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McCaffrey missed practice but could play despite hamstring
McCaffrey missed practice Wednesday but could be limited on Thursday, indicating a hamstring injury that may not sideline him completely.
McCaffrey's hamstring less severe than Deebo's; limited Thursday possible.
McCaffrey's hamstring injury is less severe than Deebo Samuel's; Shanahan said CMC had a good week and is not practicing Wednesday but has a chance to be limited Thursday, indicating a faster recovery trajectory.
McCaffrey's RB2 finish shows Washington's weak run defense (27th) is exploitable.
McCaffrey finished as RB2 against Washington, which sits 27th in half PPR points allowed to opposing backfields at 17.0 per game on the season. Washington's weak run defense, compounded by DT Daron Payne going to IR, makes this a favorable matchup for elite backs.
McCaffrey faces a soft Raiders defense with potential WR reinforcements returning.
McCaffrey is the RB6 in half PPR points per game on RB6 usage across his last four games; he's been a mid-range RB1 with WRs healthy (Deebo Samuel Sr. and Mike Evans have missed time). The Raiders rank fifth in half PPR points allowed to opposing backfields (23.4 per game) and third in rushing points allowed to RBs, recently surrendering an RB6 finish to Braelon Allen. San Francisco enters with a slate-high 30.5-point implied team total (first) as 9.5-point home favorites.
McCaffrey's 6.0 yards per target is lowest since rookie year.
McCaffrey has 42 targets without a receiving touchdown through eight weeks. While he had seven receiving touchdowns in both 2023 and 2025, his receiving efficiency has declined this year: his yards per catch has dropped to 7.4, and his yards per target (6.0) is the lowest it's been since his rookie year, suggesting a decline in receiving production despite high target volume.
McCaffrey sidelined Wednesday with hamstring; may practice Thursday.
San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey may practice Thursday, suggesting a possible return for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
McCaffrey projected top-5 RB vs. Raiders; 49ers' 0.154 EPA/play vs. 0.064.
Christian McCaffrey is projected to finish as a top-5 running back against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed against running backs. The 49ers' offense sits at 0.154 EPA/play (second-highest in the league) versus the Raiders' defense at 0.064 EPA/play (25th in the league), positioning the 49ers to dominate after their bye week.
Post from Ian Hartitz
McCaffrey's receiving less efficient but still weekly TD upside.
Christian McCaffrey's receiving has been less efficient, but he remains a weekly touchdown waiting to happen, indicating his red-zone usage and scoring upside remain intact despite reduced receiving efficiency.
Christian McCaffrey ranks 4th in RB trade value at 74.
Ranked 4th in rest-of-season RB trade value with a HALFPPR value of 74; reflects his current trade market standing among elite running backs.
McCaffrey's top-market contract and deadline trade have paid off for 49ers.
McCaffrey received a contract extension near the top of the running back market from the 49ers, and that contract has aged well for them; he was also acquired via trade at the 2022 deadline.
McCaffrey highlights expanded 49ers hydrotherapy room with improved recovery infrastructure.
McCaffrey praised the 49ers' newly revamped hydrotherapy room, noting the expanded facilities including two pools, additional hot tubs, and cold tubs provide better recovery infrastructure; he emphasized the increased space as a solution to previous limitations.
Christian McCaffrey projects for 19.6 PPR points in Week 9.
Christian McCaffrey is projected for 19.6 PPR points in Week 9, with a current utilization-based PPG of 18.1 in half-PPR scoring.
McCaffrey's elite matchup vs. Raiders' worst rush defense warrants aggressive upgrade.
McCaffrey faces the Raiders, who are No. 32 in defensive rush DVOA (11.3%), one of the biggest flow-chart defenses for RBs. McCaffrey returned from a hamstring injury in Week 7 with strong performance (19.0 fantasy points, 100 yards, 1 TD on 7 carries, 7 targets) and rested on the Week 8 bye. For the season, he has been reliable (18.1 fantasy points per game, 640 yards, 8 TDs on 84 carries, 42 targets, 89 Utilization Score). The 49ers are -9.5 home favorites off the bye against a non-divisional/conference opponent, and this is their sixth week out of the past eight not on the road, while the Raiders are on their second straight road game after playing on the East Coast.
Post from SleeperNFL
McCaffrey's elite efficiency meets worst-ranked run defense if hamstring holds.
Ranked RB4 for Week 9 against Las Vegas with 20.6 PPR points per game this season—more than any RB not named Jahmyr Gibbs or Kenneth Walker. Faces an on-paper matchup advantage: San Francisco ranks third in RB rush yards before contact per carry while the Raiders defense ranks dead last by a large margin. Health caveat: fingers crossed the hamstring is healthy.
McCaffrey's 2022 price (3 picks + 5th) sets ceiling for Taylor; Taylor's lighter passing usage may lower ask.
