Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Joe Mixon

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.

Saturday, January 11, 7:57 PM

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon overcame a rare fumble by helping his team secure victory with a 100-yard rushing effort and a game-clinching touchdown in the Texans' 32-12 win against the Los Angeles Chargers in a Wild Card playoff game. In total, the first-year Texan finished with 106 rushing yards on 25 carries and caught one of two targets for 13 yards. The veteran back's best work came after fumbling earlier in the game, breaking a streak of more than 1,000 touches without losing a fumble. Mixon rushed for 58 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown that iced the game, on Houston's final scoring drive. He and the Texans will advance to play a to-be-determined opponent in the Divisional Round.