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    McCaffrey (tightness) returns to practice Sunday

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    Christian McCaffrey (tightness) returned to practice on Sunday.

    On the same day the Niners saw George Kittle return from his Achilles injury, the team also got back McCaffrey, who had been sidelined since August 10 due to his “tightness.” Assuming he doesn’t miss any more time and we don’t hear anything else about this injury or a new one, McCaffrey appears to be in good shape to be ready in time for the Niners’ Week 1 opener when they take on the Rams in Australia 18 days from now.
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  • SF Running Back #23
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    The most important takeaway is that McCaffrey has resumed practicing. Whether the planned aspect is true or not is secondary. That said, one wonders why the team chose to say their star running back was sidelined by “tightness,” rather than simply telling reporters he was taking veteran rest days, which is quite common for a 30-year-old player. McCaffrey said the team wanted him to “ramp up pretty big” early on, before taking time off, and later initiating another ramp-up period, “so we’re fresh for the duration.” McCaffrey says he feels “fresh” after taking nearly two weeks off. We would hope so. He’s a locked-in RB1 at this time.
  • SF Running Back #23
    There had been previous speculation, most notably from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and 49ers beat guy Grant Cohn, that McCaffrey’s tightness that cropped up just days after Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs reset the running back market was him holding in for a new contract of his own. Rapoport shot that down in a report Monday night, calling the timing of the injury a coincidence. Rapoport noted that it sounds like McCaffrey was angling for a new contract over the offseason, though those talks went nowhere. In positive news for fantasy managers, he also added that it’s his understanding the injury isn’t anything to worry about, which implies McCaffrey will be ready for the start of the regular season.
  • SF Running Back #23
    The 49ers do not have to disclose any details here, so we just have to wait until McCaffrey either tells us himself or retakes the practice field. The veteran running back has plenty of time to get right for Week 1. We are not overly concerned. He remains a high-end RB1 for the 2026 season, but we will provide an update whenever we get one.
  • SF Running Back #23
    We’ll assume the vague categorization means there’s not much to worry about. It was reported in May that the 49ers wanted to be “cautious” with McCaffrey’s summer workload as he ramps up for the season, so it’s possible there’s a little bit of load management going on here while McCaffrey works through this “tightness.” The 49ers have seen several notable players go down due to injuries early in camp. Hopefully this is a non-issue for CMC, and we see him back on the practice field soon.
  • SF Running Back #23
    McCaffrey practiced with the team on Wednesday. He was held out of team drills on Thursday and worked on his conditioning on a side field instead. Late in March, coach Kyle Shanahan said he wants less “wear and tear” on McCaffrey this season. The plan to reduce wear and tear may be limited to the practice week. McCaffrey told reporters today that he thinks “the workload in our sport is really monitored in practice, not in games,” and that he likes to prepare himself “for playing every snap.” McCaffrey posted a league-leading and career-high 413 touches last season. If sitting out practices regularly allows him to handle a similar workload this season, he will once again compete for the overall RB1 spot in fantasy.
  • SF Running Back #23
    It’s not the first time we’ve heard this, and it certainly won’t be the last, but it’s understandable that Shanny would want to dial back McCaffrey’s workload this season. The star running back is entering his age-30 season and coming off a 2025 in which he saw a career-high 311 carries while rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 scores. McCaffrey also caught 102 passes for 924 yards and another seven touchdowns, turning in one of his best seasons as a pro while eclipsing 2,000 scrimmage yards for the third time in his career. It’s possible the 49ers find a way to delegate more work to second-year back Jordan James or a player not yet on the roster, but this shouldn’t change how we view McCaffrey’s fantasy stock this season. As long as he’s healthy, CMC remains one of the most dynamic weapons in the league and should see plenty of touches funneled his way, making him one of the most valuable assets in all formats.
  • SF Wide Receiver
    Wagoner prefaced the statement by revealing that in the first meeting between 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Evans, “Shanahan laid out the plan for how he will be incorporated into an offense that also includes” RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle and QB Brock Purdy. McCaffrey’s 95 red zone touches in the 2025 regular season led all 49ers players by 79 and all other NFL players by 21. Knowing that Shanahan is already scheming up red zone opportunities for Evans is great to hear. McCaffrey can also lose a few red zone touches and still remain an elite RB1. There should be more than enough opportunities in scoring position for both players to feast. Evans currently projects as a WR2 with double-digit touchdown upside.
  • SF Running Back #23
    McCaffrey astonishingly handled a career-high 413 touches in his age-29 season, totaling 102 receptions, 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns. To say he deserves this award is an understatement. He notably won the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
  • SF Running Back #23
    He gutted through a stinger in this one, leaving briefly at the start of the second half and (obviously) again late as the 49ers fell to pieces. This is one of the great fantasy seasons of recent memory at running back, mostly because it was actually a great wideout season for McCaffrey. He caught 102 balls for 924 yards and seven scores, starting all 17 games – it was his best receiving output since 2019’s 116/1005/4 stat line. He led the NFL with 413 regular season touches and added 21 against the Eagles and 16 here. McCaffrey actually performed pretty poorly as a runner this year, with minus-27.9 rushing EPA and a minus-0.5 rushing yards over expected per attempt that was fourth-worst among all qualified rushers. His special skill set leaves him more than capable of being a fantasy RB1 – maybe even No. 1 overall – in 2026. But the touches and the injury history will continue to make him a caveat emptor all-star.
  • SF Running Back #23
    Again middling on the ground, McCaffrey was again sensational through the air, catching touchdown passes from both Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings. The latter was a 29-yard trick play (obviously) strike that required McCaffrey to make an acrobatic grab at the goal line. McCaffrey’s rushing efficiency is in undeniable decline, but his receiving becomes even more of a Divisional Round X-factor with George Kittle (Achilles) lost for the season. We have no doubt coach Kyle Shanahan will do everything he can to put CMC in position to make plays through the air.

