Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or De'Von Achane


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
19.7 64.8 0.4 4.9 39.1 0.3

Christian McCaffrey News

Christian McCaffrey Played Through Cramping in Season-Opening Win

Friday, September 11, 8:04 AM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that running back Christian McCaffrey dealt with some cramps during the season-opening win on Thursday over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, but made it through fine, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. McCaffrey did not have a huge Week 1 performance, but he did enough to help the Niners pull off a blowout win over a Rams defense that came into the 2026 season expected to be one of the best units in the league. The 30-year-old had 10 carries for 68 yards and caught five of his eight targets for 20 yards. It was a notable reduction in his workload after finishing as the RB1 in fantasy in 2025 with a career- and league-high 413 touches in 17 regular-season starts. Rookie Kaelon Black actually had four more carries than CMC, who did not do much in training camp due to undisclosed tightness. McCaffrey might not see as hefty a workload in 2026, but if he stays healthy again all year, he still has the potential to be a league-winner in San Fran's offense. He is a must-start for a Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 20.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
17.4 74.9 0.4 3.8 27.1 0.2

De'Von Achane News

De'Von Achane Set to Star in a Run-Heavy Offense

Saturday, September 12, 3:00 AM

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is lined up for a massive workload as the Dolphins turn to Malik Willis as their starting quarterback and Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator. The team is expected to lean heavily on the run game, with Achane and Willis both getting plenty of chances to run the ball. Achane agreed to a four-year extension this past offseason worth $68 million after running for 1,350 rushing yards last season. He averaged an NFL-high 5.7 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns, and as the focus of the team's offense, he has both a high floor and a high ceiling since he should get so much volume. Achane is the No. 6 RB in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, and this favorable matchup against the Raiders should give us a better idea of what to expect from the Dolphins' new-look offense. With Achane featured in the middle of the action, he is a strong RB1 out of the gate this year.


Christian McCaffrey vs. De'Von Achane

Still trying to decide between McCaffrey and Achane? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Christian McCaffrey is projected to score 19.7 points this week while De'Von Achane is projected to score 17.4 points.