Who Should I Start? Kyle Juszczyk or Phil Mafah

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.

Tuesday, August 26, 12:12 AM

Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) will be placed on injured reserve, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The Cowboys expect Mafah, a seventh-round pick, to return later this season. The Clemson product finished the preseason with 15 carries, 59 yards, and a touchdown. Although his placement on injured reserve is frustrating, it shouldn't change much in terms of Dallas' backfield dynamic. All along, Mafah was expected to slot in as the team's No. 4 running back behind Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, and Miles Sanders. Now, his NFL debut will just be delayed a little longer as he works through his recovery.