Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Love, NFL Injury Statuses and Fantasy Impact for Week 2

Joe TanseySeptember 13, 2024

Set Number: X164496 TK1

Fantasy football players will have to wait at least another week to roster Christian McCaffrey in a starting spot.

The San Francisco 49ers star running back was not seen at the start of Friday’s practice prior to the team’s trip to Minnesota and was later ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against the Vikings.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love seemed like a certain injury absence for Week 2 after the knee injury he suffered in Week 1.

Love was officially designated as questionable for Green Bay’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, so there might be an outside chance he plays on Sunday.

Below is a look at all of the significant injuries that will affect fantasy football rosters in Week 2.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF: Out (calf/Achilles), head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters.Jordan Love, QB, GB: Questionable (knee), per team injury report.A.J. Brown, WR, PHI: Limited in Friday’s practice (hamstring), no game status, per team injury report.Kyler Murray, QB, ARI: No injury concern (knee), per team injury report.Russell Wilson, QB, PIT: Questionable (calf), per ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor.Malik Nabers, WR, NYG: No injury concern (knee), per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan.Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: Doubtful (hamstring), per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Keenan Allen, WR, CHI: Questionable (heel), per RapoportRome Odunze, WR, CHI: Questionable (knee), per Rapoport. David Njoku, TE, CLE: Out (ankle), per ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi.Jake Ferguson, TE, DAL: Doubtful (knee), per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Jordan Addison, WR, MIN: Out (ankle), per Schefter. Kenneth Walker, RB, SEA: Doubtful (oblique), per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.Christian McCaffrey Out vs. Minnesota Vikings

We have much more clarity regarding McCaffrey’s Week 2 status compared to Monday night’s pre-game decision.

McCaffrey was not seen at the start of San Francisco’s Friday practice, and Shanahan later confirmed to reporters that he has been ruled out for Sunday’s game in Minnesota.

San Francisco should be in no rush to bring McCaffrey back until he is at 100 percent with his calf/Achilles injury.

Jordan Mason’s emergence as the 49ers’ top back against the New York Jets gives the NFC West side more reason to ease McCaffrey back into the lineup.

McCaffrey’s absence is a big blow to fantasy football players who took the running back at No. 1 overall.

Mason has likely been picked up in a majority of fantasy football leagues by now, so you will have to pivot to find a McCaffrey replacement on the waiver wire.

Green Bay’s Emanuel Wilson is worth a look against an Indianapolis defense that allowed 213 rushing yards in Week 1.

The Tennessee pairing of Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are worth waiver-wire attention as well since they face the Jets defense that was torched by the 49ers ground game.

You aren’t going to get a running back with the same volume as McCaffrey off the waiver wire now, so players with favorable matchups are the best options.

Jordan Love Listed As Questionable

Jordan Love was surprisingly listed as questionable on Green Bay’s injury report.

Love suffered a knee injury at the end of the Week 1 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles that looked like it would keep him out multiple weeks.

Love’s questionable status is a promising sign for his recovery, but as The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman noted, he was not at practice on Friday.

In the off chance that Love plays, Green Bay would try to protect its starting quarterback and lean heavily on Wilson and Josh Jacobs against the vulnerable Colts rushing defense.

Malik Willis would start for the Packers if Love is inactive, but he has not displayed signs of being a viable fantasy football performer in his previous NFL starts.

Geno Smith’s matchup against the New England Patriots should intrigue some fantasy football players, as should Justin Herbert’s showdown with the Carolina Panthers.

Kirk Cousins does not have a great matchup versus Philadelphia, but he may be the best quarterback available on the waiver wire.

Daniel Jones is not an ideal pickup, but he is facing a Washington Commanders defense that gave up 280 passing yards in Week 1.