Christian McCaffrey
Running Back #23
Christian McCaffrey News
Christian McCaffrey Set for Bounce-Back Week vs. Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has the opportunity to bounce back when his team hosts the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. The star back was part of a large contingent of players who didn't participate in Wednesday's practice but returned on Thursday to prepare for Sunday's divisional matchup. McCaffrey was held to 23 yards on 10 carries in Week 2 but scored two rushing TDs in a convincing 35-13 win against the Miami Dolphins. Arizona has struggled to contain the run early in the 2026 campaign, allowing 243 yards and one touchdown on the ground through two games. CMC should be able to exploit the Cardinals' defense, setting the table for a strong Week 3 across fantasy leagues.
Sep 25, 2026 2:53 PM EST
Kaelon Black Keeps a Useful Role Behind Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black remains a strong Week 3 waiver target despite a quieter showing against Miami. Black carried seven times for 25 yards after handling 14 carries for 65 yards in the opener, and he played roughly one-third of the offensive snaps Sunday. Christian McCaffrey remains the clear lead back and handled both goal-line touchdowns, so Black's standalone value is still somewhat dependent on game script. Even so, San Francisco has given the rookie 21 carries through two games, which is enough to make his role worth taking seriously. RotoBaller currently recommends adding Black in 10-team leagues and deeper, viewing him as one of fantasy's better handcuffs with some standalone appeal. He does not need to be forced into lineups every week, but the combination of regular rushing work and the upside he would carry if McCaffrey missed time makes Black a worthwhile waiver add rather than a bench-only lottery ticket.
Sep 21, 2026 7:58 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey In Line For RB1 Performance In Favorable Matchup
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had 68 rushing yards on 10 carries and converted eight targets into five catches for 20 receiving yards in last week's win over the Rams. His modest output in that game resulted from the 49ers' overall dominance and the effectiveness of backup Kaelon Black (groin), who had 14 carries of his own. With San Francisco heavily favored against the Dolphins in Week 2, there will be less of a need for McCaffrey to produce. However, Black was nursing groin tightness in practices this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday. Restrictions on Black may increase McCaffrey's workload, or open the door for backup Jordan James to get involved. Regardless, McCaffrey's status in San Francisco's offense and his effectiveness when on the field keep him in contention for a top-five finish. As in any week when McCaffrey is healthy, he is a must-start.
Sep 18, 2026 8:59 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Played Through Cramping in Season-Opening Win
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that running back Christian McCaffrey dealt with some cramps during the season-opening win on Thursday over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, but made it through fine, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. McCaffrey did not have a huge Week 1 performance, but he did enough to help the Niners pull off a blowout win over a Rams defense that came into the 2026 season expected to be one of the best units in the league. The 30-year-old had 10 carries for 68 yards and caught five of his eight targets for 20 yards. It was a notable reduction in his workload after finishing as the RB1 in fantasy in 2025 with a career- and league-high 413 touches in 17 regular-season starts. Rookie Kaelon Black actually had four more carries than CMC, who did not do much in training camp due to undisclosed tightness. McCaffrey might not see as hefty a workload in 2026, but if he stays healthy again all year, he still has the potential to be a league-winner in San Fran's offense. He is a must-start for a Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Sep 11, 2026 8:04 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey Has Modest Production In Lopsided Victory
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey led the team in rushing yards on Thursday night, gaining 68 on 10 carries. The versatile back also led the team in targets with eight, converting them into five receptions for 20 yards through the air. McCaffrey's 55% snap share on Thursday paled in comparison to his heavy usage in 2025. The 49ers involved second-stringer Kaelon Black early and often to spell McCaffrey, and the duo ended the game with the same amount of total touches. San Francisco scored 24 unanswered points following the Rams' second-quarter touchdown, providing the team the right script to be conservative with McCaffrey. Even if the 49ers make good on their talk of finding ways to preserve their star running back, McCaffrey's effectiveness when on the field will keep him in contention as one of the best at his position every week. In Week 2, McCaffrey will face the Miami Dolphins in the 49ers' home opener.
