Who Should I Start? Kyle Juszczyk or Emari Demercado

Saturday, August 2, 3:58 PM

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (undisclosed) and running back Isaac Guerendo (shoulder/arm) both left the team's Saturday practice early, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Wagoner writes that Juszczyk was "moving slowly." The 34-year-old is a key piece as a blocker and a receiver in the 49ers' offense, having racked up 2,901 yards from scrimmage over the course of his 12-year career. Juszczyk is uniquely versatile as a player, so there's not a clear replacement for him on San Francisco's roster if he were to miss time. Guerendo is expected to be the primary backup to star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. In 16 games as a rookie in 2024, Guerendo recorded 84 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns. It's unclear how much time (if any) Guerendo will miss, but he now joins fifth-round rookie Jordan James (knee) as 49ers backs dealing with injuries. The team signed veteran rusher Ameer Abdullah on Thursday to bolster its depth at the position. If healthy, Guerendo is a premium handcuff option for fantasy.

Sunday, August 24, 8:26 AM

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado received the most carries out of a crowded backfield on Saturday, but couldn't turn it into much. As the Cardinals beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, Demercado posted 22 yards on seven carries and caught two of his three targets for eight yards. Bam Knight led the way with 83 yards and a touchdown on five carries, while Michael Carter posted 47 yards on five carries. Demercado's preseason left a lot to be desired, but the 26-year-old seems to still have the trust of the team as the third-string back for the time being.