Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Jordan Mason

Thursday, August 21, 10:59 PM

San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams said that running back Christian McCaffrey "looks fantastic" and "looks like offensive-player-of-the-year-Christian," per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. McCaffrey has mostly received glowing reports for his training camp performance so far from teammates and outside observers alike. The 29-year-old is coming off a lost season in 2024 due to Achilles tendinitis and a PCL injury to his right knee. However, he led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns in 2023. McCaffrey has played seven games or fewer in three of the last five seasons, but he has number one overall player in fantasy upside if he stays healthy.

Tuesday, August 5, 11:49 AM

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason was viewed as a "massive" part of Minnesota's offseason plan, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. During the spring, the Vikings acquired Mason via a trade. During the 2024 campaign, Mason emerged as a key contributor to the San Francisco rushing attack when Christian McCaffrey was sidelined. On a career-high 153 carries, Mason tallied 789 yards and three scores. During the first seven weeks, Mason flashed RB1 upside as he averaged a strong 14.8 PPR points per game and averaged 95.3 yards per game during this stretch. In addition, reports from Vikings camp suggest the team views him and veteran Aaron Jones as "Co-RB1s." While Jones will likely see the slight majority of carries, Mason possesses much higher upside given his age and speed. He is worth viewing as a standalone flex option and a high-upside handcuff if Jones were to miss time.