McCloud finished the 2022 regular season with 321 all-purpose yards, two total touchdowns and 955 combined return yards in 17 games with the 49ers.
What it means:
McCloud was effective as a return specialist with his new club in 2022, but he also became a deep-threat gadget player for head coach Kyle Shanahan. The 26-year-old's reception average of 17.4 yards was the best of his career by far, and he also recorded his first rushing touchdown despite playing a limited role on offense. McCloud's success in his first season of his two-year contract with San Francisco should lead to a similar role in 2023.
McCloud had one reception (two targets) for 41 yards in Sunday's 37-34 overtime win over the Raiders.
What it means:
McCloud produced a big-splash play for the second consecutive week, although this one fell short of going for a touchdown. The return specialist is proving that he can be a home-run threat on offense, but his role is too inconsistent to be relied upon in fantasy. McCloud has recorded more than one reception just once this season (Week 7), so we can expect more of the same against the Cardinals on Sunday.
McCloud broke off a 71-yard touchdown run and did not catch his lone target in Saturday's 37-20 win over Washington.
What it means:
McCloud did his best Deebo Samuel (knee/ankle) impression when he took a wide zone handoff for a 71-yard touchdown. It was the return specialist's fourth rushing attempt this season, with the previous three tallying just seven yards back in Week 14. McCloud's usage as a receiver hasn't increased in the two games sans Deebo, so this unique touchdown run shouldn't have fantasy managers rushing to the waiver wire ahead of San Francisco's Week 17 matchup against Las Vegas.
McCloud caught one of three targets for 16 yards in Thursday's 21-13 win over Seattle.
What it means:
McCloud was elevated to third on the receiver depth chart with Deebo Samuel (ankle) sidelined, but his offensive usage did not expand much with the elevated role. The return specialist combined for 84 return yards for fantasy league's that factor in that statistic. Samuel is likely to miss Week 16's contest against Washington, giving McCloud another shot to generate value as a cheap DFS flier against the Commanders next Saturday.
McCloud logged 28 snaps on offense (44 percent) and caught his lone target for 11 yards in Sunday's 35-7 win over the Buccaneers.
What it means:
McCloud saw an uptick in offensive snaps in the second half of Sunday's blowout win after Deebo Samuel (ankle) was carted off the field. The latter suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss time. Jauan Jennings would figure to step into Deebo's starting wideout role, with McCloud seeing in an increase in playing time in addition to his usual work as the team's primary return specialist. Neither backup figures to see huge increases in targets, but some deep-league value could be had for as long as Samuel is sidelined, starting with Thursday's tilt against Seattle.
McCloud played six of the 49ers' 70 snaps on offense and recorded a 12-yard reception in Sunday's 13-0 win over the Saints.
What it means:
After failing to corral his lone target in the 49ers' Week 11 win over the Cardinals, McCloud got back on the stat sheet Sunday with his 11th catch of the season. The former Clemson standout is clearly behind Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings on the depth chart at receiver and is unlikely to see his role expand unless one of those three players misses time.
