Christian McCaffrey: 'I Can’t Even Put into Words How Happy I Am' After 49ers Trade
Oct 31, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 30: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs with the ball during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on October 30, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Suffice it to say Christian McCaffrey is happy in San Francisco.
The 49ers running back had touchdowns as a runner, a receiver and a passer in Sunday's 31-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and seemed freed by exiting Carolina's moribund attack.
“I can’t even put into words how happy I am,” McCaffrey told Peter King of NBC Sports. “It’s a crazy journey in the NFL. You see this stuff happen and you never think it’ll happen to you. But it has. I’m glad it did.”
McCaffrey finished with 149 total yards on 26 touches while adding a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk in the second quarter. He was directly responsible for nearly half of the 49ers' 368 total yards—the exact type of performance the team envisioned when trading four future draft picks for the versatile running back.
As noted by King, McCaffrey was the fourth player since the AFL-NFL merger to rush, receive and throw a touchdown pass.
“It feels good. Really good. It’s a cool stat, but there’s a bigger stat. The win," McCaffrey said. "To be able to go into a winning locker room, with great players, on a new team with so many guys who can make plays, it’s just exciting.”
Rams Need Kareem Hunt After Missing Out on Christian McCaffrey amid NFL Trade Rumors
Oct 31, 2022
Kareem Hunt
The Los Angeles Rams may be in serious trouble. The defending Super Bowl champions fell to 3-4 in embarrassing fashion Sunday, losing 31-14 to the rival San Francisco 49ers.
It marked the second loss of the year to San Francisco and the third time this season that the 49ers have won out over L.A.
In between the two NFC West showdowns, the 49ers also topped the Rams in the Christian McCaffrey sweepstakes. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports noted, the 49ers and Rams were both vying for the chance to acquire McCaffrey via a trade:
"The Panthers pitted the Rams and Niners against one another as the two teams continue to battle for NFC West—and NFC, and NFL—dominance. The 49ers'
ability to include a 2023 fourth-round pick took them over the top, as
the Rams had traded their 2023 fourth last year to acquire Sony Michel."
Los Angeles got a firsthand look at McCaffrey on Sunday, and the 26-year-old shined with running, receiving and passing touchdowns.
The Rams' rushing attack, meanwhile, floundered against San Francisco, finishing with just 56 yards.
The door has closed on Los Angeles' shot at McCaffrey, but the Rams' need for a starting-caliber back remains. Fortunately, another quality dual-threat back is available, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"The Cleveland Browns are willing to grant running back Kareem Hunt's trade request, sources told ESPN," Schefter wrote Sunday. "Hunt,
who is in the final year of his contract and is seeking a new deal,
asked to be traded by the Browns this past August, but the team
initially declined his request."
Hunt hasn't been heavily utilized this season, as the Browns have leaned hard on starting back Nick Chubb. However, Hunt was fantastic when healthy a season ago, racking up 560 scrimmage yards, 22 receptions and five touchdowns in eight games.
Hunt also led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards as a rookie with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.
According to Schefter, the Browns want a fourth-round pick for Hunt, something the Rams don't have next year, but if Los Angeles can make an equivalent offer, it should. The need for an upgrade at running back is too pressing to ignore.
The Rams rank 31st in rushing and 31st in yards per carry (3.3) as a team. They're also trying to trade former starter Cam Akers, though he's expected to return to the lineup if he isn't dealt.
"The Rams would find a trade partner for Akers in a perfect world,
according to sources, but they also recognize that he can still help
them this season," Schefter also wrote Sunday.
Realistically, though, Akers isn't going to provide much help. He's averaged a paltry 3.0 yards per carry and fumbled once in five games.
To make matters worse, star wideout Cooper Kupp suffered an ankle injury Sunday. The 2021 receiving leader was optimistic after the game.
"Foot got caught, but I think it was able to slide out of there before there was too much damage done, and so, we'll see over these next few days how it responds," Kupp told reporters.
