The unquestioned best player in fantasy football, Christian McCaffrey has been a pinnacle of durability over the past two seasons. Now 28 years old and with a ton of mileage, perhaps that is catching up to him.
After missing Week 1 with his lingering calf/Achilles injury, what are the chances fantasy managers get the San Francisco 49ers RB back for Week 2?
Latest Injury Update on Christian McCaffrey
The best running back in football is still dealing with the same injury that sidelined him for most of training camp and the entire preseason.
McCaffrey strained his calf over the summer and is also apparently dealing with Achilles tendonitis. Nothing about this is ideal for the 49ers or fantasy managers.
After practicing in a limited capacity all three days last week, McCaffrey was widely expected to play Monday night. Instead, he was a surprise inactive mere hours before kickoff.
Shortly after being ruled out, Adam Schefter reported that McCaffrey was at risk of missing Week 2 as well. After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan rebuked those rumors, but that doesn’t make them any less true.
Will McCaffrey Play This Week?
The 49ers opened their practice week on Wednesday, and, just like last week, McCaffrey was limited and this remained the case on Thursday.
The fact that he is able to practice at all suggests his injury isn’t overly serious. This is supported by the reports that had it been a playoff game, McCaffrey would have played. I believe these reports.
The bad news for fantasy managers is it’s Week 2. San Francisco has absolutely no incentive to push CMC at anything less than 100%. It would be an unnecessary risk to take so early in the season.
Adding to the issue for fantasy managers is Jordan Mason’s impressive performance filling in for McCaffrey. The 2022 UDFA didn’t just act as a warm body — he was terrific.
Mason faced a high rate of stacked boxes and just ran through a good Jets defensive front for 147 yards on 28 attempts. Mason was the only 49ers RB to touch the ball (although Deebo Samuel did have eight carries, acting as the RB2). He also barely came off the field, playing over 80% of the offensive snaps.
Had Mason flopped and the 49ers struggled offensively in a loss or a close win, perhaps they’d be compelled to try and bring McCaffrey back sooner. As things currently stand, there is no rush at all.
We may very well see McCaffrey sit out multiple games, especially if the 49ers keep winning without him.
It’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions about McCaffrey’s status. While I do expect him to practice all three days, my guess is he will remain limited.
Until he is able to partake in a full practice, fantasy managers should assume McCaffrey is not going to play.
What Does This Mean for Jordan Mason’s Fantasy Ranking?
Whenever he takes the field, McCaffrey is the top running back in fantasy. Upon his return, perhaps he will merely be a mid-RB1, as there might be questions about his workload.
The real story is Mason.
Last week, Mason posted 22.2 fantasy points in the lead back role. We’ve seen many running backs with varying degrees of skill excel in Shanahan’s offenses. Mason is merely the latest.
It’s important not to overreact, but it’s equally important to react accordingly.
The 49ers still have one of the best offenses in football. This Sunday, they’re facing a much less imposing foe in the Vikings.
Hopefully, if you roster McCaffrey, you also have Mason. Regardless of whether you have McCaffrey, though, if you have Mason, he is a no-question must-start RB1 if McCaffrey is held out for a second consecutive week.