McCaffrey’s Week 1 workload was 31 touches, and Week 2 injury chatter centered on a calf scare. He practiced fully late in the week and wasn’t listed on the Sunday injury report, making him a strong play against New Orleans unless a late setback arises.

The 49ers’ backfield remains in flux. If McCaffrey can’t go, Brian Robinson would step into the top role and Isaac Guerendo could mix in behind him. Shanahan offered little new detail beyond saying there was nothing to report after Week 1, keeping fantasy managers on alert for last‑minute lineup decisions.

McCaffrey's Week 1 status drives the 49ers' backfield chess—if healthy, he remains the workhorse, and Robinson and Guerendo are deep-league lotto tickets. If McCaffrey is scratched, Robinson becomes a strong Week 1 start, with Guerendo pairing upside as a TD-heavy flex. In standard leagues Guerendo edges as a dart-throw; in PPR, Robinson's passing-down role gives him the edge. Shanahan's RB-by-committee means both could pop in deeper formats, especially if CMC is limited.

With McCaffrey’s calf uncertainty resolved by Schefter as active, the article leans Robinson as the safer PPR option and Guerendo as the upside play in TD-heavy setups. The San Francisco backfield remains volatile, but Week 1 expectations tilt toward McCaffrey handling most duties, leaving Robinson as the clearer Week 1 anchor and Guerendo as a speculative add for deeper pools.

Week 1 fantasy outlook centers on workload and health. McCaffrey is a must if active, with Seattle yielding solid numbers historically; Cook faces a Ravens run defense that throttled opponents last season; Stevenson remains a core piece with favorable early-season matchups. White’s role could hinge on pass-game usage, while Benson and Allen carry cuff upside behind established starters. Pearsall and Guerendo offer deep-league flex intrigue if further injury news shifts opportunities for SF. Rodriguez Jr. starts with Washington in a challenging spot, and Achane arrives as a high-ceiling option for Miami if fully healthy.

Guerendo, Bateman, and Deebo Samuel Sr. headline Week 1 starts, with Guerendo viable as a high-end RB3/flex if McCaffrey sits. Bateman is a cautious WR3 with upside in a Bills game, thanks to his 13.9 aDOT but fluctuating targets. Samuel Sr. lands in Washington with a potently improved surrounding cast, offering a high-ceiling WR3/Flex.

Guerendo flashed in limited snaps, averaging 17.9 PPR in a 4-game stretch; if McCaffrey sits, he could see 15–20 touches. If not, Brian Robinson remains the backfield leader, capping Guerendo's workload. Bateman’s extension stabilizes the role, but the Bills defense keeps his floor modest. Samuel Sr. should thrive in Washington’s fast-paced environment, yielding weekly upside as a top secondary option.

Bottom line: monitor McCaffrey, injuries, and the opponent to decide Week 1 starts for these three — Guerendo in deeper formats, Bateman as a risky WR3, and Samuel Sr. as a strong flex option when healthy.

SF opened Week 1 versus Seattle with two practice-squad promotions at WR/linebacker—Russell Gage and Curtis Robinson—while not promoting a running back. Marques Valdes-Scantling joined the active roster earlier, and Ricky Pearsall plus Jauan Jennings figure into a crowded receiver mix alongside Sky Moore as Seattle looms. With Christian McCaffrey likely suiting up, SF relies on a lean backfield (McCaffrey, Brian Robinson Jr., Isaac Guerendo) and a special-teams boost from Robinson.

Fantasy takeaway: expect role-sharing among SF receivers, with Gage and Pearsall offering floor upside if targets swing in their direction. McCaffrey anchors the offense, while the reserve RBs are situational—limit expectations for immediate backfield volume unless injuries surface early.