However, if Kupp misses time or plays at less than 100 percent, the Rams have little hope of bringing balance to their offense with the current roster. Kupp is the only reliable playmaker on offense right now, and if he isn't backing opposing defenses up, the ground game could get even more underwhelming.
Hunt, who has 191 receptions in 66 career games, would at least give Matthew Stafford another go-to target in the passing game.
Now, it's fair to wonder how much interest the Rams have in acquiring Hunt, who is in the final year of his contract. According to NBC Sports' Peter King, it isn't much.
"The Kareem Hunt talk sounds like an invention," King wrote Monday. "I don't think the Rams have much interest in him."
If the Rams believe that Hunt is too pricey, they need to consider other options. Perhaps Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson—534 yards and 5.3 yards per carry last season—could be available. Maybe the Rams can pry a running back away from another struggling team—Josh Jacobs of the 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders is also in the final year of his contract.
However, Los Angeles should kick the tires on Hunt first. He's the best realistic option the Rams can target, and L.A. is running out of time before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
If the San Francisco 49ers go on a run and win the NFC West this season, a large reason for that will likely be their acquisition of Christian McCaffrey....
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers Are Just Getting Started Tormenting Opposing NFL Defenses
Oct 31, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has never been shy about making splash moves. Last year, Lynch mortgaged the franchise's future to trade up in the 2021 draft and select quarterback Trey Lance.
Lynch struck again recently, sending a package of picks to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for running back Christian McCaffrey.
After playing sparingly in his Niners debut last week, McCaffrey saw his first extensive action with his new team Sunday against the Rams.
One game is too small a sample size to pass final judgment on San Francisco's acquisition, but if San Francisco's beatdown in Los Angeles was any indication, trading for McCaffrey was a brilliant move—one that might just make the 49ers the biggest threat to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC.
And once the Niners get Deebo Samuel back on the field, he and McCaffrey will be nightmare fuel for defensive coordinators across the league.
Upon his arrival in the Bay Area, McCaffrey told reporters that he was eager to play in Kyle Shanahan's RB-friendly offense.
"I don't know if
there's anyone better at putting guys in positions to have success and tailor
into what they're good at," McCaffrey said.
"For me, I've watched him
do some unbelievable things with some great running backs and even the running
backs in the room right now. I'm just excited to learn from them and hear how
coach Shanahan coaches not just the running back position, but every single
position on the field. It's something you kind of hear legends about."
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball as Leonard Floyd #54 of the Los Angeles Rams defends during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The admiration society is most assuredly mutual. Shanahan raved about what McCaffrey brought to the table in San Francisco as well.
"I don't think there's anything he can't do, whether
it's in the pass game, the run game, blocking," Shanahan said. "I
think he's a very talented player. Just watching how he plays, he's a very
smart player. He always gets to the right hole, is very smooth, and I've seen
that at every level he's played in."
McCaffrey didn't have a huge impact in last week's loss to the Chiefs, but that was expected. There's only so much you can learn about a scheme in a couple of days.
But after getting a full week of practices in, Sunday's big NFC West showdown was a chance for McCaffrey to really show his team what he could do. For the talking to stop and the walking to start. And with Samuel sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Niners needed their new star to step up, answer the call and be a focal point of the offense.
Consider that call answered.
You name it, McCaffrey did it against the Rams. He carried the ball 18 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. He caught eight passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. He even threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk.
All told, that's 26 touches for 149 yards and two scores as a runner and receiver and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. It's the first time since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 that a player has run for a score, caught a touchdown pass and thrown one in the same game.
Other than that, he was just OK.
Mind you, this was in a game that was similar to McCaffrey's time in Carolina. The Rams knew he was going to get the ball a lot. But because he lined up all over the place, there was precious little they could do about it. It's hard to key on a guy that lines up all over the formation.
