3 emergency Christian McCaffrey replacements for fantasy football managers before the playoffs

The 2024 NFL campaign has been rather disappointing for San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey — and the fantasy managers who drafted him.

After being the consensus No. 1 overall pick in drafts throughout the summer, McCaffrey has fallen well short of ADP. Achilles tendinitis in both feet sidelined him for the season's first nine weeks. Upon returning from the well-chronicled yet murky debacle, he hasn't looked like his typical All-Pro self. And now, disaster has struck again: The running back is headed back on the shelf, at least for the rest of the regular season, after suffering a knee injury in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters following his team's 35-10 loss that McCaffreyis headed to injured reserve due to his PCL ailment. Facing a six-week recovery period, the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year won't return this year, barring an improbable playoff run.

It's devastating news for both McCaffrey and the Niners. And frankly, the timing couldn't be much worse for fantasy managers, considering the fantasy playoffs are right around the corner. Either you've overcome his post-injury struggles and been waiting for him to rebound, or he was supposed to be the missing piece to your postseason push. Regardless, those who were reliant on him must look elsewhere.

Since the trade deadline has passed for most, your bench or the waiver wire are the only ways you can address McCaffrey's absence. No one will replicate the production of arguably the best three-down workhorse in football, even despite his shortcomings this season. But if your team doesn't have enticing depth options, see if these backs are free agents. They're each available in over 50 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.

3 emergency Christian McCaffrey replacements for fantasy football managers before the playoffs

3. Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers (49 percent rostered)

Brooks was a non-factor in his pro debut in Week 12, logging only five snaps. But that changed versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 13, and he capitalized on his opportunity.

Brooks saw a modest bump in the overtime loss to the Bucs, earning 15 snaps. However, he was quite involved and productive during his limited time on the field. His nine touches yielded three receptions and 41 scrimmage yards. Most importantly, the rookie second-round pick out of Texas looked healthy and spry. This is a positive sign as he gets further removed from the Grade 3 ACL tear he suffered at Texas in November 2023.

Moreover, fellow backfield mate and incumbent starter Chuba Hubbard lost his second fumble, costing the Panthers a potential game-winning opportunity in overtime. With that in mind, it wouldn't be shocking to see Brooks get more work moving forward.

Not to mention that Panthers second-year quarterback Bryce Young is ascending and uplifting the entire offense with him, which bodes well for Brooks' prospects. Don't be shy; add the talented tailback who plays for a scoring unit trending upwards.

2. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (44% percent rostered)

The snap split between Bigsby and his comrade Travis Etienne was rather even (32 to 37) in Week 13. Nonetheless, the latter posted the more fantasy-friendly stat line, though neither did much of anything.

Bigsby saw seven carries, which he turned into 28 yards, also catching his lone target for an additional seven yards. It was a lackluster outing, but it's important to remember that the Jacksonville Jaguars were in a negative game script for much of the contest. Luckily for the 23-year-old, the team's schedule softens up down the stretch, and that should bear better results.

With upcoming matchups against the Tennessee Titans (twice), New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts, none project to be blowout losses. The more competitive environment should enable the Jaguars to establish the run with a hyper-efficient Bigsby leading the charge. Furthermore, with franchise signal-caller Trevor Lawrence's status in question after suffering a scary-looking concussion, the Jags might have to lean on the run game.

1. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (3% rostered)

In a sudden turn of events, Isaac Guerendo (and not Jordan Mordan) will get the first crack at filling McCaffrey's shoes this time.

Mason had a firm grip on the 49ers backfield when McCaffrey missed the team's first eight games this season. Nonetheless, the former is surprisingly joining the latter on IR, vaulting Guerendo atop the depth chart.

Those who rostered McCaffrey and had Mason ready in the chamber are surely panicking, knowing Guerendo is sitting on 97 percent of waiver wires. A prospective top-15 fantasy running back unexpectedly became up for grabs in virtually every league. Managers who tried getting ahead of the curve will presumably need to win a bidding war (for those who play with FAAB). Talk about a nightmare situation.

We don't have much pro-level film to dissect and evaluate Guerendo's game, but he's an explosive runner with big-play upside. His 4.33 40-yard dash speed jumps off the screen every time he touches the ball. The 24-year-old demonstrated his ability to fly on the impressive 15-yard touchdown scamper versus the Bills:

Even in the snow, Guerendo's acceleration is apparent. He hasn't been a consistent part of San Francisco's rushing attack but produces when they give him the chance, flashing talent and potential. The fourth-round rookie hasn't seen a lot of opportunities behind McCaffrey and Mason but has made the most of them. His robust 5.9 yards per carry on 42 attempts is well above the league average (4.4).

While there is no one-for-one replacement for McCaffrey, Guerendo is as close as it gets (from a fantasy standpoint), given the current state of affairs.