Christian McCaffrey vs George Pickens
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 29, 2026
Should you draft Christian McCaffrey or George Pickens?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SEA | 18.7 | RB5 | 22 | 69 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 73 | 0 |
2 | NO | 19.7 | RB5 | 13 | 55 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 52 | 1 |
3 | ARI | 19.0 | RB8 | 17 | 52 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 88 | 0 |
4 | JAX | 23.1 | RB8 | 17 | 49 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 92 | 1 |
5 | LAR | 23.9 | RB6 | 22 | 57 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 82 | 1 |
6 | TB | 20.6 | RB9 | 17 | 54 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 57 | 0 |
7 | ATL | 35.6 | RB1 | 24 | 129 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 72 | 0 |
8 | HOU | 8.3 | RB28 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 43 | 0 |
9 | NYG | 31.8 | RB1 | 28 | 106 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 1 |
10 | LAR | 13.6 | RB16 | 12 | 30 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 66 | 0 |
11 | ARI | 32.6 | RB2 | 13 | 81 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 40 | 1 |
12 | CAR | 23.7 | RB3 | 24 | 89 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 0 |
13 | CLE | 15.4 | RB12 | 20 | 53 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 0 |
14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | TEN | 15.2 | RB14 | 22 | 73 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
16 | IND | 29.6 | RB3 | 21 | 117 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 2 |
17 | CHI | 26.1 | RB4 | 23 | 140 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 41 | 0 |
18 | SEA | 8.7 | RB23 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | BYE | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
10 | TB | 13.7 | RB11 | 13 | 39 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 68 | 0 |
11 | SEA | 12.6 | RB16 | 19 | 79 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 0 |
12 | GB | 6.3 | RB31 | 11 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 37 | 0 |
13 | BUF | 7.7 | RB34 | 7 | 53 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | PHI | 4.5 | WR62 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 0 |
2 | NYG | 15.3 | WR15 | 9 | 5 | 68 | 1 |
3 | CHI | 15.3 | WR16 | 9 | 5 | 68 | 1 |
4 | GB | 29.4 | WR2 | 11 | 8 | 134 | 2 |
5 | NYJ | 12.7 | WR19 | 4 | 2 | 57 | 1 |
6 | CAR | 27.3 | WR1 | 11 | 9 | 168 | 1 |
7 | WAS | 10.2 | WR28 | 6 | 4 | 82 | 0 |
8 | DEN | 11.3 | WR23 | 9 | 7 | 78 | 0 |
9 | ARI | 10.9 | WR29 | 9 | 6 | 79 | 0 |
10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | LV | 24.9 | WR3 | 11 | 9 | 144 | 1 |
12 | PHI | 25.1 | WR4 | 9 | 9 | 146 | 1 |
13 | KC | 13.8 | WR17 | 13 | 6 | 88 | 0 |
14 | DET | 6.2 | WR40 | 9 | 5 | 37 | 0 |
15 | MIN | 4.8 | WR61 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 0 |
16 | LAC | 22.5 | WR5 | 9 | 7 | 130 | 1 |
17 | WAS | 9.8 | WR30 | 5 | 4 | 78 | 0 |
18 | NYG | 1.4 | WR88 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ATL | 10.5 | WR26 | 7 | 6 | 85 | 0 |
2 | DEN | 3.9 | WR63 | 4 | 2 | 29 | 0 |
3 | LAC | 8.2 | WR45 | 7 | 5 | 57 | 0 |
4 | IND | 12.8 | WR25 | 11 | 7 | 113 | 0 |
5 | DAL | 4.1 | WR64 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 0 |
6 | LV | 6.8 | WR47 | 8 | 3 | 53 | 0 |
7 | NYJ | 19.6 | WR3 | 9 | 5 | 111 | 1 |
8 | NYG | 9.4 | WR44 | 5 | 4 | 74 | 0 |
9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
10 | WAS | 18.0 | WR5 | 7 | 5 | 91 | 1 |
11 | BAL | 12.9 | WR24 | 12 | 8 | 89 | 0 |
12 | CLE | 6.8 | WR47 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 0 |
13 | CIN | 14.9 | WR19 | 6 | 3 | 74 | 1 |
14 | BYE | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
17 | KC | 6.5 | WR54 | 7 | 3 | 50 | 0 |
18 | CIN | 0.5 | WR109 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Latest takes
“You see Christian McCaffrey putting up 24.7 PPR points per game on a San Francisco line with a 14.1% stuff rate in 2023.”
Samuel DiSorbo· Aug 25“Kaelon Black and Sincere McCormick have looked solid for the Niners through two preseason games, and the running back room is led by Christian McCaffrey, who touched the ball on 400 plays last season. There’s only one ball, and it just doesn’t seem feasible that Evans can reach 100 targets or 900 yards given all of San Francisco’s offensive options.”
