Jordan

James

James was a productive rusher and receiver while serving as Oregon’s 2024 starter. He’ll attempt to challenge veteran RB Patrick Taylor Jr. for the No. 3 role in the 49ers’ July training camp. With just Day 3 draft capital, James has a long way to go before finding re-draft relevance but he is worthy of a bench spot in dynasty leagues.

James (5’10/205) backed up Bucky Irving as a freshman and started to force a committee as a sophomore with 107 carries to Irving’s 186. Though Bucky easily operated as the Ducks’ top option, James’ talent was undeniable. He averaged 7.1 YPC and equaled Irving with 11 rushing scores. With the latter gone in 2024, James took over the backfield and didn’t disappoint, racking up 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns on 233 attempts. He caught 26 passes for 209 yards, albeit at just under one yard per route run. James lost his already limited long-run potential while operating as the lead back. He broke just a dozen carries of 15+ yards, the same amount he went for in the previous season. Despite his lack of explosive runs, James was elite at churning out shorter chunk gains. His 57 percent success rate led all running backs in 2024 and he went for 10 or more yards on 17 percent of his carries. As expected, James was underwhelming at the combine, running a 4.55 forty. After his pro day, James registered a 3.87 RAS. James is a grinder with a limited ceiling, but he heads to a Kyle Shanahan system that is great at elevating running backs. James will compete with Isaac Guerendo for RB2 duties in San Francisco over the summer.

Initially pledged to Georgia back in May, James (5'10/205) changed his mind on signing day and chose to leave his Murfreesboro, Tennessee home for the rainy forests of Eugene, Oregon. An all-purpose back who possesses good vision, agility and the ability to make tacklers miss at the line, James absorbs contact well and has the potential to develop into a Travis Dye type performer down the line for the Ducks, especially since Seven McGee is now in the portal and the physical Byron Cardwell looking to take over the starting tailback role in 2022. James is rated as the 162nd overall recruit in the country and 13th best player at the running back position according to 247Sports.

James (5'10/205) is a compact, patient back who is best used as a one-cut, downhill runner who can also catch passes out of the backfield and pick up blitzes in pass protection. He doesn’t have long-speed, but has plenty of chunk plays on his high school tape. James is rated as the 17th running back and third overall recruit in the state of Tennessee from the 2022 prep class. So far, he is the only running back out of UGA’s current 2022 class of 12 players.