Christian McCaffrey vs Amon-Ra St. Brown

“Christian McCaffrey is coming off quite a poor year by his standards in the ground game, rushing for 3.9 yards per carry, his lowest mark since 2020 in Carolina. But for fantasy purposes, that simply didn't matter, as McCaffrey saw 129 targets, more than A.J. Brown, Courtland Sutton, Keenan Allen or Zay Flowers had. McCaffrey was the RB1 in points per game, scoring 2.5 points more than the RB2.”

“It's true that Christian McCaffrey is coming off quite a poor year by his standards in the ground game, rushing for 3.9 yards per carry, his lowest mark since 2020 in Carolina, which ranked 48th among running backs with 50+ rush attempts, while also ranking 47th in yards after contact per attempt.”

“McCaffrey saw 129 targets, more than A.J. Brown, Courtland Sutton, Keenan Allen or Zay Flowers had. McCaffrey was the RB1 in points per game, scoring 2.5 points more than the RB2.”

“But for fantasy purposes, that simply didn't matter, as McCaffrey saw 129 targets, more than A.J. Brown, Courtland Sutton, Keenan Allen or Zay Flowers had. McCaffrey was the RB1 in points per game, scoring 2.5 points more than the RB2.”

“It's true that Christian McCaffrey is coming off quite a poor year by his standards in the ground game, rushing for 3.9 yards per carry, his lowest mark since 2020 in Carolina. This ranked 48th among running backs with 50+ rush attempts, while also ranking 47th in yards after contact per attempt and 29th in missed tackles forced.”

“McCaffrey recently turned 30, and while he can maintain his value in the receiving game, the cliff edge can come fast for running backs.”

“McCaffrey is coming off one of his worst rushing performances of his career, averaging 3.9 yards per carry, his lowest mark since 2020 in Carolina. This ranked 48th among running backs with 50+ rush attempts. He also ranked 47th in yards after contact per attempt and 29th in missed tackles forced.”

“Last season, Christian McCaffrey finished as the RB1, averaging 24.5 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 45.8 more fantasy points than any other running back. However, McCaffrey had 413 regular-season touches last year, a career-high. Unfortunately, the last time he had over 375 touches in a season, McCaffrey missed 13 games the following year.”

“McCaffrey says he's had heavy workload seasons where he felt rough after and some he felt great after, making it all about how he prepares mixed with some luck. "Sometimes you can get through a season with 400-plus touches and feel great, and sometimes you might only put in three games and you feel terrible. I've experienced both."”

“Coming off a year where McCaffrey had five games with at least 30 touches, HC Kyle Shanahan has talked about reducing the star's workload as he ages. McCaffrey said he obviously doesn't want the ball less, but he's still preparing his body to be ready to handle 35 touches a game.”

“McCaffrey turns 30 on June 7th, and while 129 targets last year isn't to be sniffed at, this bet does feel slightly thin at times. McCaffrey is a stronger pick slightly later than this.”

“The trouble is that McCaffrey PPR scammed his way to first place with his worst rushing production in a while. His 3.9 yards per carry was his lowest mark since 2020 in Carolina. This ranked 48th among running backs with 50+ rush attempts, while also ranking 47th in yards after contact per attempt and 29th in missed tackles forced.”

“When you draft St. Brown, you have a pretty solid idea of what you're getting. He has recorded over 119 targets in every one of the five seasons he's played in the NFL and scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the last three.”

“The Lions were bad last season, and the most important thing is that they might have a competent play-caller once again in Drew Petzing. The team has said they want to lean into what Jared Goff does best by using play-action passes heavily, which would be a bonus for St. Brown, who has consistently led the team in first-read target share on such plays.”

“When you draft Amon-Ra St. Brown, you have a pretty solid idea of what you're getting. He has recorded over 119 targets in every one of the five seasons he's played in the NFL and scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the last three.”

“Amon-Ra St. Brown falling to the turn on Sleeper is one of the biggest values in early drafts. While many drafters chase youth and upside, they are overlooking one of the safest elite assets in fantasy football. St. Brown has delivered elite volume and consistency for three straight seasons, thriving on heavy target share, red-zone usage and his chemistry with Jared Goff.”

“Perhaps the ceiling gets capped slightly if Jameson Williams trends upwards and Sam LaPorta is healthier, but the Lions were bad last season, and the most important thing is that they might have a competent play-caller once again in Drew Petzing. The team has said they want to lean into what Jared Goff does best by using play-action passes heavily. That would be a bonus for St. Brown, who has consistently led the team in first-read target share on such plays.”

“When you draft Amon-Ra St. Brown, you have a pretty solid idea of what you're getting. He has recorded over 119 targets in every one of the five seasons he's played in the NFL and scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the last three.”

“St. Brown is the unquestioned alpha in the passing game, averaging 159 targets during that span. Detroit's offense has been one of the league's best over the last three seasons, and there isn't really a reason to think that will slow down.”

“"I think it's been great. Meetings have been great. Out here at practice has been amazing," St. Brown noted. "It's still early, it's only been three practices but just being able to sit in the meeting rooms, being out there with him, talking with him, I think it's going to be great for us."”

“The 2024 offseason brought timely paydays for Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Jared Goff.”

“What if you have an Amon Ra, Gibbs, or a DET stack in the works? Swift makes more sense because of the Week 17 correlation.”

“Amon-Ra St. Brown come to mind as an NFL player who has the same WR1 year-over-year and isn't going anywhere, set to produce for fantasy teams once again in 2026.”

“From Week 5 to Week 16, the Lions play just two outdoor games. One is in Miami in Week 9, and the other is a neutral game in Germany in Week 10 (Amon-Ra St. Brown homecoming).”