We now know the latest injury updates from the majority of NFL teams, and generally, it was good news for fantasy football managers. While most running backs have a clean bill of health entering Week 1, there are three that could provide some concern this week.
Let’s examine the latest news regarding the injuries of Christian McCaffrey, Jaylen Warren, MarShawn Lloyd, and Miles Sanders.
Latest NFL Running Back Injury News and Fantasy Analysis
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Early in training camp, McCaffrey strained his calf. The 49ers mostly downplayed the issue, maintaining all along they were just being extra cautious.
It’s not as if McCaffrey needs a ton of practice, and he was never going to play in the preseason anyway. By all accounts, he was good to go for Week 1.
On Thursday, McCaffrey was limited at practice. Later in the season, this would mean literally nothing.
But it’s Week 1. This is the one week where everyone should be healthy and practicing in full leading up to the game. That is already not the case for CMC.
This analysis was last updated at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren was listed as a limited participant in practice Wednesday as he continues to try and return from a hamstring strain. Warren has repeatedly said he plans to play in Week 1, and being on the practice field is encouraging news for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His impact on Sunday’s game (at the Atlanta Falcons) is certainly worth questioning. Warren, who injured his hamstring in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, was expected to miss multiple weeks with his injury.
So even though he has been able to get back on the field, how much should fantasy managers expect from the third-year back? While he was the No. 1 fantasy producer among Steelers running backs (11.6 fantasy points per game) in 2023, he still shared time with Najee Harris, who averaged 11.5 fantasy points per game last season himself.
Even if the Steelers’ backfield is healthy, are fantasy managers going to see anything more from that unit than they saw a season ago?
This analysis was last updated at 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4.
MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers
As the Green Bay Packers prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil on Friday, fantasy managers looking to slide Lloyd into their lineups in hopes of getting some production had to be encouraged by Wednesday’s injury report out of Green Bay.
While the Packers did not practice Wednesday, they did provide an updated injury report before traveling to São Paulo. Although he was a non-participant on Tuesday, the Packers upgraded him to limited participation in Wednesday’s report.
This is a good indication that the hamstring injury that bothered Lloyd during the preseason has healed enough that he could see the field on Friday.
Lloyd is second on the running back depth chart behind Josh Jacobs, the former leading rusher in the NFL. And while his chances for playing in Week 1 are improved, he is someone fantasy managers would be better off avoiding this week.
This analysis was last updated at 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4.
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Sanders was listed as a limited participant on the Carolina Panthers’ injury report after suffering an injury to his finger in Wednesday’s practice, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press.
According to Reed, Sanders injured his finger when he hit it on a helmet and had it wrapped in the locker room. However, indications are the injury isn’t serious enough to keep him out of the lineup for Week 1 Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Although he likely will not garner much attention from fantasy managers as a backup to Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers are expecting bigger things from Sanders in his second season with Carolina. Thus, his situation going forward is worth following.
This analysis was last updated at 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4.