Christian McCaffrey
vs Ashton Jeanty

“If we could turn injuries off like in the Madden video game, McCaffrey would be the clear-cut 1.01 pick in every non-superflex draft.”

“Andrew Erickson’s Draft Landmines of 2026 Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF) Christian McCaffrey led the NFL with 413 touches in 2025 and reached 450 when including the playoffs.”

“Going as the RB3, roughly the eighth overall pick, McCaffrey is coming off a season that led all players in total touches. Historically, that’s a dangerous signal: over the last 13 years, only one running back who saw 400-plus touches in a season finished as a top-five back the next year, and running backs age 27 or older who led the league in touches have never finished top five the following season across six such occurrences.”

“He’s entering his age-30 season with a lot of miles on the tread. McCaffrey is absolutely capable of smashing, but he could also miss some games. Since 2020, he’s missed half the season or more three times.”

“In a full PPR format, CMC represents one of the few RBs in the league who really benefits from the extra bump per reception. McCaffrey had a whopping 102 receptions last season and could very well be one of the main receiving weapons in San Francisco again in 2026.”

“Christian McCaffrey | RB, San Francisco 49ers Heading into what will be his 10th season in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey is coming off another season of monstrous volume.”

“McCaffrey is coming off a season where he touched the ball 400+ times and finished all but one week of the season as a top-24 RB. The biggest “if” with CMC is his health, but when he is on the field, he is a fantasy league winner.”

“2 Something to note is that while Christian McCaffrey did not reach the total rushing attempts needed to hit this criterion last season, he did have 311 carries, along with 102 receptions, putting his total workload at a similar number.”

“The last time McCaffrey had over 400 touches in a year, the superstar missed 69.7% of the games over the next two seasons because of injury.”

“McCaffrey was the RB1 in points per game, scoring 2.5 points more than the RB2. Once again, the 49ers did very little to persuade us that they don’t believe in McCaffrey’s ability to be a workhorse, instead continuing their habit of talking up a later-round dart throw at the position, who’ll likely struggle to see any involvement.”

““ Ashton Jeanty is an exciting youngster with a bright future ahead of him, but week four seems ominous. Even though the Raiders play at home, there are easier things in life than running against the Chiefs’ swarming defense, led by standout defensive lineman Chris Jones . Despite their 3-0 record, the Raiders seem more like a paper tiger than a force to be reckoned with come January.”

“The offensive line has been dramatically improved from last year when it impeded basic functionality as an offense, and RB Ashton Jeanty looks like a special back. The Raiders are 2-0 despite not having TE Brock Bowers available, which is amazing considering how thin their skill group is viewed as. Unfortunately, I have serious doubts about how sustainable all of this is.”

“The former No. 6 overall pick, Jeanty suffered an ankle injury in the preseason but didn’t look any worse for wear. Las Vegas got creative in how they deployed him, using him frequently as a receiver out of the backfield, and he responded with a huge game. The Raiders needed Jeanty to show out this season, and he passed the first test.”

“Jeanty ran confidently and experienced no setbacks, leading the Raiders to a 27-13 victory over Miami’s hapless team. Vast improvements along the offensive line opened up gaping holes for Jeanty – hopefully that trend continues all season. Stud:”

“Ashton Jeanty suffered an injury scare in August, but the powers of the prayer circle worked, as he suffered only a low-ankle sprain and was a full practice participant on Wednesday's initial injury report. Mike Washington Jr. also shined in the preseason.”

“Bottom line- this doesn’t seem like a good matchup for the Buccaneers or Irving.” – Mark Ringo ( Sleepers and Busts ) Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV) “ Ashton Jeanty has a juicy matchup on paper at home against the Dolphins, but the bigger issue for Jeanty owners is that Mike Washington Jr. looks more explosive than the former 1st-round pick.”

“As a rookie, Jeanty was thrust into an abominable offense in Las Vegas and put up respectable numbers even though most of his carries looked like fight scenes from a Bruce Lee movie, with wave after wave of attackers coming at our hero. Jeanty ran for 975 yards and five touchdowns, and he caught 55 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns.”

“Ashton Jeanty was my preferred pick here, but with his preseason injury, I’m looking elsewhere.”

“Ashton Jeanty went down with an ankle injury in Sunday’s practice, the rookie Washington stepped into the first-team reps, and he has earned the market’s attention with his preseason work: Six carries for 63 yards including a 53-yard burst against Arizona, then 56 more yards against Houston, while flashing ability in pass protection and as a receiver. Even with Jeanty expected back, Washington has vaulted up boards as the clear next man up in a Raiders backfield that suddenly looks thin behind the star. Deebo Samuel Sr.”