The San Francisco 49ers‘ star RB, Christian McCaffrey, left Sunday’s game with an oblique injury. He returned a short time later for one play, then left the field and jogged to the locker room. He did not return and finished the day with 43 yards rushing, nine yards receiving, and one TD.
If McCaffrey does miss any time (undergoing an MRI on Monday for his oblique), it will open up the door for potential fantasy football production from other San Francisco RBs, such as Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason. Which one should you pursue on the waiver wire this week?
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Should Elijah Mitchell Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 7?
With CMC out, the rushing work was distributed between Mitchell and Mason. Mitchell missed the last two weeks of the season due to injury before coming into Sunday’s game. He only rushed twice for negative three yards and was not targeted in the air by Brock Purdy.
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Cleveland’s defense was incredibly stout in stopping the run, and all RBs had an issue on Sunday. Mitchell has never really stepped up this season when needed; prior to this week, he had only played in two games for San Francisco this year, and his best finish was RB39.
Should Jordan Mason Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 7?
When CMC left on Sunday, Mason slid into the RB1 role. He rushed five times, which turned into 27 yards and a TD. Mason has quietly been improving this season. He started the season as RB102 and finished Week 5 as RB13, and his snap percentage has steadily increased.
Mason is the San Francisco RB to go after on the waiver wire this week. With an increase in snap percentage, it is clear that San Francisco trusts him and was prepping him to be the clear RB2 behind CMC to be able to spell him and give him rest as the season progresses.
However, if you don’t have enough FAAB to get Mason, Mitchell is not a bad consolation prize and still could well be “the guy” as some reporting following Week 6 has suggested. Any RB on a high-functioning offense who likes to run is someone who deserves to be rostered, especially with how many other RBs went down to injury again today.