Christian McCaffrey Injuries
Christian McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve Monday with a hamstring injury. The RB has missed four games already this season due to injuries, including a strained hamstring suffered in a Week 3 win over the Texans. Last season, McCaffrey missed four games with a strained thigh. He then rolled his left ankle in Week 12 against the Dolphins, missing five games.
Christian McCaffrey’s injury history
Christian McCaffrey has a long injury history, and he’s missed numerous games over the last three years. While there’s no single injury that plagues McCaffrey, he’s suffered from hamstring, ankle, and thigh injuries. Read on to learn more about McCaffrey’s injury history. The injury history of Christian McCaffrey shows that he’s likely to miss many more games in the future.
In 2020, McCaffrey missed two games with a high ankle sprain. In the following year, he suffered a shoulder sprain against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also had a hamstring injury while training on his own during the Panthers’ bye week in 2020. In 2021, he suffered a hamstring and cramps against the New Orleans Saints. In 2022, he has been limited to two games with an ankle injury.
Despite his durability throughout his career, Christian McCaffrey’s injury history is a concern. While he’s played in 48 games as a rookie, his injury history is not very impressive. He’s already missed five games in the first two years of the NFL. The most recent injury he has suffered will keep him on the injured reserve list for the rest of the season.
McCaffrey’s ceiling
While he is not a sure bet to be the best running back in the NFL this season, McCaffrey has been putting up some impressive numbers for the Bengals this season. He added six pounds of muscle during the offseason and has already broken several tackles. His play has created Kodak Moments for defenders. Despite a bad game against Atlanta, McCaffrey is setting himself up for future greatness.
Despite his injuries, McCaffrey is still an elite fantasy player, which makes him a good trade target in dynasty leagues. He has been a solid fantasy option when healthy, but his recent ankle sprain could limit his production in the future. His floor is 18.2 fantasy points per game, which would be an elite figure if he played the entire season.
In one-quarterback leagues, McCaffrey should be considered the second quarterback off the board. His high ceiling and low floor make him an excellent option for any team. In addition, he doesn’t carry a significant risk of re-injury. Therefore, he’s worth a second-round pick.
Impact on fantasy football
The Panthers are listing McCaffrey as “very doubtful” for Sunday’s game against the Saints, and a number of other players have also been listed as doubtful. RB Mike Davis is one of those players, and the Panthers are not likely to play him. The Panthers are expected to start Rodney Smith and Trenton Cannon at running back. They could also use WR Curtis Samuel or Alex Armah in the backfield. However, Smith and Cannon are not automatic starters, and Smith won’t take over Davis’ role. As of now, McCaffrey has missed three games this season because of injury.
While an injury to soft tissue can be a sign of degeneration for a player, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that McCaffrey’s production will decline as a result. In the 2019 season, McCaffrey carried the ball 287 times and had 116 receptions, accounting for nearly 44% of the Panthers’ offense. He also reportedly added weight in the offseason, which could help his fantasy value in the coming seasons.
