The San Francisco 49ers traded for Brian Robinson before the season, and the former Commander could have a path to fantasy football relevance after the latest Christian McCaffrey injury update. After missing most of the 2024 season with a series of injuries, McCaffrey was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice with a calf injury. If this calf injury lingers, does Robinson have what it takes to be a week-in, week-out start in your fantasy leagues?
Here is today’s 49ers injury report in which RB Christian McCaffey was added with a calf injury one day after he fully participated in practice: pic.twitter.com/ohjq3sALPv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2025
Before getting too far, we should acknowledge that, as of this posting, Christian McCaffrey is expected to play in Week 1’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. However, we’ve seen this movie before. Last year, McCaffrey had what was described as a minor Achilles injury entering Week 1 that ultimately cost him most of the season. Fantasy football owners need to be prepared for what Brian Robinson might bring to the table if Christian McCaffrey misses time.
Brian Robinson Fantasy Football Outlook If Christian McCaffrey Can’t Play
Kyle Shanahan’s Running Backs
Running back production generally has more to do with scheme and blocking than the actual back, and this is especially true for Kyle Shanahan. Going back to his days as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator, Shanahan’s starting running back has always been a must-start in fantasy football. While Christian McCaffrey is an elite talent who would thrive in just about any offense, guys like Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and Elijah Mitchell were all startable assets while serving as the team’s RB1.
The same should be true of Robinson, as he’s arguably the most proven of Shanahan’s non-McCaffrey starting running backs. The former third-round pick has recorded at least 700 rushing yards in each of his three seasons in the league and has proven himself to be a league-average starter, if nothing else. While he’s not the most athletically gifted back in the league, he’s more than capable of following a block and should be a natural fit for this team’s rushing attack.
The Other Running Backs
Brian Robinson will be the team’s starter if Christian McCaffrey misses time, which makes him valuable for fantasy football. However, he might not receive a full workload, as he’s not a natural pass-catcher. While he can take a checkdown and get a few yards, he’s never been a high-volume pass-catching back.
This likely means former fifth-round pick Isaac Guerendo will receive a decent chunk of the third-down work if McCaffrey misses time. Injuries decimated San Francisco’s wide receiver room, and quarterback Brock Purdy will need someone to target in the early weeks. Depending on the health of Jauan Jennings, Robinson/Guerendo could be the third or fourth option in the passing attack, which likely means they’ll receive a few targets.
Ultimately, if Brian Robinson starts, he’ll probably be a low-end RB1 or a high-end RB2 in fantasy football. If McCaffrey starts and is at full strength, he could easily finish as the Week 1 RB1. Either way, make sure to start whoever is in the backfield when the game kicks off.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
The post Fantasy Football: Brian Robinson Outlook If Christian McCaffrey Can’t Play appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.