Christian McCaffrey led the NFL in touches during the 2025 season with 413.
In the first half of the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams, McCaffrey didn't even lead his backfield in touches. Instead, actually played second fiddle to third-round rookie Kaelon Black.
Black handled eight total touches to McCaffrey's seven in the first half. The split was more noticeable on the ground, where Black got seven carries while McCaffrey got just three.
Both backs were productive with their touches. Black averaged 5.1 yards per carry to McCaffrey's 5.7, while each averaged 5 yards through the air.
It wasn't immediately clear what led the 49ers to lean more on Black in the first half. McCaffrey didn't enter the game with any
injury designation, so it isn't clear whether Kyle Shanahan is just riding the hot hand or trying to manage McCaffrey's workload after the 30-year-old handled so many touches last year.
The 49ers could also simply be saving McCaffrey for heavier usage in the second half. As such, his workload in the game's final 30 minutes will bear monitoring.
Here's more to know about the Black and McCaffrey carry split to open the 2026 NFL season.
Kaelon Black and Christian McCaffrey stats at halftime Week 1
Below is a look at the stats Black and McCaffrey posted across the first half of the 49ers' Week 1 game against the Rams.
Kaelon Black
- Carries: 7
- Rushing yards: 36
- Receptions: 1
- Receiving yards: 5
Christian McCaffrey
- Carries: 3
- Rushing yards: 17
- Receptions: 4
- Receiving yards: 20
Is Christian McCaffrey hurt?
The 49ers have given no indication that McCaffrey is dealing with any injury. The team is simply opting to split the 30-year-old veteran's workload with Black.
Who is Kaelon Black?
Black is a third-round rookie who played collegiately at James Madison and Indiana. The 24-year-old was the third running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft behind only first-round picks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.
Black played four college seasons and won a national championship at Indiana. He racked up 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns on 186 carries during his final year with the Hoosiers, which helped the 24-year-old become a well-regarded draft prospect.
49ers RB depth chart
The 49ers have just three running backs on their 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit:
- Christian McCaffrey
- Kaelon Black
- Jordan James
McCaffrey and Black are the only two true running backs active for their Week 1 game against the Rams. James was ruled inactive, which opened the door for veteran receiver Deebo Samuel to serve as the No. 3 running back.
The 49ers also have veteran fullback Kyle Juszczyk available and could rely on him to handle carries if needed.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kaelon Black, Christian McCaffrey first-half carry split raises eyebrows