McCaffrey's 2022 trade price (three draft picks plus a 2024 fifth-round pick) serves as a ceiling reference for Jonathan Taylor's potential trade value. McCaffrey has since earned All-Pro honors in both of his healthy seasons. However, two caveats suggest Taylor's price could be lighter: McCaffrey's heavier passing-game usage offsets concerns about aging running-back depreciation in ways Taylor's style might not, and the Niners faced bidding competition from division-rival Los Angeles Rams in 2022, which drove up the price.
McCaffrey's All-Pro seasons justify his trade price; benchmark for Taylor.
McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors in both of his healthy seasons with the 49ers after being acquired for 2023 second-, third-, and fourth-round picks plus a 2024 fifth-round pick. His heavier usage in the passing game offsets concerns about the depreciating value of aging running backs, making him a benchmark for what executives believe Jonathan Taylor should command.
Post from Coach Yac đź—Ł
McCaffrey dealing with hamstring issue entering Week 9.
Christian McCaffrey was slowed by a hamstring issue as of the 49ers' last game before their Week 8 bye; The Athletic flagged this injury concern alongside Mike Evans' Achilles injury when evaluating San Francisco's health status heading into Week 9.
McCaffrey hamstring issue clouds 49ers health outlook entering Week 9.
McCaffrey was slowed by a hamstring issue heading into Week 9, creating uncertainty around his availability and health status as the 49ers look to maintain their top-tier roster composition after their bye week.
McCaffrey expected to play Week 9 after bye; minor hamstring.
McCaffrey was in and out of the lineup in Week 7 due to a hamstring injury, which head coach Kyle Shanahan labeled as minor on Monday; he is expected to play in Week 9 following the team's bye. The team's Week 8 bye should theoretically provide enough time to where he doesn't miss any games.
McCaffrey's minor hamstring injury; expected to play Week 9 after bye.
McCaffrey was in and out of the lineup in Week 7 due to a hamstring injury, which head coach Kyle Shanahan labeled as minor on Monday; expected to play in Week 9 following the team's bye. The team's Week 8 bye should theoretically provide enough time to where he doesn't miss any games.
McCaffrey is a top-two waiver target post-bye with elite efficiency and juicy matchup.
CMC is ranked RB7 overall, averaging 20.6 ppg with RB1 target share (25%) and RB5 Utilization Score (89). Bye week is complete and he faces a Raiders run defense allowing +3.3 fantasy boost to opposing RBs. The source identifies him as a top-two target on the waiver wire despite slight health ambiguity coming out of the bye. Recommended bid: 30%.
McCaffrey's 22.0 PPG and receiving floor make him a top-tier Knockout asset.
McCaffrey is fourth at his position in fantasy points per game (22.0); his receiving game contributions keep his weekly floor high, and his age and mileage haven't seemed to be an issue at all. Despite being on bye in Week 9, only eight other players had higher knocked-out rates than McCaffrey, suggesting strong demand.
McCaffrey expected to return to full workload post-bye; sizable bid justified.
Fresh off a bye, Christian McCaffrey is expected to be back to near full health while dealing with a mild hamstring strain, putting him in line for a full workload moving forward, which makes the San Francisco 49ers RB worth a sizable bid.
McCaffrey's No. 6 RB ranking and completed bye week support his early-round value.
Ranked No. 6 among running backs in fantasy scoring, McCaffrey plays for the San Francisco 49ers, one of the 14 teams with their bye already completed, providing a full nine weeks of remaining games—13% more than teams with upcoming byes—making him an attractive early-round selection in Week 9 knockout leagues.
McCaffrey's 2022 trade haul sets benchmark for Taylor's asking price; age/receiver gap differs.
Christian McCaffrey was traded by the 49ers to the Carolina Panthers in 2022 for second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks. McCaffrey was 26 at the time of the trade and possesses receiver abilities that haven't been matched by anyone since Marshall Faulk. The source uses McCaffrey's trade compensation as a benchmark for the Colts' asking price for Jonathan Taylor, noting that Taylor is 27 and will turn 28 at the end of the regular season.
McCaffrey's hamstring status unclear; 49ers may ease workload with Kaelon Black in Week 9.
McCaffrey enters Week 9 coming off a bye week while nursing a mild hamstring injury. The 49ers were optimistic he would be fine, but his level of participation in practice will provide better insight into the team's confidence. San Francisco may opt to lean on rookie Kaelon Black more in Week 9 to ease McCaffrey's workload. Prior injury is the best indicator of future injury, and McCaffrey will carry an elevated degree of risk for the foreseeable future.
McCaffrey's bell-cow role and high-scoring offense justify proactive pursuit.
McCaffrey was the eighth-most common player on eliminated teams (16.1%) and was on his bye week in Week 8, which gave him a chance to rest a mild hamstring strain. The source notes his efficiency is no longer dreamy but he's a bell cow on a high-scoring offense, warranting a proactive bid, with FAB recommendations of $280 proactive, $150 reactive, and $100 keep them honest.