Niners RB Christian McCaffrey might have been questionable entering the weekend, but you wouldn't have known it by the way the team used him in the victory over Seattle. McCaffrey rushed 22 times and caught nine of 10 targets Sunday. He led his nearest teammates by three targets and five catches. That workload helped prop up an inefficient day on the ground, where McCaffrey managed a mere 3.1 yards per carry. His 73 receiving yards marked a solid 8.1-yard average. McCaffrey wound up with the third-best PPR score among RBs for the week (pending Monday night) even without scoring a TD.
Kyle Shanahan afterward: "I'm real pleased. I know we got a scare on Thursday but started feeling better, much better about it Friday and Saturday. ... Seemed like it wasn't an issue and thought he had a hell of a game."
Making it through Week 1 without issue obviously doesn't mean we can just forget about the calf issue. But it sure means we shouldn't worry about it until McCaffrey gives us some further reason to.
Brian Robinson Jr. played just 18 snaps -- compared with 58 for McCaffrey -- as the ony other 49ers RB to get time. That at least confirms his status as the handcuff, and that time included a pair of targets on seven pass routes.
We'll keep an eye on the rushing efficiency, but Seattle ranked a solid 12th in run-defense DVOA last season. So no worries about that aspect of McCaffrey's Week 1.
The next three weeks hold non-scary matchups at New Orleans and then back home against the Cardinals and Jaguars.
Multiple people asked leading up to last weekend whether they should pick up Isaac Guerendo. Week 1 confirmed that he'll need two teammate injuries to find fantasy relevance.
A quick look at the most important matchup data to consider when making Week 10 start/sit decisions, including implied points, projected plays, WR/CB matchups, and adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Read More »
We know Jaelan Phillips can get after the QB, but his new home could supercharge his sack production. Here's why (plus more IDP notes from around the league).
Read More »
Let's dig into the impact of the Rashid Shaheed and Jakobi Meyers trades, the Jayden Daniels injury, and backfield ambiguity for the Giants and Bears. Plus ... is Kenneth Walker a BUY?
Read More »
You have our personal money-back guarantee: If you’re not happy with our service for any reason, just reach out by December 31, 2025, and we’ll give you 100% of your subscription money back. No strings attached. You can cancel with one-click from your account page anytime.
Search
