Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Jerome Ford

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.

Friday, October 10, 7:37 PM

The Athletic's Daniel Popper speculates that if the Los Angeles Chargers explore the trade market at running back with Najee Harris (Achilles) done for the year and rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton (ankle) on Injured Reserve, two potential options could be New York Jets RB Breece Hall and the Cleveland Browns' Jerome Ford. Both Hall and Ford are on expiring deals and could bring the Bolts a compensatory draft pick if they make it to free agency in 2026. Even when Hampton returns from IR, L.A. is going to need a second back to pair with him as a team with a run-first identity under offensive coordinator Greg Roman. At least for Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal are expected to share the backfield equally, giving them both flex appeal in deeper fantasy leagues. How aggressive the Chargers are on bringing in an outside RB will depend on how Haskins and Vidal fare in the coming weeks.