Rotoworld

  • FA Wide Receiver #17
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    Ravens released WR Chris Moore.

    The Ravens aslso waived/released LB Michael Barrett, G Evan Beerntsen, DL Rayshaun Benny, WR Cortez Braham, C Corey Bullock, OL Gerad Lichtenhan, C Nick Dawkins, ILB Dominic DeLuca, DT Aaron Graves, WR Xavier Guillory, OLB Adisa Isaac, WR Cornelius Johnson, LB Jamon Johnson, LB Carl Jones, CB Robert Longerbeam, RB Dontae McMillan, DT David Olajiga, TE Ty Pezza, QB Austin Reed, CB Marquise Robinson, LB Kaimon Rucker, FB Lucas Scott, WR Octavian Smith, RB Elijah Tau-Toliver, WR Dayton Wade, S Silas Walters, CB Lardarius Webb Jr., LB Dion Wilson Jr., CB Amani Oruwariye, OT David Sharpe, S K’Von Wallace and RB Jonathan Ward.
  • LA Defensive Tackle #99
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    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reports that the NFL has granted a two-game roster exemption for Rams DT Aaron Donald.

    The exemption timeline is a little strange. Per Pelissero, it expires on September 11th, one day after the Rams’ Week 1 game against the 49ers. Regardless, it helps the team save roster space since Donald was officially reinstated to the active roster today.
  • DET Defensive Back #32
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    Lions place S Brian Branch on the reserve/physically unable to perform list with an Achilles injury.

    Branch ruptured an Achilles tendon in Week 14 last year. He is still recovering. The Lions also placed C Cade Mays (wrist) on the injured reserve/designated for return list due to his summer injury. Both players will be eligible to return after missing four games.
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    Ravens placed Adam Randall on injured reserve.

    Cornerback Bilhal Kone was also placed on IR. Both players can return after four games. Randall was likely parked behind Justice Hill as the Ravens’ RB3 heading into the season. That role now belongs to Rasheen Ali, at least until Randall is back in action. He played in the team’s final preseason game and the team has not said what this injury is yet.
  • FA Wide Receiver #85
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    Buccaneers waived WR Garrett Greene.

    The Buccaneers also waived QB Connor Bazelak, OLB Chris Braswell, LB John Bullock, TE Devin Culp, TE Kenny Fletcher Jr., OT Marshall Foerner, DL Josiah Green, WR Matthew Henry, OLB Yasir Holmes, OG Nash Hutmacher, WR Jha’Quan Jackson, LB Nick Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, G Elijah Klein, RB Barika Kpeenu, OG Henry Lutovsky, S Robert McDaniel, CB Roman Parodie, WR Dean Patterson IV, K B.T. Potter, OLB Jack Pyburn, WR Eric Rivers Jr., S J.J. Roberts, OT Paul Rubelt, C Ben Scott, DL Travis Shaw, RB Josh Williams, S Rashad Wisdom and LB LB Javin Wright. The Buccaneers released QB Jake Browning, LS Scott Daly and S Ifeatu Melifonwu. The Buccaneers placed CB Josh Hayes and WR David Sills V on injured reserve.
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    Chargers placed Scott Matlock on injured reserve.

    Offensive lineman Brandson Taylor was also placed on injured reserve. Rookie offensive tackle Isaiah World was placed on the reserve/NFI list. All three players will miss at least four games to start the year.
  • KC Running Back #25
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    Chiefs waived RB Emari Demercado.

