Don't overreact to Isaac Guerendo's freakish speed

Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo rocked a 4.33-second 40 time at the Scouting Combine on Saturday. That rated 99th-percentile among historical Combine RBs. Doing so at 221 pounds gave him a 100th-percentile speed score (125.7) for the position. Be careful about getting overly excited for Guerendo, who failed to eclipse 64 carries across four seasons at Wisconsin. He rushed 132 times and caught 22 passes in a fifth year at Louisville, averaging 6.1 yards per rush and 10.6 per reception. Guerendo still trailed teammate Jawhar Jordan in carries, yards per carry, yards per catch, and TDs. We'll see where he lands in the NFL draft, but Guerendo looks more like an intriguing third-round pick for rookie drafts than a guy who should vault into the first two rounds.

The 49ers selected Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. Guerendo battled hamstring and foot injuries at Wisconsin. When healthy, he sat behind Jonathan Taylor and fellow rookie Braelon Allen. So, after five years in Madison (and only 99 carries), Guerendo transferred to Lousiville in 2023. He shared the backfield with Jawhar Jordan, who actually led the team with 181 carries (vs. 132 for Guerendo). The duo posted nearly identical receiving lines: 22-234-0 for Guerendo and 21-246-1 for Jordan. Guerendo wins with an impressive combo of size, speed, and athleticism. The 221-pounder brings return value, too, with 714 career kick return yards. He was the talk of the NFL Combine after posting a ridiculous all-around workout. Consider this: Guerendo’s 4.33 forty time, 129" broad jump, and 41.5" vertical jump all ranked in the 95th percentile or better among Combine RBs since 1999. Now, he doesn’t always play up to those testing numbers. But that potential remains as he gains more reps. In San Francisco, Guerendo will be battling for scraps behind Christian McCaffrey. It’s an awful spot for the rookie’s short-term fantasy value. Landing with HC Kyle Shanahan helps the long-term outlook. McCaffrey turns 28 in June and is signed through 2025.