Now imagine the dilemma the Los Angeles Chargers will have in two weeks when they have to try to stop two of them.
Samuel and McCaffrey are great players, to be sure. But one of the things that makes them great is their ability to line up in the backfield, in the slot or even split out wide.
As Brian Renick said on the 49ers Webzone: No Huddle podcast (h/t Ryan Gilbert of Audacy), having the versatile duo on the field together will be awfully hard for opponents to defend.
"I get excited thinking about things like what's it going to look like if you have Deebo and Christian McCaffrey lined up in the backfield at the same time. What are defenses going to do? They got to be in base defense, right? You got two running backs on the field.
"So now you've got Deebo and Christian McCaffrey who can, either one of them can take a handoff or can go out on the route from the backfield. All of a sudden Kyle Shanahan unlocks scheme versatility, which he wasn't able to do with the injuries that he currently has to deal with."
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers catches the ball for a touchdown as Jalen Ramsey #5 and Taylor Rapp #24 of the Los Angeles Rams defend during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
It's a Kobayashi Maru—a no-win situation. If you stay in base defense to defend the run, McCaffrey and Samuel will run circles around the linebackers or safeties tasked with covering them.
Never mind that the defensive backs covering wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle will be getting exactly zero help. Someone's going to be wide open with regularity.
Go to the nickel or dime in an effort to shore up the pass coverage and prevent death by a thousand cuts, and McCaffrey and Samuel will gash you on the ground. McCaffrey has averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a rusher for his career. Samuel averaged a gaudy 6.2 yards per carry during his breakout 2021 season.
The 49ers will bludgeon you into goo until you commit to stopping the run, and then they will make you pay for that commitment over the top.
You don't see many split backfields or "pro set" formations in 2022. But the 49ers might be the exception to that rule because lining McCaffrey and Samuel up in tandem in the backfield would be a nightmare to scheme against.
That's hardly the end of the problems for opponents, either. With veteran tackle Trent Williams back, the 49ers' offensive line goes from a potential weakness to a strength. San Francisco ranked first in the NFC in total defense and sixth in the conference in scoring defense entering Week 8.
The team's biggest weakness may be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but when Garoppolo plays a clean game like he did against the Rams, the Niners are going to be hard to beat.
This isn't to say that McCaffrey's arrival ensures the Niners a spot in Super Bowl LVII. There are no guarantees in the NFL, and it's a long way to February.
But with due respect to the surprising Seattle Seahawks, McCaffrey's arrival does make the Niners the team to beat in the NFC West. It gives San Francisco an offense that's potentially as lethal as the defense is stout and offers the 49ers a level of balance that only the Philadelphia Eagles can match in the conference.
And in pairing McCaffrey and Samuel, the 49ers have single-handedly caused a 492 percent spike in Pepto Bismol consumption among defensive coordinators and a lot of sleepless nights in the near future as they try in vain to devise a way to stop them.
Christian McCaffrey's Historic Game Celebrated by NFL Twitter in 49ers' Win over Rams
Oct 30, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers catches the ball for a touchdown as Jalen Ramsey #5 and Taylor Rapp #24 of the Los Angeles Rams defend during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers gave up plenty to land Christian McCaffrey when they traded four draft picks to the Carolina Panthers.
They did it for performances like Sunday's.
McCaffrey was brilliant while helping lead his 49ers to a 31-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's showdown. San Francisco snapped a two-game losing streak, improved to 4-4 overall and now has the tiebreaker over its NFC West rival after sweeping the season series.
The Stanford product finished with 94rushing yards, 55 receiving yards and three total touchdowns, one of which came on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk on a trick play in the second quarter.
