Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Jayden Higgins

Sunday, October 19, 11:44 PM

The San Francisco 49ers have been as banged up as any team in the NFL this year, but they can beat any team in the league as long as star running back Christian McCaffrey is healthy. McCaffrey once again dominated offensive touches for San Fran in Sunday night's victory over the visiting Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, touching the football 31 times for 201 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. The 29-year-old do-it-all back had a season-high 24 carries for 129 rushing yards (his first 100-yard game of 2025) and added two rushing scores, as an improved Falcons defense had no answers for him. CMC added seven catches on eight targets for 72 receiving yards. McCaffrey has been the Niners' leading receiver this year and has three receiving touchdowns and three rushing TDs as a balanced offensive threat like few others in the league. Despite another tough test in Week 8 against the Houston Texans' defense, CMC continues to be a must-start, elite RB1 in fantasy football.

Saturday, October 18, 5:56 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins had the best game of his rookie season just before the team's bye week, and he'll look to pick up where he left off as he returns to the field in Seattle on Monday night. He'll get a boost in Week 7 from Christian Kirk (hamstring) missing another contest, which could allow more targets to come his way. Higgins only had five catches in his first four games combined, but he had four catches on four targets for 32 yards in Week 5 against the Ravens. He played a season-high 56% of snaps in that blowout win, and could pick up Kirk's work this week as well. The No. 34 pick in last year's draft started the season with some fantasy buzz but hasn't been able to emerge as a weekly starting play in Houston's crowded receiver room. He has a very high ceiling but also has a very low floor since he has only one catch in three games this season. Weighing his risk and reward, he is a boom-or-bust longshot play at a flex spot this week, but he does have some intriguing upside as a rookie option down the road if he can build on his Week 5 success.