other words, his backup has always been a handcuff and never really possessed standalone value. Now that James has fallen to third on the depth chart, his fantasy value is dwindling even further. He's still worth stashing in deeper leagues in case the depth chart changes or McCaffrey gets hurt and Black can't handle the lead-back role on his own. However, there's no incentive to roster him in redraft leagues at the moment.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James followed Kaelon Black in the 49ers' 18-12 win in the last game of the preseason, but saw twice as many carries as the rookie. James finished with eight rush attempts (tying Khalil Herbert for the team lead) for 35 yards and caught one of his two targets for 20 receiving yards. It was the first appearance of the preseason for James, who missed the 49ers' previous two games while on the mend from a rib fracture suffered on the second day of training camp. The second year back out of Oregon is now in the mix, along with Black, Herbert, and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) to back up Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed). With San Francisco's depth chart up in the air, fantasy managers should be on the lookout for announcements. Whoever wins out as the 49ers' RB2 will be one of the more valuable handcuffs in fantasy football.

A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James played in just three games and did not earn a single carry as a rookie. The 22-year-old also suffered a setback early in training camp this season when he suffered multiple fractured ribs while absorbing a hit from star 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. However, James was able to return to the practice field on Saturday, putting him back in the mix for a role in the San Francisco backfield. As long as superstar 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey remains healthy, James is unlikely to see fantasy-relevant playing time. Still, McCaffrey is entering his age-30 season and recorded an NFL-high 413 touches in 2025. If James can beat out rookie Kaelon Black and veteran Zamir White for the 49ers RB2 role, he would immediately be one of the more valuable handcuff running back options for fantasy managers. Now that James is back at practice, his stock is on the rise.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James (ribs) was back on the practice field on Saturday, per David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. James suffered fractured ribs early in training camp, but it appears he is getting closer to full health and should be ready to go for the start of the regular season. A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Oregon, James appeared in just three games and did not record a carry during his rookie season. Entering 2026, superstar 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey remains firmly atop the team's depth chart at the position. However, James looks to be competing with 2026 third-rounder Kaelon Black and veteran Zamir White for the RB2 role in San Francisco. If James can establish himself as the primary backup to McCaffrey, he would immediately become one of the more valuable handcuff running back options for fantasy managers.

The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran running back Zamir White to a one-year contract after White's Monday workout with the team. White is joining a backfield decimated by injuries during training camp. Second-year back Jordan James (ribs) fractured his ribs on the second day of training camp after a hit from All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. The 2025 fifth-round pick was expected to miss several weeks, with no timetable for return. White's addition heightens concerns about James's availability for the start of the 2026 season. Both White and James, along with third-round pick Kaelon Black, are expected to back up running back Christian McCaffrey this season. With the star running back dealing with minor soreness and a lengthy list of previous injuries, the backup in this offense has fantasy value as a handcuff.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James (rib) suffered a fractured rib in Monday's training camp practice and is set to miss some time, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Injuries are striking the 49ers hard early in training camp, and James is the latest victim. The 22-year-old came into camp as the favorite for backup duties behind the oft-injured Christian McCaffrey, and while he should still be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, his injury could open the door for third-round rookie Kaelon Black to slide into a more prominent change-of-pace role early on behind CMC. The former fifth-rounder last year from the University of Oregon appeared in three regular-season games as a rookie, but he didn't factor in at all on offense. James' early training camp injury makes him a less appealing handcuff option in deeper fantasy leagues to begin the 2026 campaign, but the jury is still out on who will win the RB2 job going into Week 1.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James was "clearly the RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey" in the team's training camp practice on Sunday, per Brad Graham of TheSFNiners.com. A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, James did not record a single carry in his rookie season. Still, the 49ers enter training camp with a void at backup running back following the offseason departure of former back Brian Robinson Jr. in free agency. James is likely competing with 2026 third-rounder Kaelon Black for the role this summer. As long as McCaffrey is healthy, neither James nor Black has much of a path to fantasy relevance. However, McCaffrey is entering his age-30 season after recording an NFL-high 413 touches in 2025. If James emerges as the clear RB2 in San Francisco, he would profile as a priority handcuff running back for fantasy managers to target late in drafts.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James did not record a single offensive statistic as a fifth-round rookie in 2025. While the 49ers dealt with a string of high-profile injuries throughout the year, one player who remained almost surprisingly healthy was four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. At 29 years old, the ninth-year veteran handled the largest workload of his career on the way to an RB1 fantasy finish, limiting primary backup Brian Robinson Jr. to only 92 carries in his lone season with the team. With Robinson departing in free agency, James will battle 2026 third-round pick Kaelon Black for those primary backup responsibilities, and with McCaffrey another year older with a spotty history of stringing together heavy-touch seasons, it remains arguably the most valuable handcuff role in fantasy. The 49ers will hold their first public training camp practice on Sunday, and while it may still be some time before they don pads for the first time, the battle between San Francisco's two young runners will be one to pay close attention to. In the meantime, James is worthy of a late-round dart throw at the end of drafts as RotoBaller's RB56.