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Christian McCaffrey's Rushing Volume Hindered by Brief Exit
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey totaled nine carries, 39 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Sunday's Week 7 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. He also caught six of seven targets for an additional 61 receiving yards. McCaffrey had a very productive day when he was on the field, but his rushing volume was limited by a mix of injury and game script. The 30-year-old missed a portion of the game with a thigh injury, and it was serious enough that he had to go to the locker room for evaluation and was listed as questionable. He did end up returning, although the Niners used him in the passing game more than the rushing attack since they were trailing Atlanta. San Francisco went on to lose, but McCaffrey salvaged his performance (especially in PPR leagues) with the six catches, 100 scrimmage yards, and one touchdown. As long as he's healthy, he remains a high-end RB1 on the other side of his Week 8 bye.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelon Black Sees Increased Opportunity in Loss
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black struggled early on during Sunday's game, but he was able to turn it around. Black was stopped on three straight plays inside the three-yard line on the first drive of the game. He was pretty quiet in this game until Christian McCaffrey (thigh) was forced to exit during the first half. Black took over the lead back role for a period of time and posted some decent numbers. Overall, Black carried the ball 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons. McCaffrey returned in the second half of this game, so he should be fine moving forward. Black remains one of the better handcuffs heading into the team's Week 8 bye.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Christian McCaffrey Returns From Thigh Injury Against Falcons
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (thigh) returned for the team's opening offensive possession of the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, which cuts into the likelihood of rookie Kaelon Black handling the lead role throughout the second half. McCaffrey was initially questionable to return after receiving treatment in the medical tent and on the sideline before heading to the locker room. He recorded four carries for 29 yards and a touchdown, along with three receptions for 45 yards, before his departure. Black took on additional work in his absence and scored on a 30-yard touchdown run, but McCaffrey is back in San Francisco's backfield rotation.
Source: Nick Wagoner
Source: Nick Wagoner
Christian McCaffrey Heads to Locker Room With Thigh Injury
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (thigh) has headed to the locker room during Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, which puts rookie Kaelon Black in line for an expanded workload if McCaffrey cannot return. McCaffrey initially received treatment in the medical tent before returning to the sideline, where trainers continued working on his thigh. He remains questionable to return after recording four carries for 29 yards and a touchdown, along with three receptions for 45 yards. Black has taken over backfield duties during McCaffrey's absence and already delivered a 30-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, demonstrating he can handle additional carries against Atlanta.
Source: Nick Wagoner
Source: Nick Wagoner
Christian McCaffrey Questionable to Return with Thigh Injury
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (thigh) is questionable to return to a Week 7 game against the Atlanta Falcons with a thigh injury, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Harrison Rich of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that McCaffrey was spotted in the medical tent with a massage gun on his left hamstring/thigh. McCaffrey recorded four rushes for 29 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and a touchdown, along with three receptions for 45 yards (15.0 yards per catch), before exiting the contest. While McCaffrey is out, the 49ers will rely on running back Kaelon Black, who has already recorded a 30-yard touchdown run.
Source: Nick Wagoner - ESPN
Source: Nick Wagoner - ESPN
Kaelon Black a Top Handcuff to Roster in Fantasy Football
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black currently lacks standalone value in his role as the No. 2 ball-carrier behind Christian McCaffrey. However, he is one of the league's highest-upside handcuffs because of how much his value would rise if McCaffrey were to miss any time. McCaffrey had 25 touches last week, including nine receptions. While Black may not quite handle that many touches in this hypothetical jump to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, he would absolutely be the lead-back option ahead of Jordan James, who hasn't played an offensive snap since Week 2. Black has been much more involved to this point, amassing 45 carries, 170 rushing yards, two catches, and eight receiving yards. Evidently, while Black would take on a lot of McCaffrey's hypothetically vacated rushing attempts, the 25-year-old rookie doesn't have much appeal in the passing game, and so he'd have less value and a lower floor in PPR leagues compared to half-PPR and standard formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelon Black Likely to See Limited Workload in Week 7
Across six games in 2026, San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black has recorded 45 carries for 170 yards and two catches for eight yards on three targets. While Black has seen at least six carries in all but one of the 49ers' games this season, his production upside is capped by the presence of star San Francisco back Christian McCaffrey. In Week 7, the 49ers will take on the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has fielded a strong run defense in 2026, ranking sixth in the NFL in both yards per carry allowed (3.6) and total rushing yards allowed (499). Black remains a priority handcuff running back option for fantasy managers to stash in a bench spot. However, with McCaffrey entering the game fully healthy, Black is hard to trust as a starter in Week 7.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian McCaffrey Should See More Receiving Work In Week 7
