Team news: San Francisco 49ers | Page 6

Kyle Shanahan was firm about Brian Robinson's expected role after San Francisco sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Washington Commanders for him last week.

"We brought him here to be our [No.] 2 back," Shanahan said. "I've always been a big fan of Brian. Loved him coming out of college. ... We were pumped that he was available and pumped that we were able to get him."

In 2024, Robinson was third in the league on a third or fourth down of 3 or fewer yards (7.8 yards per carry), though the sample size was just 14 attempts.
Christian McCaffrey will remain the focal point of San Francisco's running game, but Robinson provides an experienced backup who could offer some value in short-yardage situations.

Related players: Isaac Guerendo

The story said the 49ers were 18th in the league in short-yardage situations, averaging 3.2 yards per rush. The story went on to say Guerendo has struggled to stay healthy. Though he just got back from a shoulder injury, he had a pair of fumbles in a recent practice and is more likely to have an early-season spot on various special teams units.

Jauan Jennings' lingering calf injury and long contractual stalemate with the 49ers could combine to send him to the injured reserve list this week, multiple NFL sources indicated over the past few days.

That wouldn't quite be the nuclear option for the 49ers, who, to this point, have not signaled that they're ready to trade or cut Jennings in the same way they offloaded Deebo Samuel and several others last spring.

The story indicated talk of IR could also be a threat for Jennings to get back to practice. The story added there is growing frustration on both sides as Jennings continues to miss practice and management continues to show little interest in restructuring his contract and giving him a big pay raise for the second time in a little over a year. A move to IR for Jennings means he misses four games and would hurt Jennings financially by severely reducing his chances at triggering incentives and game bonuses and also would leave the 49ers dangerously thin at wide receiver at the start of the season, the story went on to say. Needless to say, this seems like a tense situation with a very unclear ending right now.

Trade: Commanders are trading RB Brian Robinson to the 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

Related Players: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Crosky-Merritt, Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo

This is awful news for Guerendo drafters, but with all the injuries to the 49ers' running back room, they needed a dependable body in the room. This dings McCaffrey a little bit, but his passing-game involvement should be enough to secure another top-10 (or higher finish), while Robinson will pick up most of the slack and deliver as a FLEX play in tough weeks.

Back in Washington, Crosky-Merritt should be boosted out of low-end RB4 territory into an RB3 while Ekeler has some sneaky upside to finish in the same range.

Trade! The Chiefs send Skyy Moore to the 49ers. The teams will swap sixth- and seventh-round picks in 2027.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Brandon Aiyuk

Both of these teams are dealing with wide receiver issues/injuries, so maybe this points toward good news for Worthy and Brown, who have been dinged up this summer, and/or Rice receiving a shorter suspension than initially thought.

Moore will benefit a 49ers room that is dealing with bad injury luck themselves, including Jennings' calf, Watkins' ankle, and Robinson's three-game suspension. Moore can be left on waiver wires in all but the deepest Dynasty leagues.

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson has been suspended three games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, HC Kyle Shanahan told @KNBR.

Related Players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, George Kittle

This is almost assuredly going to be the Jennings-Pearsall-Kittle show, with ample Christian McCaffrey sprinkled in, at least until Brandon Aiyuk comes back into the picture. They are all easy targets at their current ADPs, and Pearsall might get a little bit extra while Robinson is sidelined.

From The Insiders on NFL Network: The Commanders will likely move on from RB Brian Robinson Jr., a rare starting RB available.

Related players: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez

This isn't really a surprise, but there was some talk that made it seem like the door may still be open for Robinson to stay when the news first broke. But that no longer appears to be the case. It seems, according to Rapoport, the team just doesn't want to extend Robinson, and nothing necessarily happened between the two sides. Rapoport said the Commanders could eat some salary to get a better draft pick in return. The Commanders will likely turn the RB duties over to Ekeler, Croskey-Merritt, McNichols and Rodriguez.

RB Isaac Guerendo returned to practice and had an active day. So as Patrick Taylor and Corey Kiner exit due to injuries, Guerendo comes back.

Related players: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Jeff Wilson

It's always news when a potential CMC handcuff is back on the field. Guerendo missed time with a shoulder injury and the rookie James is still out, so Guerendo could secure his RB2 role behind McCaffrey, who has looked good and close to his 2023 form so far in camp, according to reports. Still, those owning CMC likely want to have protection - just in case. Guerendo proved he can do the job last season.

Veteran Austin Ekeler remains a key piece of the offense and special teams as Washington’s lead kick returner.

Related players: Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Brian Robinson

The Commanders RB room has been a hot topic this week and it's only Tuesday. Robinson was held out of Monday night's preseason game amid trade rumors. The story discussed how an AFC GM said the team made Robinson available last year already. Rodriguez had a big run in the Monday night game and rookie sensation Croskey-Merritt had a long TD run as well. The story called McNichols the team's best blocking back. The story didn't mention how much of a role Ekeler would have in the offense, but needless to say it's a crowded RB room right now, with all four of those backs expected to make the team. If the Commanders do trade Robinson, this situation will need to sort itself out. But right now, Rodriguez and JCM are popular pickups in leagues that already had their drafts.

Jeremy McNichols re-signed in the offseason on a one-year deal, giving offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury another versatile option who is also the team’s best blocking back. (His blitz pickups last season warranted more headlines.)

Christian McCaffrey … if he’s not back to his 2023 form, he’s pretty close to it.

The story was part of a mailbag of questions and the author added that McCaffrey should be heavily involved in the passing game, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone considering the injuries they are dealing with at WR. CMC hasn't really been in the news as of late, so it's at least nice to get an update that he's nearly back to his old form. We still rank McCaffrey sixth among our RBs, but the bigger questions for fantasy owners is his injury risk worth his upside when it comes to your first round pick.

Amid speculation about his future with the Commanders, RB Brian Robinson Jr. will not play tonight against the Bengals, sources say.

Related players: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez

The post went on to say it’s a mutual decision between Robinson and the team, as a trade before the cut to the 53-man roster remains a possibility. This situation seems to be escalating quickly. Those in dynasty leagues are likely no stranger to Crosky-Merritt, whose stock seems to be skyrocketing. If Robinson is dealt, Croskey-Merritt could find himself as the team's RB1 with Ekeler and McNichols perhaps the change of pace options. Rodriguez would also be an option to get early down work. However, Crosky-Meritt has been a sneaky-good prospect for a while now so he's a name to keep an eye on.