Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Kaleb Johnson

Monday, August 18, 6:14 PM

The Athletic's Matt Barrows writes that it makes sense for the San Francisco 49ers to lean on running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle in the passing game early this season. Barrows also added that if McCaffrey is "not back to his 2023 form, he's pretty close to it." McCaffrey helped many fantasy managers win championships in 2023, when he ran for a career-high and league-high 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns on 272 carries while also catching 67 passes for 564 yards and another seven scores in 16 regular-season starts. Unfortunately, CMC got a late start to his 2024 season due to Achilles tendinitis and also injured his knee late in the year. He ultimately played only four games and didn't look like his All-Pro self. McCaffrey is no longer in play for No. 1 overall in fantasy drafts, and although he's ranked fifth among RBs at RotoBaller, he's the biggest risk/reward RB.

Saturday, August 16, 11:25 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson handled 11 carries for 50 rushing yards and hauled in his only target for nine yards in a 17-14 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson once again struggled to find much room in the early going, but he managed to get loose a few times in the second and third quarters, including on a 14-yard scamper that marked the longest gain of his young NFL career. Although veteran halfback Jaylen Warren is primed to begin the campaign as the team's primary ballcarrier, Johnson, a third-round selection in April's draft, should mix in regularly and see an expanded role as the season progresses. His final audition before Week 1 will come against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.