It depends on if they decide to follow the EU rules and their own Conditions of Carriage. There isn't supposed to be any differentiation between a ticket regardless of whether it was paid for or obtained with miles however in practice almost every airline does so.

CDG has a very nice hotel right at the airport. If you have Starwood miles the cash+points rate is absurdly cheap. It is not only a lot more pleasant to fly in the night before it is essential if you are on an award ticket in my opinion.

AF will check your baggage all the way through so you just hop off the plane, check in, spend the evening in Paris, then get up the next morning and go.

Far and away the best way to return from a European trip.