He even made history as the first player since 2005 to catch, run and throw a touchdown in the same game, which drew plenty of reaction on social media:
I feel poorly for Panthers fans but all of McCaffrey's cool plays are just so much cooler in a 49ers jersey. I cannot explain why, but this is the truth
I asked if the impact of McCaffrey makes up for money, picks and potential loss of players b/c of money. The answer is YES LMAO. He makes all the difference in the world. 😮💨
While McCaffrey has dealt with injuries in his career, he looked explosive as a runner and used his speed to get to the edge on the second level multiple times. His ability to work as a receiver out of the backfield also helped make up for the absence of Deebo Samuel, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
McCaffrey impacted the game in a number of ways, but he was at his best in the third quarter with a leaping go-ahead touchdown in the corner of the end zone. It would have been an incredible play even if he was a wide receiver, and it put the visitors ahead for good.
It wasn't difficult to envision the 49ers offense torching opponents with a healthy Samuel and McCaffrey on the field at the same time, as the running back put the team on his back against Los Angeles.
Next up is the bye week, so Samuel will have some extra time to get healthy before a matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. The result may be one of the scariest one-two punches in the entire NFL.
The majority of NFL teams will be in action in Week 8, as there are only two that have a bye: the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. So that gives...
Not only did Christian McCaffrey's move to the San Francisco 49ers make headlines because he's a star player, but part of the appeal was also because of the...
Not only is the rumor mill spinning rapidly as the 2022 NFL trade deadline nears, more reports are constantly flooding the market. This player is available,...
49ers' Christian McCaffrey: When Someone 'Gets Rid of You...You Take It Personally'
Oct 27, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 23: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers standing on the sidelines looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Christian McCaffrey is carrying a chip on his shoulder following his trade from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers in the middle of the 2022 NFL season.
"I understand this is a business, but anytime somebody gets rid of you or something happens, you take it personally," he told reporters Thursday. "I'm so happy to be here, but yeah, absolutely (I am)."
“I understand it’s a business, but any time someone gets rid of you, you take it personally.” Christian McCaffrey #49erspic.twitter.com/9ZZFEELcnc
To some degree, the trade was an indictment of McCaffrey, since the four-year, $64.1 million extension he signed with the Panthers hasn't aged well. He made just 10 appearances between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
But the deal said far more about Carolina than it did the 2019 All-Pro. The franchise is pivoting toward a significant rebuild, and the front office is now in asset acquisition mode. Expensive veterans don't help as much as draft capital.
McCaffrey wasn't the only player jettisoned, with Robbie Anderson sent westward to the Arizona Cardinals as well.
McCaffrey's stock immediately ticked upward after news of his move surfaced. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan has a proven track record of showcasing his running backs, so pairing him with an elite runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield is a match made in heaven.
In his first game with San Francisco, McCaffrey ran for 38 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards on 23 offensive snaps. It was a solid debut given his limited usage.
The 26-year-old should get better as his familiarity with the offensive scheme grows, and he clearly has plenty of internal motivation to prove a point to his old team.
Fantasy Football Week 8: Top 100 Players' Updated Trade Value and Advice
Oct 27, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 23: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
We're in the thick of it now. The bye weeks are in full swing, the fantasy players with bad fantasy teams are realizing they are probably sunk, and the good teams are ready to load up for a playoff push.
We've hit Peak Fantasy Trade Szn, folks.
So the weekly fantasy trade chart is here to help. As always, it's best used as a guide to give you a general understanding of the trade value of your players and potential targets, but you'll want to keep your league rules and lineup format in mind. Any player not listed below has a value of one. PPR scoring was used to determine the rankings.
And of course, may the fantasy points be with you!