    Demercado’s departure leaves rookie RB Emmett Johnson and second-year RB Brashard Smith to back up starting RB Kenneth Walker. The Chiefs also waived DE Vincent Anthony, LB Kam Arnold, WR Andrew Armstrong, WR Wesley Bissainthe, DT Cole Brevard, WR Jason Brownlee, WR Jacob De Jesus, OT Ethan Driskell, WR Omari Evans, OT Chukwuebuka Godrick, LB Cam Jones, WR Xavier Loyd, S Tanner McCalister, DT Amari McNeill, C Pete Nygra, RB Jaydn Ott, DT Damon Payne, CB D’Arco Perkins-McAllister, TE Mason Pline, S DeShon Singleton, CB Melvin Smith, EDGE Tyreke Smith, OG Josh Thompson, CB Zelmar Vedder, TE Tre Watson and WR Jeff Weimer. The Chiefs released LB Cole Christiansen, CB Kaiir Elam, CB Kader Kohou and EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah. The Chiefs placed DT Omarr Norman-Lott (knee) on the reserve/physically unable to play list and WR Jimmy Holiday on injured reserve. The Chiefs also waived OG C.J. Hanson, QB Chris Oladokun and RB EJ Smith with injury designations.
  • FA Running Back #32
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    Chargers released Jarrett Patterson.

    Patterson was a depth option for LA last year, but his services were no longer needed with Keaton Mitchell in the mix on top of Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal. He could wind up on the team’s practice squad later this week. The Chargers also waived/released S Noah Avinger, LB Lander Barton, LS Peter Bowden, TE Jerand Bradley, OLB Andre Carter, DL Jahmeer Carter, WR Liam Clifford, LB Junior Colson, RB Gregory Desrosiers, S Devin Grant, DL Jacobian Guillory, WR JaQuae Jackson, WR Gary Jennings, RB Amar Johnson, LB Emany Johnson, C Josh Kaltenberger, TE Johnny Pascuzzi, S Myles Purchase, OLB Garmon Randolph, CB Nikko Reed, CB Eric Rogers, WR Devonte Ross, TE Evan Svoboda, OLB Nadame Tucker, QB DJ Uiagalelei, T Laekin Vakalahi, CB Isas Waxter, DL Terry Webb, WR Sincere Brown, WR Dalevon Campbell, OLB Kyle Kennard, RB Jaret Patterson, and P JK Scott.
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    Lions released TE Tyler Conklin.

    Signed near the end of the opening week of free agency, 31-year-old Conklin couldn’t make the team after a down year for the Chargers in 2025. Although he’s inarguably in decline, Conklin is well-rounded enough that he will porbably make 2026 regular season appearances. Also waived/released by the Lions were DL Myles Adams, LB Joe Bachie, WR Greg Dortch, WR Tom Kennedy LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, LB Troy Reeder, DL Ben Stille, RB Trayveon Williams, QB Luke Altmyer, WR Tarik Black, CB Ekow Boye-Doe, DB Aamaris Brown, OL Devin Cochran, CB Bump Cooper Jr., WR Malik Cunningham, TE Thomas Gordon, OL Gus Hartwig, TE Zach Horton, LB Erick Hunter, S Dan Jackson, WR Lucky Jackson, WR Dominic Lovett, EDGE Anthony Lucas, OG Mason Miller, OG Melvin Priestly, CB Eric Scott Jr., DL Chris Smith, OL Colby Sorsdal, S Jason Taylor II, DL Tyre West, CB Nick Whiteside, RB Roydell Williams and OL Michael Niese.
  • FA Quarterback #4
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    Jets waived QB Brady Cook.

    Cook and fellow quarterback Bailey Zappe were let go as a part of the Jets’ final cuts. As a result, they will be keeping two quarterbacks on the active roster, with rookie Cade Klubnik winning the backup job. Also waived/released by the Jets were DB Mory Bamba, WR Junior Bergen, WR Cam Camper, S Dean Clark, DB Jordan Clark, EDGE Anthony Dunn Jr., LB Paschal Ekeji, OL Courtland Ford, G Liam Fornadel, DB Keenan Garber, G Marquis Hayes, DT Jack Heflin, OL Xavier Hill, LB Jaden Keller, Edge Nate Lynn, WR Malik McClain, S Jarius Monroe, DL Payton Page, WR Jamaal Pritchett, WR Quincy Skinner, DL Mazi Smith, DT Junior Tafuna, S Tanner Wall, LB Chase Wilson, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, CB Samuel Womack III, OL Landon Young, QB Bailey Zappe, TE Chase Curtis, TE Connor Hulstein, and RB Dominic Richardson.