49ers RB Jordan Mason Needs to be the Indefinite Backup to McCaffrey

After Jordan Mason's impressive performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, it is now time for the San Francisco 49ers to do so.

Availability is everything in the NFL.

That is one thing that running back Elijah Mitchell has never had since he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Whether it's in a game or in practice, he always ends up hurt and missing times. He's basically the most injury prone player on the 49ers now.

Because of his absence, it has allowed opportunities to be given to Jordan Mason. He was given the ball 10 times and ran for 69 yards with one touchdown. Mason ended up as the lead rusher for the 49ers that game. Back in July during the offseason, I had written about the 49ers needing to slowly phase out Mitchell for Mason as the primary backup. And after his impressive performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, it is now time to do so.

Mason needs to be the indefinite backup to Christian McCaffrey going forward.

Whenever Mitchell gets healthy, that job should no longer be his. It is pointless to keep investing in a player who gets injured so frequently. One thing that Mason has demonstrated is dependability. There is never a worry or concern with him getting injured. Plus, I think he is a better runner than Mitchell. That much became clear against the Cowboys when he broke off a 26 yard touchdown run. He is a great compliment to McCaffrey. Mason provides more straight line running with a "lower the shoulder" style. He also can be shifty when he needs to.

“Every time he gets out there and gets an opportunity, he looks like it," said Shanahan if Mason is a starting caliber running back. "And to me that's all that you can go off in this league. How does the film look? Who knows how good he can be because every time he gets an opportunity, he does exactly what he needs to do and move the chains. Every time it's blocked, he gets more than what it's blocked for. It was funny taking Christian out there at the end, not even that close to that, I think it was like 13 minutes. He's like, ‘Ah, I feel like we're going to break one though, let me just break one.’ And we told him no. And JP went in for one play and broke one."

Mason is an impressive runner and that has actually been evident since last season. It makes too much sense to go with the player who is playing well and can be counted on. Mitchell is a solid running back who was amazing in 2021, but he lacks reliability. It's been his downfall, and one thing about the 49ers in 2023 is they no longer hold out hope for injury prone players for too long anymore. Given how often Mitchell is injured, maybe being the third running back is what is best for him.

The 49ers are better off using Mason as the compliment to McCaffrey. His performance against the Cowboys was just a teaser of what he can do for the rest of the season. Let him continue to grow with his opportunities and the 49ers could end up truly looking at a starting caliber running back by season's end.