Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Kareem Hunt

Saturday, November 29, 3:38 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey enters Week 13 leading the NFL in touches (298) and second in receptions (81). Amid the 49ers' injury-riddled season, McCaffrey has been relied on heavily to keep the offense moving. Another heavy workload is in store for the ninth-year veteran when San Francisco heads to Cleveland to face the Browns. The weather forecast calls for strong winds, rain, and snow, which points to an emphasis on the ground game. The Browns had been one of the stronger run defenses in the league, though they have softened as of late. Since their Week 9 bye, Cleveland has given up top-12 finishes in three consecutive weeks to running backs Breece Hall, Derrick Henry, and Ashton Jeanty. McCaffrey is a strong candidate to make it four in a row and should be locked into fantasy football starting lineups for Week 13.

Wednesday, November 26, 4:40 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will have to share the backfield with Isiah Pacheco as he returns from his knee injury to face the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13. Hunt feasted without Pacheco out of the lineup, handling 30 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts. Hunt also caught three passes for 26 yards in Week 12. The veteran back was asked to do it all, and he found a ton of success, but it appears his ceiling will be lowered with Pacheco entering the fold. That said, Hunt could still be the lead back on Thanksgiving if the Chiefs decide to ease Pacheco back into action. Hunt has been the team's preferred goal-line and third-down back this season, even with Pachecho healthy, so fantasy managers should expect that role to continue. Hunt will try to continue his run of success this week against the Cowboys, who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. The addition of DT Quinnen Williams to the Dallas defense should make it a bit more difficult to rush, but Hunt's involvement in the passing game could help offset that. Hunt is ranked RB32 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him an RB3/Flex option against the Cowboys in Week 13.