San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. made the most of his limited touches in Sunday's win over the New York Giants, rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown on just five carries—an impressive average of 10.6 yards per attempt.
Despite his efficiency, Robinson has yet to see more than nine carries in a game this season and has played only 16% of the 49ers' offensive snaps. The limited usage stems from the fact that Christian McCaffrey sits ahead of him on the depth chart. McCaffrey continues to dominate in his 2025 campaign, already racking up 1,222 scrimmage yards while shouldering most of the offensive workload.
It's hard to take McCaffrey off the field given his dual-threat impact as both a runner and receiver.
"Christian's so good in so many facets of the game, and he's an extraordinarily conditioned athlete," general manager John Lynch said Thursday during an interview with Bay Area radio station KNBR. "He prepares for that. Now, is it going to be like that every week? Probably not."
That acknowledgment could open the door for more carries for Robinson, particularly if he continues to make the most of his opportunities. Robinson is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, compared to McCaffrey's 3.5-yard average.
"I think what I can tell you, Brian keeps playing like that, it makes it a little easier [to rest McCaffrey]," Lynch continued. "It's still always hard to take Christian off the field, but Brian is doing what players should do when they want more carries, and that's producing. And if you watch him the last few weeks, you can really see a rhythm start to develop.
"Really excited for the young man. He's a great kid. He's had a tremendous attitude. He's been a great addition to our team."
Robinson's touchdown against the Giants marked his first in a 49ers uniform, a moment that clearly meant a lot to him.
"Man, it was just like a relief," Robinson said after the game. "I've just been working—since I got here—just working every day just for that moment, for that opportunity, just getting in the end zone, and I just felt relieved by just finally crossing the goal line."
Lynch also praised Robinson's contributions on special teams, where the second-year running back has made a noticeable impact. Robinson, who had never contributed on special teams until this season, has returned six kickoffs, averaging 32 yards per return. He had a 41-yard return on Sunday against the Giants.
"It helps when you're at the 40-yard line, or 45, wherever we were on Brian's return," Lynch said. "He's doing a great job as an off-blocker. So Brian's been a really good addition, who I think is just hitting stride and is only going to get better."
Robinson joined the 49ers, understanding his role as a complementary back designed to help keep McCaffrey fresh through the grind of a long NFL season.
"He'd always said, 'I know I'm not going to get a lot of carries, but today I feel I'm going to make the most of when I do touch the ball,'" tackle Trent Williams shared on Sunday. "... It's one thing when a guy says he's going to do something. It's another thing when he does it."
Williams added that the one-two punch of McCaffrey and Robinson gives opposing defenses no chance to rest.
"Christian don't leave a lot of crumbs on the table," Williams joked. "He (Robinson) understands his role. And him just being always ready to go, coming in and running with an attitude, it never gives a defense a chance to relax."
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