As we look ahead to Week 13 of the NFL season, some of the league's most notable players are dealing with injury situations.
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is reportedly dealing with a knee issue and logged just 15 touches against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.
Is Christian McCaffrey healthy or injured? What is his fantasy football injury outlook for Week 13?
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
Is Christian McCaffrey Hurt Or Healthy?
Since a blockbuster trade landed Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, his output has been solid, if unspectacular. After a Week 8 explosion against the Los Angeles Rams that resulted in the versatile McCaffrey throwing, catching, and rushing for touchdowns; the former Carolina Panther has been relatively quiet.
CMC has shared duties with Elijah Mitchell since the latter returned to the lineup from an injury absence. McCaffrey tallied just 15 touches last week in New Orleans while dealing with what Niners HC Kyle Shanahan referred to as "knee irritation" in postgame comments. Shanahan went on to say that McCaffrey would be managed on a day-to-day basis ahead of a Week 13 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Christian McCaffrey Fantasy Football Outlook for Week 13
There's a lot to unpack here, as McCaffrey's knee irritation is certainly cause for his fantasy managers to be concerned. However, his backfield mate, Elijah Mitchell suffered an MCL injury in Week 12 and is now expected to miss an extended period of time. Mitchell's absence would theoretically be a large boost for a healthy CMC.
Mitchell's sizable role has been both surprising and frustrating for McCaffrey's fantasy backers. His injury now opens the door for CMC, but is he healthy enough to take advantage of this situation? With just rookies Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price behind him on the depth chart, the dynamic McCaffrey's role should be significant for the remainder of the season.
Fantasy managers should monitor his practice participation throughout the week, but it feels as though the Niners will take the cautious route with their star RB. Nervous GMs looking for some insurance can take a flier on one of the rookies behind CMC, as his health will likely be a concern for the foreseeable future.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!Win More With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:More Fantasy Football Analysis