Christian McCaffrey sees the potential for something exciting in the San Francisco 49ers' running back room, and rookie Kaelon Black is a big reason why.
McCaffrey praised Black's ability to provide a different level to the running game when he plays, highlighting how the two backs can complement each other by rotating throughout the game and keeping each other fresh.
“When KB comes in, it’s such a spark,” McCaffrey said, via The Athletic's Vic Tafur. “When I can come in and come out and get my wind, he goes in and balls out, comes out, gets his wind. If we can just continue to do that, man, I think we can be really special.”
Black, a third-round pick out of Indiana, won the backup running back job during the offseason and has steadily carved out a role
behind McCaffrey through the 49ers' first eight games.
The rookie delivered one of his best performances Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, rushing 11 times for 70 yards. McCaffrey added 68 rushing yards, a touchdown, two catches for 19 yards and another score in the 38-17 victory. The two combined for 138 rushing yards and 157 yards from scrimmage, giving San Francisco a productive one-two punch in the backfield.
McCaffrey has remained one of the 49ers' most important offensive weapons, but finding ways to manage his workload is important given the physical demands of his position. Black's emergence gives Kyle Shanahan another capable option who can keep the ground game productive when McCaffrey needs a breather.
If the two continue building on that chemistry, McCaffrey believes the 49ers could have something special in their backfield.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Christian McCaffrey says Kaelon Black makes RB room ‘really special’
