JordanJames

News: 4 hours agoJames (ribs) rushed eight times for 35 yards and brought in one of two targets for 20 yards in the 49ers' 18-12 preseason win over the Raiders on Thursday.

Spin: James was the second 49ers running back to log a touch behind Kaelon Black, carrying the ball on all three plays of the team's fourth drive. James netted eight rushing yards on that trio of rush attempts, and he proceeded to rattle off his game-long 17-yard gain just before the two-minute warning the next time San Francisco had the ball. Thursday marked James' only action of the preseason after he previously dealt with a rib fracture, and it remains to be seen how his splash plays as both a runner and receiver impact his standing heading into the regular season.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: James is an intriguing insurance stash as a candidate to work as 30-year-old Christian McCaffrey's primary backup in San Francisco. The 2025 fifth-round pick didn't record a single touch on three snaps during a rookie campaign spent buried behind McCaffrey and a host of veterans. James wasn't utilized much as a receiver at the collegiate level and underwhelmed at last year's combine, so it's unclear what his upside will be in the pros. However, if the 22-year-old wins the No. 2 gig over rookie Kaelon Black and McCaffrey misses action, he'll be a priority add. Consider him in the final few rounds in deep leagues.