Sep 10, 2026 11:17 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Healthy, Projected As Top-3 RB Option For Week 1
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) spent much of the preseason limited with what was described in numerous reports as general tightness. McCaffrey later explained that his extended absence from team drills was part of the team's plan to keep him fresh in 2026 after racking up 414 touches in 2015. McCaffrey was not listed in injury reports this week and carries no designation ahead of the 49ers' season opener against the Rams. Injuries to the 49ers' offense in 2025 paved the way for McCaffrey to be the team's leading receiver. San Francisco fleshed out its wide receiver room in the offseason, reuniting with Deebo Samuel Sr., signing free agent Mike Evans, and drafting rookie De'Zhaun Stribling. With the new additions, there may be fewer opportunities for McCaffrey as a pass catcher. Still, he will remain the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's dynamic offense and, when healthy, has the potential to be the top running back in fantasy football week-to-week. McCaffrey projects as a top-3 option at his position in Week 1.
Sep 10, 2026 9:11 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey Avoids 49ers Injury Report Ahead of Week 1
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is not among the players listed on the injury report ahead of his team's season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. McCaffrey's participation in training camp was limited due to undisclosed tightness, but it appears he is fully ready to go ahead of Week 1. The star running back led the NFL with 413 touches in 2025, so San Francisco may simply have been taking every available precaution to limit his workload over the summer. The ability to stay healthy throughout the entire season remains a concern for McCaffrey, who is entering his age-30 campaign and has missed 10 games or more in three of his nine career NFL seasons. Still, McCaffrey looks to be healthy entering 2026, and he remains a high-end RB1 option for fantasy managers as long as he is on the field.
Sep 8, 2026 4:27 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey in Full Uniform for Tuesday's practice in Australia
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) is in full uniform for the team's practice in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The team's final injury report for the day will tell us more about CMC's status for the Week 1 showdown on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but it looks like he is heading in the right direction to be active. The Niners kept McCaffrey in bubble wrap during the preseason, and he has been sitting out of practices for several weeks due to undisclosed tightness. The star RB said the plan was always for the team to play it safe with him to have him fully ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, and it makes sense given his lengthy injury history. Until further notice, there is no reason for fantasy managers to pull CMC out of their starting lineups for Week 1. The 30-year-old four-time Pro Bowler and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year is a league-winner if he stays healthy, which is what he did in 2025, when he ran for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games.
Sep 7, 2026 8:57 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Remains an Elite Fantasy Option in 2026
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is aiming to overcome the "400-touch rule" in 2026. McCaffrey was incredible in 2025, totaling 311 carries for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns, and adding 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. Despite not being efficient on the ground last season, McCaffrey made up for it with elite receiving production, and he is the main reason fantasy managers should not fade the star this season. Now, fantasy managers are worried about the health of the 30-year-old back after a massive workload last season, but he's never faced a major injury that required a lengthy recovery. The addition of Kaelon Black as the backup running back shouldn't affect McCaffrey's receiving or goal-line workload. If the 49ers star running back stays healthy in 2026, he will be a contender for the RB1 overall.
Sep 4, 2026 6:00 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey "Looks Ready for Week 1"
CBS Sports' Matt Lively thinks that San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) "certainly looks ready for Week 1" after seeing him practice on Tuesday. McCaffrey, who missed some training camp practices with an undisclosed issue, looked spry in a video that Lively posted of 49ers practice. CMC was catching passes and running around in full uniform, so he looks ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener next Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia, barring any setbacks between now and then. San Francisco most likely was just keeping the oft-injured star RB in bubble wrap during camp and the preseason, especially when considering the rest of their backfield was banged up as well. All signs point to McCaffrey being a full-go for Week 1, and he still has league-winning upside as a top-five fantasy RB, albeit with more risk than some of the other top names at the position. McCaffrey managed to play in all 17 regular-season games a year ago to finish as the RB1 in fantasy, recording 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns and 924 receiving yards with another seven scores through the air.
