Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or RJ Harvey

Tuesday, July 22, 5:34 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) and offensive tackle Trent Williams (ankle) are both "here and healthy" at training camp, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Both players are ready to go, but their workloads will be managed throughout camp. McCaffrey was an absolute bust for fantasy managers in 2024, as he ended up missing 13 games, first due to Achilles tendinitis in both his legs, and then due to a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 29-year-old also took part in offseason activities and looked healthy then, so he shouldn't be limited in any way once the 2025 regular season begins. While CMC still has game-changing abilities and will be heavily featured in San Fran's offense, he has slipped to RB5 in RotoBaller's rankings because of his penchant for injury. McCaffrey is about as risk/reward as they come.

Tuesday, July 29, 9:11 PM

Denver Broncos running backs RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins have been "routinely shuffling in with the first-team offense" in camp, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver drafted Harvey in the second round of the 2025 draft out of UCF, while Dobbins was a late free-agent addition after spending 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers. Kosmider notes that Harvey has had impressive moments and showcased his explosiveness in camp, but has also had some struggles in pass protection. Last year at UCF, Harvey rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns, with 23.3% of his carries going for 10 or more yards. Dobbins has battled injuries throughout his career, but he managed 905 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries in 13 games as a Charger in 2024. The two backs are sure to share touches to some degree this season, but the exact nature of their workload split is one to monitor throughout the preseason.