Trade Value: 15
1. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
3. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
Trade Value: 14
4. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
5. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
6. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
7. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
8. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Trade Value: 13
9. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
10. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
11. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
12. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
13. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Trade Value: 12
14. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
15. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
17. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
18. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
19. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
20. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Trade Value: 11
21. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
22. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
23. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
24. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
25. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Trade Value: 10
26. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
27. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
28. Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
29. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
30. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
31. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
32. Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
33. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Trade Value: 9
34. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
35. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
36. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
37. Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
38. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
39. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
40. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Trade Value: 8
41. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
42. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
43. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
44. James Robinson, RB, New York Jets
45. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
46. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
47. Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills
48. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
49. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
50. Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers
51. Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots
Trade Value: 7
52. Zach Ertz, TE, Arizona Cardinals
53. Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
54. David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
55. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
56. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
57. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Trade Value: 6
58. Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
59. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
60. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
61. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
62. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
63. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
64. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Trade Value: 5
65. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
66. Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Los Angeles Rams
67. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders
68. Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears
69. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears
70. Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills
71. Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins
72. Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
73. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Trade Value: 4
74. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
75. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
76. Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders
77. Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
78. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
79. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Trade Value: 3
80. Gus Edwards, RB, Baltimore Ravens
81. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
82. Brian Robinson, RB, Washington Commanders
83. D'Onta Foreman, RB, Carolina Panthers
84. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
85. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions
86. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
87. Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
88. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
89. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
Trade Value: 2
90. Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants
91. Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
92. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
93. Jamaal Williams, RB, Detroit Lions
94. Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns
95. Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
96. Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
97. Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
98. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
99. A.J. Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
100. Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints
The Christian McCaffrey deal is likely going to have reverberations for the trade value chart in the weeks to come.
For starters, the already-valuable McCaffrey is only going to benefit from playing on a better offense with a better coaching staff and scheme. He was borderline untouchable before the trade, but don't be shocked if he eventually becomes fantasy's most productive player.
The 49ers can have a dangerously versatile offense with Christian McCaffrey 😳
"If you just put Christian McCaffrey where Jeff Wilson is or where Ty Davis-Price is, it's a waste of getting him." —@Realrclark25pic.twitter.com/4qMKSckBEi
His addition, however, means that the Niners may not need Deebo Samuel to operate in as much of a Swiss Army knife role. Much of Samuel's usage as a running back in the past has come down to need, but the Niners have McCaffrey and Jeff Wilson and will get back Elijah Mitchell back at some point in November.
Samuel is going to remain valuable, but the diversity of touches he receives will diminish.
Deebo Samuel averaged 5.7 rush attempts per game from Weeks 1 through 3. Since, that number's been 1.8. Week 7 marked the first time he failed to hit double-digit PPR points in a game this season.
Brandon Aiyuk, meanwhile, is an interesting case. He's emerged as a legitimate weekly flex candidate, especially in PPR leagues, but McCaffrey is an elite receiver out of the backfield and could see some of the targets that might have otherwise gone Aiyuk's way.
Jimmy Garoppolo's strength isn't pushing the ball down the field. McCaffrey is likely going to feast in this offense, but it might come at the slight expense of Samuel and Aiyuk.
That makes Aiyuk a legitimate sell-high candidate, though Samuel is too talented and productive to expect his production to drop enough to cut ties with him.
Most avoided tackles by a WR on receptions this season
1. Deebo Samuel - 21 2. Cooper Kupp - 13 3. Garrett Wilson - 10 👀👀👀 4t. A.J. Brown - 9 4t. Parris Campbell - 9 👀👀👀 4t. Tyreek Hill - 9
And then there is George Kittle, who is finally thriving this season after a slow start, with 14 catches for 181 yards and a score on 19 targets in his last two games. Kittle's role probably won't diminish much with McCaffrey on board. If anything, he feels like an excellent buy-low candidate, though your chances of pulling that off are diminishing by the week.
As for which Panthers running back you should be pursuing via trade if you missed out on waivers, well, that remains up in the air, as both played well on Sunday. D'Onta Foreman came into the day with more production on the year and ultimately received six more touches, though Chuba Hubbard was technically the starter.
The smart money is on Foreman to emerge as the more valuable fantasy running back, but for now, don't pay RB2 prices to acquire him. The situation in Carolina is worth a wait-and-see approach.