Sep 1, 2026 1:10 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey a Top Target in Drafts Despite Steep Price Tag
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McMaffrey has an average draft position of 6.4, making him a mid-first-round pick in most fantasy leagues this year. That's a hefty price tag, but McCaffrey's track record suggests that he's absolutely worth it. Last year, the star running back tallied 1,202 rushing yards, 102 catches, 924 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns, which allowed him to rank as the clear-cut overall RB1 in fantasy football. He has now been the RB1 in two of his last three seasons, as well as a top-two fantasy running back in three of his last four. There has been plenty of dialogue this draft season about McCaffrey's injury risk impacting his draft stock, but that seems a bit excessive. First of all, McCaffrey has only been truly plagued by injuries in one of his last four seasons (2024). He missed zero games in 2022, one game in 2023, and zero games in 2025. Additionally, passing on a player just because they might get injured is bold. In the NFL, nobody is safe from injuries, so passing on McCaffrey certainly doesn't guarantee that the other player you choose to draft will stay healthy. All in all, the 30-year-old running back continues to prove that he's a star in this league with league-winning upside in fantasy football. He should be drafted as such in the early or middle portion of the first round in 2026 drafts.
Aug 29, 2026 5:54 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey's Absence Part of the Plan
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) said his absence in training camp was always part of the plan to have him ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "Obviously when you don't practice, the way the media works now it's a firestorm," McCaffrey said. "But this was kind of part of the plan from the jump was to ramp up pretty big, get nine, 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp back up so we're fresh for the duration... And again, I feel great. I feel fresh, and it's good to be back out there." The Niners have been holding out their star RB late with undisclosed tightness, but he returned to practice on Sunday and even jumped into team drills. San Francisco is taking every precaution to keep the oft-injured four-time Pro Bowler as fresh as possible going into Week 1 after he had 1,202 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on a career-high 311 carries in 2025 in 17 regular-season games, adding 102 catches for 924 yards and another seven scores. CMC remains one of the most talented dual-threat backs in the league, but his lengthy injury history makes him high-risk, high-reward as RotoBaller's No. 3 overall RB.
Aug 23, 2026 5:15 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Back on Practice Field
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was back in uniform and on the practice field Sunday, according to Nick Wagoner. McCaffrey had not practiced since Aug. 8 while the 49ers managed what the team called tightness. Kyle Shanahan said earlier this week that the absence was health-related and that McCaffrey probably would have practiced if San Francisco were preparing for a regular-season game. That made the extended layoff sound precautionary, and Sunday's return fits that read. McCaffrey handled a massive workload last season, finishing with 311 carries for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 102 catches for 924 yards and seven more scores. His 413 touches led the NFL. Wagoner noted that McCaffrey's level of participation Sunday was not immediately clear, so this is not the same as saying he's back to a full workload. Still, getting him onto the field again is an encouraging step with Week 1 approaching.
Aug 23, 2026 9:45 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey Did Not Participate in Practice Saturday
The Athletic's Vic Tafur reports San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) did not participate in Saturday's practice. The star running back has been held out of practices and preseason action due to undisclosed "tightness." However, head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier in the week that if it were the regular season, McCaffrey would be practicing and playing. With his injury history, the team has understandably opted to be cautious. In the two seasons following a 330-plus-touch season, he has played a combined seven games (three games in 2020 and four games in 2024). McCaffrey saw over 400 touches last season that produced 2,126 total scrimmage yards and 17 total touchdowns. The 30-year-old will be a high-risk, high-reward fantasy option for managers heading into drafts in 2026.
Aug 22, 2026 2:09 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Sits Out Second Preseason Contest
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) sat out of the team's second preseason game on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. McCaffrey was on the field for pre-game warmups, but as expected, he did not play in the contest as the team continues to be cautious with the oft-injured star RB as he works his way through undisclosed "tightness." Head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier in the week that if it were the regular season, McCaffrey would be practicing and playing. Given CMC's lengthy injury history and the fact that the rest of the backfield has been banged up in training camp, it makes total sense for the Niners to put McCaffrey in bubble wrap and save him for the Week 1 regular-season opener in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. He doesn't appear to be in any danger of missing the first game of the regular season. McCaffrey has proven he has league-winning upside, but his injury history makes him a high-risk/high-reward top-end RB1 in fantasy. RotoBaller has CMC ranked behind only Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson at the RB position.
