ChristianMcCaffrey

News: 1 day agoCoach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey (undisclosed) would've practiced Tuesday if the 49ers hadn't been in a joint session with the Chargers, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: Shanahan also shut down speculation about McCaffrey's recent absences being contract-related. The star running back has been absent for a week due to what's only been described as "tightness". If Shanahan is to be believed, McCaffrey is making good progress and nearing a return to practice.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: McCaffrey is back for his fifth season with the 49ers after a bounce-back 2025 campaign in which he led all running backs in snaps, routes, touches, targets, receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and fantasy points. McCaffrey's rushing efficiency wasn't great (3.86 yards per carry), and he's entering his age-30 season after handling 450 touches (including the playoffs) in 2025. The history of overworked backs suggests we should expect a step back in 2026, but CMC is a unicorn, and the combination of his skill set and hefty usage in Kyle Shanahan's offense suggests he can overcome history. There's obvious risk here, but McCaffrey will be an elite option whenever he's on the field.