Christian McCaffrey was traded by the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday in exchange for draft picks, multiple news agencies including the Associated Press reported. The star running back moving teams will have massive implications on the field and in fantasy football too. 

The Panthers on Thursday night announced the deal. McCaffrey will move back to the Bay Area where he starred in college at Stanford after he passes a physical, the team said. 

Also read: NFL 2022: Who will replace Christian McCaffrey at Carolina Panthers?

Carolina will receive picks in the second, third and fourth rounds of the 2023 draft, as well as a fifth-rounder in 2024, AP reported, citing a person familiar with the terms. 

The running back is expected to strengthen the San Francisco offense that has been seeking an RB starter since Elijah Mitchell got injured. The team has a lot of quality in Deebo Samuel, star tight end George Kittle and receiver Brandon Aiyuk. 

Also read: A look at San Francisco 49ers’ running back depth chart

McCaffrey has 393 rushing yards in 85 attempts and two touchdowns. The 26-year-old has received 33 of his 43 targets for one TD. He has scored 101.50 fantasy points in the first six weeks of the season. 

How does Christian McCaffrey’s trade impact fantasy football?

One of the top picks this year, McCaffrey was rostered 100% through the first six weeks of the season. Yahoo projects that the running back will account for 298.18 points in 2022.

Also read: Christian McCaffrey traded: Who gets what?

One clear impact of the trade will be seen in the value of Jeff Wilson Jr., Elijah Mitchell and other running backs at San Francisco. McCaffrey might not play in Week 7, which means Wilson will not necessarily be benched immediately, but once he is on the field a lot of throws will be made at him. 

Wilson’s time as the top running back in Shanahan’s offense is coming to an end.

Also read: Will Christian McCaffrey play for San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 vs Kansas City Chiefs?

McCaffrey also delivers like a WR. The likes of  Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and receiver Brandon Aiyuk are also expected to take a hit. 

Samuel, who like McCaffrey is quite versatile, has hauled in 27 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He is currently ranked 11th-best wide receiver this season. However, the former Carolina star is expected to share a lot of his load and Deebo Samuel’s fantasy position might take a major hit. 

With Trey Lance out of the season, Jimmy Garoppollo has taken the starting spot. The 30-year-old quarterback, with a strong offense, will benefit fantasy-wise. 

However, that has come with the transition from Trey Lance, who got injured, leading to taking over the starting spot once again. The offense will now have the addition of McCaffrey, which is a major improvement, as the 49ers were using a committee before he arrived.

For the Panthers, D’onta Foreman will lead the running back charge. His backup should be Chuba Hubbard. Quarterback Phillip Walker and whoever steps in later are expected to take a hit.