Aug 22, 2026 9:14 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey Could Have Practiced Tuesday
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey remains out with tightness, but head coach Kyle Shanahan gave a positive update Tuesday. Shanahan said McCaffrey is coming along well and would have participated if the 49ers had held a normal practice instead of a joint session with the Los Angeles Chargers. He also pushed back on speculation that McCaffrey's absence has anything to do with his contract, saying that would be wrong. San Francisco has been careful with McCaffrey rather than having him push through the tightness during August. That's understandable after he handled a franchise-record 413 touches last season, rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 102 catches for 924 yards and seven more scores. Tuesday's update is probably the clearest sign yet that McCaffrey is getting close to returning to regular practice work.
Aug 18, 2026 12:19 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey is Actually Dealing with Tightness, Not a Hold-In
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (tightness) is actually dealing with tightness despite speculation that he was sitting out due to contractual reasons, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. There had been plenty of recent speculation on social media that McCaffrey was holding in, but Rapoport confirmed that he is actually experiencing tightness, as the 49ers previously announced. The exact specifics of his injury are unknown, though, and it's too early to tell whether he'll play in the 49ers' season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. McCaffrey is no stranger to injury concerns, but he was able to stay healthy for a full slate of 17 games last season. In doing so, he tallied 413 touches, 2,126 scrimmage yards, and 17 touchdowns en route to ranking as the RB1 in PPR leagues. Even at 30 years old, he remains capable of leading his position group in fantasy points if he can stay healthy for a full season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor McCaffrey's status and seek out additional updates as Week 1 gets closer.
Aug 17, 2026 5:05 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Still Not Practicing, Injury Concerns Continue to Rise
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will remain out of practice Sunday, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. McCaffrey hasn't practiced since August 10 while dealing with what the team has called tightness. San Francisco has downplayed it. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said last week that his concern would be McCaffrey trying to push through the tightness and turning it into something worse. Still, nearly a week off the field is hard to completely shrug off with McCaffrey. He handled a career-high 413 touches in 2025, rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 102 catches for 924 yards and seven more scores. The recent injury history is part of the concern, too. McCaffrey missed 13 games in 2024 because of Achilles tendinitis and a later PCL injury. There is still nothing coming out of San Francisco suggesting this is a serious injury, but fantasy managers will want to see McCaffrey back on the practice field soon.
Aug 16, 2026 9:50 AM EST
Christian McCaffrey Sits Out Another Practice
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) missed Saturday's practice due to "tightness," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. So far, we don't have much info on McCaffrey's injury. We know that it sidelined him for several practices and the 49ers' preseason opener, but we can't read too much into those absences since the 49ers have been lightening many of their starters' workloads anyway. With that being said, fantasy managers would be justified if they take the injury into consideration when drafting this year. In the event that he does have a clean bill of health, though, McCaffrey is worth drafting as an early-to-mid first-round pick. He was the overall RB1 in PPR leagues with 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns last year, and he ranks as the overall RB3 in RotoBaller's latest 2026 fantasy football draft rankings.
Aug 15, 2026 5:22 PM EST
Christian McCaffrey Not Practicing for Second Straight Day
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) is not practicing at training camp for the second straight day on Tuesday, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. McCaffrey is being held out so far this week with undisclosed "tightness," but offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has downplayed CMC's situation and said the team is "just managing" the All-Pro RB. The 49ers are already pretty banged up early in training camp, and as a result, they are resting some of their key veterans like McCaffrey. In addition to McCaffrey, RBs Kaelon Black (groin), Jordan James (ribs), and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) are injured, so the Niners can't afford to lose their most valuable offensive weapon in McCaffrey before the season even starts. CMC managed to stay completely healthy in 2025 and finished as the RB1 in half-PPR scoring with 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 924 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a receiver in 17 games. McCaffrey has elite upside at his position but also high-end bust potential due to his lengthy injury history. RotoBaller has him ranked as the RB3 for 2026, behind only Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson.
Aug 11, 2026 10:01 AM EST
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