Christian McCaffrey Faces Restrictions in Practice as 49ers Look Toward Week 1

Christian McCaffrey's Practice Limitations

The San Francisco 49ers officially listed star running back Christian McCaffrey as a limited participant in practice on Thursday due to a calf strain. This injury, sustained in August, kept him out of the entire preseason. As the NFL's Week 1 opener against the New York Jets approaches, speculation about his availability is increasing.

Impact on McCaffrey's Season

At just 28 years of age, McCaffrey is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, leading the league with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. His total of 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns in 2022 exemplified his importance to the 49ers, who acquired him from the Carolina Panthers during the season.

Fantasy Football Considerations

If McCaffrey were to miss the game, backup Jordan Mason would step into the lead-back role, becoming an attractive flex option. Quarterback Brock Purdy may also suffer in rankings without McCaffrey, making it harder for players like Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle to maintain their performance levels. Deebo Samuel could emerge as a key player if McCaffrey is absent, potentially shifting to more running plays.