Shanahan Hints at McCaffrey's Backup

After Brian Robinson Jr.'s departure to the Falcons, Shanahan praised James, noting his strong second-half development despite limited early playing time. The 2025 fifth-round pick out of Oregon showed promise late in the season, rushing six times for 28 yards in the postseason loss to the Seahawks.

Shanahan wants to reduce McCaffrey's workload after he led the NFL with 413 offensive touches in 2025. While Isaac Guerendo is noted for his passing abilities, Shanahan believes James could overtake him and Patrick Taylor as the primary backup, provided James has a strong training camp and preseason after missing early development time due to a broken finger.