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had his biggest game of the season in Week 6 against the Commanders. McCaffrey gained 118 scrimmage yards, extended his scoring streak to a fifth game with two touchdown runs, and logged 25 touches - his most in a game all year. McCaffrey led the team with nine catches and 10 targets with Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) out of the lineup and Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) forced out early due to injury. Both wide receivers will be out for Week 7, which puts McCaffrey in position to act as Brock Purdy's primary target. The Atlanta Falcons are tied for the fourth most receptions allowed to opposing running backs through Week 6. McCaffrey has four top-10 finishes under his belt already in 2026, and is projected for another one in Week 7. He should be locked into starting lineups.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Kaelon Black Remains a High-Upside Waiver-Wire Handcuff
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black remains a high-upside handcuff after rushing eight times for 34 yards in Monday's win over Washington. Black handled 26.8% of the team's rushing attempts, up from his 21.1% average share during Weeks 2-5. Christian McCaffrey remains the clear lead back, limiting Black's immediate fantasy value. However, the rookie has established himself as San Francisco's primary backup and could inherit a substantial workload if McCaffrey misses time. Black is rostered in just 28% of Yahoo leagues, making him an appealing stash for fantasy managers seeking high-upside running back insurance.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelon Black Could See More Work In Mismatch
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black hasn't seen much work as the team's change-of-pace back lately. The rookie wowed in Week 1, handing a season-high 14 carries for 65 yards, but he has averaged 5.8 carries and 17.8 rushing yards in the four games since. The disparity between the 49ers and Commanders in their Week 6 meeting could put more on Black's plate. If the 49ers get out to an early lead, they are more likely to preserve Christian McCaffrey and give more work to Black, as we saw in Week 1. The Commanders' run defense has been stout, allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards to running backs, but the 49ers' improved run blocking in 2026 has led to 4.6 yards per attempt. Black projects as an RB4/5 in Week 6. While he won't be suitable to start in most leagues, his upside makes him an option in deep leagues that may need a solution as a bye-week streamer.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Christian McCaffrey Could See More Receiving Work Amid WR Injuries
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and three catches for 15 receiving yards on five targets last week. In Week 6, the 49ers face the Commanders, who have been surprisingly effective against the run. Washington has allowed just two rushing touchdowns, the sixth-fewest rushing yards, and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2026. McCaffrey's utility as a receiver will keep him in play as a top option at his position. The Commanders are in the middle of the pack defending against passes to running backs, and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) has been ruled out, and Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) is questionable, which means more targets could come CMC's way. McCaffrey projects as an RB1 and should be started in fantasy football in Week 6.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Kaelon Black Potentially in Line for an Expanded Role
As injuries continue to mount for the San Francisco 49ers, rookie running back Kaelon Black could soon be tasked with handling a heavier workload, adding modest flex appeal to his potentially week-winning insurance value. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring), who has carried the ball nine times on the year, is the latest Niners player to succumb to injury, now expected to miss a handful of games with a hamstring injury. Through five weeks, Black has handled a 36.2% running back rush share, but with San Francisco's receiver room stretched so thin by injury, there is added potential for Black and Christian McCaffrey to share the field more frequently, with the latter split out wide. With four NFL teams on bye in Week 6, Black becomes a desperation flex option in deeper leagues and needs to be rostered in all formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelon Black Best Left On Benches In Week 5
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black (illness) showed promise as Christian McCaffrey's understudy in Week 1. In the season opener, the rookie handled 14 carries for 65 yards. His effectiveness seemed to open the door to a rotation to keep McCaffrey fresh, but Black has not seen more than seven carries in a game over the last three weeks. Black was limited in practice earlier this week by an illness, but he was a full participant on Thursday and Friday and has no designation for the 49ers' upcoming game against the Seahawks. Deep-league fantasy managers who are keeping weekly tabs on Black as an option should wait another week. Seattle is allowing the lowest rushing success rate and fourth-lowest EPA per rushing attempt. Black's opportunities to get on the field may also be limited in what is expected to be a hotly contested divisional matchup. Black is projected as an RB5 and should remain a bench stash for the time being.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Christian McCaffrey Can Extend TD Streak To Four Games On Sunday
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was held out of the end zone in Week 1 but has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last three games. Going back to 2025, McCaffrey has scored in 15 of the 49ers' last 21 games. Extending his current touchdown streak against the Seahawks in Week 5 will be difficult, but not impossible. McCaffrey's 15 touches inside the 20 rank 15th among all NFL players and represent a 35% team share in red zone opportunities. He should see another handful of chances to punch one in on Sunday. McCaffrey's talents as a receiver will be in play on Sunday, as the Seahawks have allowed the fourth-most receptions to running backs in 2026, whereas they have given up the lowest success rate on rushing attempts. CMC has his work cut out for him in Week 5, but he is an integral part of the 49ers' offense and can still be counted on for RB1 production.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Kaelon Black Continues Seeing Reduced Role
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black got his career started great with 65 rushing yards on 14 attempts during the season opener. Since then, Black has carried the ball 17 times for 55 yards over the last three games. The rookie back has certainly taken a step back over the last few weeks. Fantasy managers were hopeful that Black would remain a 10-plus carry player every week, but that was unlikely to happen with Christian McCaffrey healthy right now. Black is still one of the better handcuffs to roster given McCaffrey's injury history. The 24-year-old isn't someone that should be started in fantasy formats given his recent struggles ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
