Before Brian Robinson Jr. even set foot in the 49ers facility, Christian McCaffrey was already a fan. So when the Washington Commanders traded Robinson Jr. to San Francisco last week, McCaffrey was thrilled to team up with someone he had admired from afar.

“I knew [his game] well,” McCaffrey told reporters after practice Friday. “I watched a bunch of Commanders games just because my brother plays there. So I got to watch him a lot and have always been a fan. And I’m pumped he’s on our team.”

What Robinson brings to the 49ers

Robinson Jr. arrived in the Bay just before the 49ers’ preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on August 23. While he has been busy studying coach Kyle Shanahan’s complex playbook, McCaffrey said it was great to get to know Robinson Jr. personally before fully diving into game action.

“It’s been amazing, man,” McCaffrey said. “Even last week, just being able to hang out a little bit with him and get to know him better as a person. But what he brings to our team is so much physicality, a tough runner, fast, hard-nosed. He fits our group really well.”

For McCaffrey, who was limited by injuries last season, this year brings renewed optimism—especially with Robinson Jr.’s addition. McCaffrey is itching for a bounce-back campaign after injuries derailed his follow-up to his 2023 Offensive Player of the Year season. He believes Robinson Jr. can help elevate the entire offense.

“Yeah, I think when you have somebody like him come in and he’s a force multiplier, I think he makes our team better. He makes everybody better. Anytime you add good players to an offense, it’s just another guy the defense has to account for. So it’s been fun having him here, and I’m excited to see what he does.”

In an unexpected move, the 49ers bolstered their backfield ahead of the season opener. The Washington Commanders traded Brian Robinson to San Francisco in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

This move is a clear sign that the 49ers want one of the strongest running back groups in the league for 2025. McCaffrey remains the unquestioned leader at the position, but there is now plenty of competition for the RB2 role.

San Francisco 49ers depth chart after Brian Robinson’s arrival

The 49ers currently have six running backs on the roster for the 2025 season: Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Jordan James, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Jeff Wilson Jr., and newcomer Brian Robinson.

McCaffrey is the undisputed starter on this team. However, the arrival of Brian Robinson has a clear purpose, as the former Commanders running back joins a high-risk injury group.

Last season, the 49ers lost both Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo, their top two backs, for multiple games due to injuries. Head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to add reliable depth at the position, which made trading for a proven player like Brian Robinson a smart move.

Is Brian Robinson going to compete for the RB2 role?

Robinson’s arrival strengthens an already talented running back room. Many fans believe he has what it takes to secure the RB2 job and challenge Isaac Guerendo for that spot.

In three seasons with the Commanders, Robinson amassed 570 carries for 2,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. Paired with McCaffrey’s explosiveness, the 49ers could now boast one of the most reliable backfield duos in the NFL.

Messing up your draft or even having some tough luck with injuries can take a big toll on your chances. However, Fantasy Football leagues are won in the trenches, and the waiver wire is the most important of them all.

That’s why today, we’ve come up with a shortlist of three players you should target right away to straighten the ship and save your fantasy season. What are you waiting for? Keep scrolling, and don’t miss out!

NFL Fantasy 2022: Top 3 Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 5

3. Raheem Mostert

Even though the Miami Dolphins are paying Chase Edmonds more, Raheem Mostert has taken his spot as their lead back. He knows Mike McDaniel’s systemand has been more efficient on the ground and as a pass-catcher.

The Dolphins won’t be as pass-heavy this week with Teddy Bridgewater filling in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa. There’s no timetable for Tua’s return, and Mostert should still have a prominent role even when he comes back.

2. Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson was quite impressive in training camp and had been named the Washington Commanders’ lead back ahead of the season. Unfortunately, he was shot right before the start of the campaign, thus being forced to miss the first month.

But Ron Rivera recently confirmed that Robinson wouldbe back on the gridiron for Week 5. And while we shouldn’t expect him to have a big workload in his first game back, he’ll be a major offensive factor for the remainder of the season.

1. George Pickens

Chase Claypool has been unimpressive and underwhelming through the first couple of years of his career. Now, he might give up even a bigger share of the targets with George Pickens emerging as a most reliable option.

Pickens is an athletic freak, and it’s clear that he has a strong rapportwith Kenny Pickett. The Pittsburgh Steelers finally give up on Mitch Trubisky, so that Pickett-Pickens connection figures to take off from now on.

Robinson had signed a four-year deal with the Commanders and was the 98th draft pick overall in the NFL draft. For Alabama, Robinson had his best year as a college football player in 2021 scoring 16 touchdowns in 14 games.

Now according to JP Finlay, Robinson’s long road is finally coming to an end, and he may make his NFL debut in Week 5 the earliest or Week 6 the latest.

How far along is Brian Robinson?

Finlay reported, “Commanders going to start clock for Brian Robinson return. Starts Wednesday. He’s been cleared by doctors. Commanders will have 21 days to move Robinson up to active roster” on Twitter.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera spoke on Robinson’s eventual return by stating, “Hopefully it’s a nice shot in the arm and hopefully we get what we’re expecting to and that it’s another quality running back we’re looking for,” Rivera said of Brian Robinson. “We have to be smart how we handle him, and we have to handle those expectations and handle what he’s going through physically and mentally. It’s a different set of circumstances. I don’t know of any other player I’ve coached that’s had to go through this.”