Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Rashaad Penny

Saturday, October 25, 5:43 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey overcame a challenging matchup last week to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game for the first time this season. Against the Falcons' surprisingly stout defense, he finished with 129 and two touchdowns on 24 carries, and had another 72 yards through the air on seven catches. Another tough defense awaits McCaffrey and the 49ers in Week 8 against the Houston Texans. Houston has not given up 100 rushing yards to a back yet this year, and is allowing just 3.85 yards per carry. McCaffrey will be hard-pressed to repeat as the overall RB1, but another top-12 finish can be expected given how often San Francisco puts the ball in his hands. Fantasy football managers can ignore the matchup and lock McCaffrey into starting lineups for Week 8.

Tuesday, July 30, 11:14 AM

The Carolina Panthers have placed running back Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list. Penny, who joined the Panthers this offseason, was set to reunite with head coach Dave Canales, the passing game coordinator during Penny's standout 2021 season with the Seattle Seahawks, and Brad Idzik, now the Panthers' offensive coordinator. Unfortunately, a series of injuries including multiple strains, a torn ACL, and a fibula fracture have hindered Penny's once-explosive performance. Despite rigorous rehab, he struggled to regain the speed that made him a dynamic force in college. Penny's 5.6 yards per carry would be the highest in NFL history if he had sustained it. He also recorded 2,248 rushing yards at San Diego State in 2017, ranking fifth for a single season in NCAA history. The former first-round pick had stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Panthers in May. Penny retires with 1,931 career rushing yards, 13 touchdowns on 348 carries, and 28 receptions for 227 yards.