San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is the top offensive weapon in the NFL and the favorite to win the Offensive Player of the Year award. The superstar running back is the likely top overall pick in 2024 fantasy football drafts after being unstoppable this season.
Fantasy players might be afraid to make the veteran the 1.01 fantasy pick because of his injury history. After struggling to stay healthy with the Carolina Panthers, McCaffrey hasn’t missed a meaningful game during his 1.5 years with the 49ers.
However, that streak was at risk in the Week 17 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
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Christian McCaffrey Injury – December 31
The former Stanford star running back suffered a calf injury in the New Year’s Eve victory over Washington. He didn’t finish the game, and 49ers fans panicked. Thankfully, McCaffrey suffered only a minor calf injury.
While he didn’t play in Week 18, San Francisco had secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and had nothing on the line. Reportedly, the superstar running back would have played if the game mattered for the 49ers.
Christian McCaffrey Injury Update
Head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media that McCaffrey would be a full participant in Tuesday’s practice. The veteran had over two weeks to recover from the minor calf injury he suffered against the Commanders. There is no doubt that the superstar would suit up for Saturday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
When Will Christian McCaffrey Return And Be Back
McCaffrey will play Saturday night in the 49ers’ first playoff game. The former first-round pick has been outstanding all season. Despite missing the final 1.5 games this year, McCaffrey was a scoring machine. He led the NFL with 21 offensive touchdowns. McCaffrey had 14 rushing scores and seven receiving touchdowns, leading the team in both categories.
The superstar running back is -340 to score an anytime touchdown in the playoff matchup on DraftKings. Last week, the Packers held Tony Pollard to only 3.7 yards per rushing attempt but did surrender a rushing touchdown.
No disrespect for the former Memphis star, but McCaffrey is the top running back in the NFL. He is a must-start in every fantasy football format and an appealing betting option.
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