Ke'Shawn

Vaughn

Vaughn’s practice squad days may be over. Week 14 starter, RB Isaac Guerendo exited with a foot injury and the 49ers have a quick turnaround, facing the Rams on Thursday night in Week 15. Vaughn played inefficiently but is currently penciled in as the team’s No. 2 RB behind Patrick Taylor Jr. The team recently signed RB Israel Abanikanda but kept him inactive this week. Fantasy managers should closely monitor the news for updates on Guerendo’s foot and Vaughn’s depth chart spot in relation to the speedy Abanikanda.

Guerendo’s injury was not immediately apparent though a slight limp was perhaps visible. He briefly stopped by the blue medical tent before walking to the locker room under his own power. This leaves Patrick Taylor Jr. and Ke’Shawn Vaughn as the 49ers’ available RBs. He is questionable to return.

Vaughn had already been on the 49ers practice squad earlier this year, so it’s not surprising they went back to him with their two main backs suddenly on injured reserve. There is no reason to jump the gun on adding Vaughn to your fantasy team. The 27-year-old veteran has not had an NFL carry this season yet.

Taylor was released last week with Christian McCaffrey returning in Week 10. He now returns to the 49ers, having registered seven carries for 25 yards and one catch for 12 yards in eight games for the team this season. In a corresponding move, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn was released from the practice squad.

Breida wasn’t expected to be long for the 49ers after signing with them earlier this month. His signing came following an injury to Isaac Guerendo, and the Niners are already deep at running back with Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason sitting atop the depth chart. In addition to Breida, the 49ers also released RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn and waived P Pressley Harvin, OL Lewis Kidd, and WR Jontre Kirklin.

The Buccaneers selected Vaughn in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Vanderbilt Commodore never lived up to his Day 2 draft capital, as he seemingly fell behind every running back the team signed after drafting him. To nobody’s surprise, Vaughn played behind Leonard Fournette during his three-year stint with the team, but Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, and rookie UDFA have all been for most of this season. Vaughn has rushed 103 times for 384 yards and two touchdowns in 43 career games. He’s surpassed 50 rushing yards only twice in his career and saw the best game of his career come in December 2021 when he rushed for 7-70-1 against the Panthers. At 26 years old, Vaughn is already nearing the age cliff for running backs, which is yet another indictment on the career backup. He’ll likely get another chance elsewhere, but he has little to no fantasy upside regardless of the landing spot.

Also inactive for the Buccaneers are QB John Wolford, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, CB Jamel Dean, LB Devin White, and OL Brandon Walton. Vea is one of three key defenders out for the Buccaneers, with Dean and White also out against the Falcons. The Buccaneers defense will have to manage with a weaker front seven and secondary as a result. Vaughn continues to be an inactive from the Buccaneers backfield as the team’s fourth running back.

Vaughn is now firmly fourth on the Bucs running back depth chart behind Sean Tucker, but that has been the case for a couple of weeks now. While Vaughn is the biggest name on the list, Feiler is likely the most impactful since he has been starting at left guard for Tampa Bay. Being down a starting offensive lineman against this 49ers defensive line is never something you want.

On one hand, Rachaad White was so ineffective that the Bucs continued to try and work Vaughn into the running game after getting 10 touches in Week 4. On the other hand, Vaughn was also ineffective again. He can be put on fantasy radars now that he’s being given an opportunity to push for more playing time, but he has yet to show anything on the field that suggests he can take the starting job in Tampa Bay.

Vaughn took over as the Bucs’ RB2, relegating Sean Tucker to the bench. He saw ten touches, including a goal-line carry. The Buccaneers’ backfield belongs to Rachaad White, but the team’s RB2 (this week being Vaughn) will continue to get touches on a few possessions per game. Vaughn, however, is not worth a spot on fantasy rosters just yet.