Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Devon Achane

Monday, January 6, 6:07 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) said he's "definitely close" to fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2024 season early. McCaffrey told ESPN's Nick Wagoner he would have been able to return had the team made the postseason, but instead, he'll continue to rehab and expects to be ready for organized team activities in the spring. The 28-year-old was specifically dealing with a PCL injury in his right knee that caused him to miss the last five games of the year, but a calf strain and bilateral Achilles tendinitis led to CMC not making his 2024 debut until Week 10. The All-Pro RB was the biggest fantasy bust of the year without question, so his health will be closely watched heading into training camp in the summer. While McCaffrey's lengthy injury history will keep him from being a top pick in the first round in 2025, he's still deserving of first-round consideration.

Monday, January 6, 10:17 AM

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane carried the ball 11 times for 121 yards and a touchdown in the 32-20 loss to the New York Jets in Week 18. He was one of the lone bright spots for Miami on a day when their dreams of making the playoffs were crushed after the Denver Broncos blowout of the Kansas City Chiefs. Surprisingly, Achane didn't receive a single target in this game, which was his bread and butter all season. Despite running behind an inconsistent offensive line all year, the 23-year-old put together a top-10 fantasy running back season and figures to be a solid option again in 2025.