Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or James Conner

Friday, August 29, 5:06 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan thinks All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey is poised for a bounce-back season in 2025 after the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year was limited to four games in 2024 due to injuries. McCaffrey has been healthy all offeason and training camp and has been looking like his old self. "He came in healthy this year. He had a hell of an offseason, he's had a hell of a training camp, and I believe that's going to lead to a hell of a year," Shanahan said. CMC got off to a late start last year due to Achilles tendinitis in both of his legs and then suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee that ended his season. While the 29-year-old is as injury-prone as they come, he's still worth consideration in the late first round of fantasy drafts. If McCaffrey can stay healthy, he still has the potential to be a league-winner at a discounted price in 2025.

Thursday, May 29, 1:04 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) took part in voluntary organized team activities on Wednesday. "I'm ready," Conner said. "We ain't doing this forever." Conner injured his right knee in Week 16 of last year and had six touches before being pulled in Week 17. The Cardinals placed him on Injured Reserve for the Week 18 regular-season finale, but the 30-year-old veteran appears to be fine now and ready to go for the start of the 2025 season this fall. He racked up a career-high 1,518 scrimmage yards on 236 carries while catching 47 of 55 targets in 2024. It was the healthiest Conner had been in his career, so fantasy managers definitely should expect some more missed time given his age and physical running style. For now, he's still being considered a workhorse back in Arizona, but more injuries could give Trey Benson more of a role eventually.