Jordan James
22-Year-Old
2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
0
YDS
0
TD
0
YDS
0
TD
0
2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
A fifth-round pick out of Oregon in 2025, it was easy to miss the fact that James pretty much matched the production of Bucky Irving when they both played for the Ducks. Although he's neither big (5-10, 205) nor fast (4.55-second 40), James' collegiate production says he has clear natural running ability between the tackles. James was reportedly ahead of Isaac Guerendo on the San Francisco depth chart going into the offseason, so James will likely compete with third-round pick rookie Kaelon Black for the chance to be the RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey in 2026. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Signed a four-year, $4.64 million contract with the 49ers in May of 2025.
Could be headed for No. 2 RB role
James "seems the most likely" of San Francisco's running backs behind Christian McCaffrey to earn the No. 2 role for the upcoming campaign, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Brian Robinson served as San Francisco's No. 2 back last season, but he's since joined Atlanta. That leaves James, Isaac Guerendo, rookie Kaelon Black, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick to battle for position behind McCaffrey, who led the NFL with 413 regular-season touches last year. The 49ers may want to reduce McCaffrey's workload in 2026, but that could hinge on whether a reliable No. 2 back emerges from the above-mentioned group. Wagoner suggests that James has an inside track on the job based partly on his strong play during garbage time in the 49ers' blowout loss to Seattle in the NFC divisional round, when he rushed six times for 28 yards and caught his lone target for seven yards. That's a very small sample size and is far from a guarantee that James -- who didn't play until Week 16 last year -- will take hold of top backup role, though it's worth noting that Guerendo, who may be James' biggest competition for the job, appeared in 14 regular-season games in 2025 but didn't log a single snap on offense.
Brian Robinson served as San Francisco's No. 2 back last season, but he's since joined Atlanta. That leaves James, Isaac Guerendo, rookie Kaelon Black, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick to battle for position behind McCaffrey, who led the NFL with 413 regular-season touches last year. The 49ers may want to reduce McCaffrey's workload in 2026, but that could hinge on whether a reliable No. 2 back emerges from the above-mentioned group. Wagoner suggests that James has an inside track on the job based partly on his strong play during garbage time in the 49ers' blowout loss to Seattle in the NFC divisional round, when he rushed six times for 28 yards and caught his lone target for seven yards. That's a very small sample size and is far from a guarantee that James -- who didn't play until Week 16 last year -- will take hold of top backup role, though it's worth noting that Guerendo, who may be James' biggest competition for the job, appeared in 14 regular-season games in 2025 but didn't log a single snap on offense.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Jordan James lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2025 Jordan James Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Jordan James' measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 9"Weight
208 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.55 secBroad Jump
117 inHand Length
9.50 inArm Length
29.75 in
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Bucky Irving was a smash success for the Buccaneers in 2024, so James must have some amount of innate running ability after largely matching Irving's rushing production at Oregon in 2023. Selected in the fifth round by San Francisco, James (5-10, 205) probably is not as good of a receiver as Irving, and James played fewer passing-down snaps in general than Irving did at Oregon. With just 4.55 speed James will need to win with quick processing and well-anchored movements through traffic to cut out yardage despite the inability to outrun or overpower most defensive pursuers. Limited as his athleticism might be, James was a uniquely productive runner at Oregon, accumulating 2,215 yards (5.7 YPC) and 31 touchdowns on 386 carries. He'll nonetheless face a difficult path to Year 1 playing time, likely sitting behind Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo and Brian Robinson on the depth chart.
More Fantasy News
Gets some late run on ST
James did not record a touch while appearing in three games for the 49ers in 2025.
ANALYSIS
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No run on offense in Week 17
James played just two snaps -- both on special teams -- in Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears.
ANALYSIS
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Active for Week 16
James is active for Monday's game against the Colts.
ANALYSIS
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Remaining healthy scratch Week 15
James (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against Tennessee.
ANALYSIS
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Inactive Sunday
James (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Favorite to occupy top backup role
James appears to be the most likely option to serve as Christian McCaffrey's backup in 2026, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
ANALYSIS
James is battling for the second spot on the depth chart in a backfield that also includes rookie third-round pick Kaelon Black, as well as Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick behind McCaffrey. The 49ers selected James in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he was limited to just three regular-season appearances in his rookie campaign. James could be headed for a larger role in his second NFL season.
James is battling for the second spot on the depth chart in a backfield that also includes rookie third-round pick Kaelon Black, as well as Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick behind McCaffrey. The 49ers selected James in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he was limited to just three regular-season appearances in his rookie campaign. James could be headed for a larger role in his second NFL season.