Who Should I Start? Patrick Taylor Jr. or Eric Gray

Wednesday, August 20, 9:56 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.

Tuesday, May 6, 3:07 PM

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, New York Giants running back Eric Gray is likely to be the odd man out in the team's running back room after the organization selected former Arizona State ball carrier Cam Skattebo in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. New York is likely to keep three running backs on the 53-man roster, and Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary are favorites to lock up those spots. Gray was a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma in the 2023 NFL Draft and has racked up just 79 rushing yards and 31 carries, and 104 receiving yards on 16 receptions in 30 career games. While he could get a shot with another team, his early-career resume suggests he won't be on the fantasy football radar anytime soon. He is a safe drop in dynasty formats.