Thanks to the NFL's new short-term IR for the 2020 season, injured players have a chance to come back earlier than usual. In a normal season, a player would have to spend eight weeks on IR before being activated. This year, it's just three weeks. That shortened timetable has raised some questions about the return of some of the league's best injured players. Notably, top fantasy football draft pick Christian McCaffrey (ankle) has spent three weeks on IR, which means he's eligible to return in Week 6. His chances of doing so aren't great, but many fantasy owners will be wondering about the possibility. Here's the latest on McCaffrey and how his injury status will impact our Week 6 RB rankings.
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WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Is Christian McCaffrey coming off IR Week 6?
At this point, it seems highly unlikely that McCaffrey will be playing for the Panthers in Week 6.
As Steve Reed of the Associated Press pointed out, while McCaffrey is eligible to return from IR this week, the injury was expected to have a recovery timeframe of four-to-six weeks. We're only just reaching the three-week mark, and Panthers head coach Matt Rhule wouldn't speculate on when his star RB might return to action.
With McCaffrey still out, Mike Davis will continue to be the top back in Carolina. His performance is part of the reason that the team won't feel the need to rush McCaffrey back to action, as Davis has logged at least 90 scrimmage yards and a TD in his past three games. He can continue to hold the fort as McCaffrey progresses in his recovery from the high ankle sprain.
McCaffrey watch will continue the next few weeks, as the Panthers take on the Saints in Week 7 and the Falcons on Thursday night in Week 8. If McCaffrey doesn't play in those contests, he'll have 10 days off before a Week 9 clash with the Chiefs, and that mini-bye could provide him his best chance of returning to action.
