Christian McCaffrey: questionable to return with thigh injury
THE FACT. San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey is questionable to return to Sunday's game at Atlanta with a thigh injury, per NBC Sports, after he left the field late in the second quarter and headed to the locker room. NBC Sports Bay Area's live coverage had not reported him back in the game as of Sunday afternoon.
THE VERDICT. This is the biggest fantasy development of the Sunday slate. Redraft: if your lineup is still open, get McCaffrey out of it and expect rookie Kaelon Black to carry the load, which NBC Sports Bay Area reported is the plan if McCaffrey does not return. Black is an immediate waiver priority. Add now, 25% FAAB in deeper leagues. DFS: pivot off McCaffrey wherever late swap is available and take Black in tournaments. Dynasty: no overreaction until San Francisco puts a label on the thigh.
Respectfully, 25% feels light to me. Black was already nibbling at this job before the thigh, 45 carries through six games, and in his first full workload he went 11 for 60 with a 30-yard score by halftime. In that offense the role carries the value more than the name does, and the lead back there gets fed. If even one sharp manager sits in your league, 25% loses the bid. I would go 40-plus and not blink. Dynasty too: buy before the label, not after.