San Francisco 49ers superstar running back Christian McCaffrey has dealt with several lower leg injuries in 2024. After a hot start against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in Week 13, McCaffrey injured his knee in the second quarter.
Here’s the latest on McCaffrey’s knee injury that he suffered in Week 13.
What Happened to Christian McCaffrey?
The 49ers were leaning heavily on McCaffrey in the first half against the Bills on Monday Night Football. McCaffrey had nine total touches for 67 total yards as San Francisco was driving in the second quarter. Then McCaffrey suffered a non-contact knee injury.
San Francisco designed a toss toward the right sideline for McCaffrey, yet the 49ers’ star running back went down untouched and was hobbled after injuring his knee.
That did not look good for 49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey. #NFL #SNF pic.twitter.com/OZa3z6F9ck
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 2, 2024
McCaffrey went to San Francisco’s sideline and immediately entered the team’s blue medical tent. After an evaluation, McCaffrey walked back to the team’s locker room under his own power.
Sports Injury Central believes it is a right knee injury, yet the broadcast did not confirm which one it was, only saying that McCaffrey had suffered a knee injury.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told NBC Sideline Reporter Melissa Starks that McCaffrey wouldn’t be returning against the Bills in Week 13, which was later confirmed by the team’s official account on X (formerly Twitter).
During his postgame press conference, Shanahan revealed that the team’s training staff believes McCaffrey suffered a potentially season-ending PCL injury.
Fantasy Impact of Christian McCaffrey’s Injury
Jordan Mason posted three RB1 finishes earlier this season when filling in for the ailing McCaffrey and profiles as a fantasy starter whenever trusted with the lead role.
The 49ers have the Bears, Rams, Dolphins, and Lions left on their fantasy schedule — not a perfect run out but one that, if Mason is getting his 16-20 touches, he’s a good bet to be plenty viable.
In theory, all of the pass catchers gain a little bit of bump in the target department, though no one option gets enough of an increase in their projection to adjust rankings in a major way. Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings remain WR2s, while George Kittle is a Tier 1 TE.