Fantasy Football Implications of Biggest NFL News: Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Love Injuries, and More

With the first game of the NFL regular season wrapped up, and plenty more to come in week 1, let's now go over some recent NFL news that has fantasy football implications.

We'll mostly discuss injury news, but also a retirement. Let's dive in!

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Christian McCaffrey Injured… Again

It's like a recurring nightmare. McCaffrey was limited in Thursday's practice with a calf injury.

He practiced in full on Wednesday, so this is definitely a cause for concern. CMC missed 13 games last season and has had an injury-riddled career overall.

When healthy, CMC is one of the best fantasy players in the league. His best fantasy asset is his availability, and now with him banged up, his fantasy owners are going to be on pins and needles all season.

If he's healthy and active, McCaffrey should be starting in fantasy leagues. There's a good chance he's going to be limited if he's out there.

Maybe the trade for Brian Robinson Jr. is going to make sense for the Niners earlier than we expected. He could be utilized a bit more in week 1, as CMC, Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James are all dealing with injuries.

We'll cover things more over the weekend if McCaffrey is ruled out for Sunday's game, or is expected to split the workload. For now, I'm for starting CMC if he's active - I'd avoid Robinson outside deeper leagues if that's the case.

If McCaffrey is limited, then Robinson should be started in more deeper leagues, and maybe even some standard leagues. Regardless of how things are looking for Sunday's game, I'd add Robinson now in standard leagues, especially if McCaffrey is your lead back.

Robinson needs to be rostered in all deeper leagues now. Try to protect CMC with him if you can, whether that be a waiver add, or trade.

Now is either a time to buy low on CMC, if you want to gamble on him staying healthy all season, or sell for a lower price if you want to avoid the headache.

Packers' Injury Concerns

Quarterback Jordan Love has a left thumb injury he's been dealing with, and he still cannot hand the ball off with that hand. That's definitely a concern heading into week 1 against the Lions.

Things might be a bit uncomfy for the Packers' QB, and that could lead to some subpar play. I'd definitely knock Love down a peg or two for at least week 1. We'll see how he looks and adjust moving forward.

Wideout Jayden Reed has a foot injury he's trying to play through. He was limited in practice on Thursday, which gives him a chance to play this Sunday.

I'm not confident in Reed as a fantasy asset with that foot injury, so I'm avoiding him in standard leagues, and looking elsewhere in deeper leagues too. 

Matthew Golden is the wideout you'll want to start, and Romeo Doubs gets a bump too. If Reed doesn't play, then Golden becomes a really good standard league asset, and Doubs could be a flex option, and at least a deep-league starter.

Injuries to Love and Reed should mean more involvement for running back Josh Jacobs. Detroit knows these things as well, and will try to take Jacobs away, but on volume alone, the back could be a really good fantasy asset in week 1.

Micah Parsons was limited in practice again, but coach Matt LaFleur is hopeful that he'll play in week 1.

With some of the videos that have come out from practice, I'd guess Parsons would play through his back injury. He might not play as much, and might be used in special situations, but even a few plays from Parsons will give the Packers' defense a boost.

Achane Still Dealing with Injury

While De'Von Achane is expected to play, he's been limited in practice with his calf injury.

I doubt the Dolphins overload his workload in week 1, so his fantasy outlook is a touch lower than it normally would otherwise be. He's still a good fantasy asset and should start in all leagues if he's active and not hindered in a big way, but his fantasy ceiling is a bit lower than usual.

I expect Ollie Gordon II to be somewhat involved as a result, and he might stick in a decent role for a few weeks. I still like adding him, especially in deeper leagues, or stashing him on a standard league bench, just in case Achane misses time.

With Tyreek Hill and Darren Waller also dealing with injuries as well, Jaylen Waddle could be another big-time contributor in week 1. Tua Tagovailoa's fantasy outlook takes a hit with all the injuries around him, but I'd expect Miami to air it out a touch more too, so I'm not super worried about Tua.

Gordon and Waddle are the under-the-radar guys who I'd be looking into for week 1. Waddle is a good starting option in all leagues in my eyes.

Other Wideout Injuries

Atlanta's Darnell Mooney has been limited with his shoulder injury. If he doesn't suit up, expect a big workload for Drake London, and maybe a bit more work for Tyler Allgeier (Bijan Robinson's backup).

Ray-Ray McCloud could also factor in a bit more, and would have deep-league starting value, at least.

Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Elijah Moore are three Bills' wideouts on the injury report. Shakir practiced in full Thursday, while Moore missed practice and Coleman was limited.

If Coleman or Moore miss the game, Shakir would turn into a really good fantasy starting option for the game against the Ravens. Joshua Palmer could also be worth some deep-league starts. Gabe Davis could be an under-the-radar deep-league asset if he's elevated from the practice squad.

Christian Kirk missed a second straight day of practice for the Texans. Jayden Higgins and Nico Collins would get fantasy boosts for week 1, and Jaylin Noel could be a sleeper in deep fantasy setups.

With an uncertain backfield with Joe Mixon also out, the Texans' offense might really lean on C.J. Stroud, Collins and Higgins in the early going.

San Fran's Jauan Jennings was limited with his calf injury. If he ends up missing week 1, expect Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle to really dominate the targets in the team's passing game.

If Jennings and McCaffrey are both out this week, San Fran's offense will really be hurting. That would be a knock for Brock Purdy's fantasy outlook too.

Amari Cooper Retires

A little more wideout news to end today's story. Cooper has retired from the NFL, just nine days after he signed with the Raiders.

It might not seem like a huge deal, but it is for a lacking Raiders' wideout room. Jakobi Meyers has requested a trade, so that also has things in question as the season starts up for Vegas.

Meyers will be the team's No. 1 wideout if he's active, but who knows if he will be after requesting a trade. If he doesn't play, Tre Tucker and rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech are the team's only active wideouts.

Justin Shorter, Alex Bachman and Shedrick Jackson are wide receivers on the team's practice squad.

Vegas is really hurting in the wideout room, so expect tight end Brock Bowers to do most of the heavy lifting for the pass catchers. He could end up with an otherworldly fantasy total if Meyers ends up not playing.

Thornton is a good starting option, especially in deeper leagues. Bech would gain deep-league starting upside if Meyers is out.

You can expect Ashton Jeanty to be heavily involved offensively as well, and that would only increase if Meyers isn't out there.

Vegas is going to be hurting until the rookies are ready to roll, or Meyers' situation is resolved. Outside Bowers, nobody is a really safe fantasy starting option, so this is probably a team we'll be covering early and often this year.