Steve Krebs· Aug 25“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.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 23
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“I might go that way in start-2WR leagues, too, although I would probably slide Christian McCaffrey ahead of Smith-Njigba in such leagues.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 22“58 | RB3 No one scored more PPR fantasy points than Christian McCaffrey last year (416.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 22“He has head coach Kyle Shanahan, Christian McCaffrey , and a loaded offensive ecosystem.”
Samwise· Aug 19“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.”
Kyle Zeigler· Aug 18“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.”
Kurt Mullen· Aug 14“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.”
Kyle Lesti· Aug 11“Fantasy Football Research & Advice Fantasy Football Expert Rankings 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Kit Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Pick 1.04 Players to Consider at 1.04 Fantasy Football Draft Pick These players will likely be available when you make your selection: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA) Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF) It’s fair to assume at least one of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs will be gone, if not both, as they’re the consensus top two picks.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 11“Plenty of people have been hurt by fading Christian McCaffrey over the years, and it feels like a dangerous prospect when CMC was the RB1 in PPR points per game, scored 24.5 last year, 2.5 more than Bijan Robinson.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 9“McCaffrey fell to 1.95 YAC/A (41st among 51 running backs with at least 90 carries) and -0.54 RYOE/A (47th). Given his age and injury history I’d bet heavily against McCaffrey turning the tides on his declining rush efficiency. Fortunately, he showed absolutely no sign of decline as a receiving threat.”
Jakob Sanderson· Aug 8“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.”
Kurt Mullen· Aug 7“Now, there are outliers — guys like Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry continue to defy the odds and crush it.”
Wolf Trelles-Heard· Aug 7“He's scored 20 TDs twice including last season when he finished as the RB2 overall behind Christian McCaffrey”
FFToday· Aug 6
“The notes back it fully: he commands an offense that ranked fifth in points per game with a loaded skill group in CeeDee Lamb , George Pickens , and Jake Ferguson , and there is genuine “meat on the bone” in his touchdown production. He is a locked-in QB1 with top-five upside going at a discount.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 25“The newly arrived George Pickens recorded a 22.1% target share in the red zone compared to Lamb’s 18.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 23“Lamb remains a locked-in WR1 with a stellar quarterback in his prime and George Pickens alongside him to keep defenses honest.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 14
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“However, not every dinner has to be the filet mignon. Sometimes, you are perfectly happy ordering the mac and cheese, and that is where a player like George Pickens comes in.”
Brooke Morgan· Aug 12“Fellow wideout George Pickens is ranked just four spots behind Lamb in the Player Profiler Dynasty Rankings , and the gap is closing.”
Kyle Lesti· Aug 11“Flowers was one of 3 WRs (JSN and George Pickens ) to post at least 470 yards of YAC with an ADOT of at least 10 yards.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11“Pickens finished as a WR1 for the first time in his career, and there is no reason to think a repeat is out of the question. He is still behind CeeDee Lamb for targets, but he should contend for WR1 status.”
Jason Kamlowsky· Aug 11“The Cowboys made no meaningful additions at RB this offseason and are running it back with Dak Prescott , CeeDee Lamb , and George Pickens .”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“Wide Receiver The WR1 cutoffs sit close together, with one analyst drawing the line at Chris Olave and the other going one tier higher to George Pickens.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 25“Pickens answered that question by expanding his role after moving to a more aggressive passing offense, aided in part by a teammate missing time. The argument is that Pickens has already shown he can grow into a larger role, while Tate hasn’t yet, which should push Pickens ahead of him, possibly by more than a single spot.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 18“Dallas will have a tough dilemma if franchised WR George Pickens has a Pro Bowl season and Overshown remains healthy.”
Tony Camino· Jul 10“Pickens proved last year that all he needed was competent quarterback play to prove he can be an elite wide receiver in the league. After being stuck with Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Mason Rudolph, fantasy managers were blessed to witness a fully unlocked Pickens in 2025.”
Jonathan Lange· Jun 25“George Pickens had a monster first year with the Cowboys, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards.”
Sharp Football Staff· Jun 24“Pickens had a breakout season in his first year with the Cowboys, finishing as the WR5, averaging 17.2 PPR fantasy points per game. He averaged 8.7 targets and 26.3 fantasy points per game with CeeDee Lamb sidelined, but averaged 7.9 targets and 15.2 with Lamb playing.”
Mike Fanelli· Jun 21“Last year I made the case that George Pickens projected very similarly to Tee Higgins despite a two-round ADP discount. I'd maintain that they project similarly again in 2026, albeit with their ADPs in reverse order.”
Jakob Sanderson· Jun 20