The San Francisco 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding RB Jordan Mason.
Is Jordan Mason Playing in Week 7?
Jordan Mason was limited in practice throughout the week after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 6.
Mason went down with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder against the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. Reporting has indicated that Mason’s injury isn’t serious; he’s considered week to week. However, NFL Network suggested Friday that Mason’s Week 7 status is “up in the air.”
Fortunately, Mason does not have an injury destination for Sunday’s game. General manager John Lynch said it boded well for Mason that he was at practice all week.
While Mason will be available against the Chiefs, the 49ers could conceivably limit his workload. Fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo and veteran Patrick Taylor are next up on the 49ers’ RB depth chart. Guerendo finished Week 6 with 10 rushes for 99 yards, including a 76-yarder.
Mason is second in the NFL in rushing yards (609) and has finished as an RB2 or better in five of six games (including three top-10 finishes). However, Kansas City has given up the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season and ranks sixth-best in EPA per rush allowed.
We’ll continue to monitor the 49ers injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Jordan Mason in Week 7?
Mason entered Week 6 having been an RB1 in three of five games and was running well (82 yards on 10 touches) before suffering a shoulder injury. Kyle Shanahan sounded optimistic about his lead running back during the halftime interview, but after handling the first carry of the third quarter, Mason’s evening was done.
Rookie Isaac Guerendo picked up the slack (10 carries for 99 yards, a stat line that would have included a score if he elected to finish a 76-yard run instead of kneeling just shy to help ice the game) and is a deserving addition in all formats.
As good as Christian McCaffrey is, we have an extended sample of running backs in this system thriving, and should Mason sit this week, Guerendo’s path to a featured role is about as clear as it gets (Patrick Taylor Jr. would be RB2 on the depth chart in this instance).
The matchup is a concern. Bijan Robinson scored 13.2 PPR points against the Chiefs in Week 3, serving as the high water mark for the position against the defending champs this season (limiting J.K. Dobbins and Zack Moss is one thing, but Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry have both also played the Chiefs this season). In fact, the Henry, Robinson, and Kamara trio totaled 40 carries in their K.C. matchup and none of them had a 10-yard rush.
What we saw from Guerendo last week is enough for me to drop my touch projection for Mason, even if completely cleared, but that’s nitpicking. Mason (5.3 yards per carry this season with an 18+ yard touch in every game this season) will be ranked closer to RB12 than RB5 if he’s active, and Guerendo shifts from off my radar to a mid-range RB2 if the lead role is handed over to him.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 7 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Jordan Mason’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 7
Mason is projected to score 16.8 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 19.8 rushing attempts for 106.9 yards and 0.6 touchdowns. It also includes 1.2 receptions for 11.8 yards and 0 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Jordan Mason’s Week 7 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 11:45 PM ET on Saturday, January 25.
Conference Championship RB PPR Rankings
1) Saquon Barkley | PHI (vs. WAS)
2) James Cook | BUF (at KC)
3) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (at PHI)
4) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. BUF)
5) Kareem Hunt | KC (vs. BUF)
6) Austin Ekeler | WAS (at PHI)
7) Ray Davis | BUF (at KC)
8) Ty Johnson | BUF (at KC)
9) Samaje Perine | KC (vs. BUF)
10) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. WAS)
11) Jeremy McNichols | WAS (at PHI)
12) Will Shipley | PHI (vs. WAS)
13) Carson Steele | KC (vs. BUF)
14) Reggie Gilliam | BUF (at KC)
15) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (at PHI)
