Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Theo Johnson

Saturday, November 1, 5:18 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey turned in his worst game of the season in Week 8. Against the Texans, McCaffrey toted eight carries for 25 yards and caught three of six targets for 43 receiving yards, all season lows and interrupting his streak of seven consecutive RB1 finishes to start the 2025 season. McCaffrey, being who he is, there is hope for a rebound in Week 9 against the New York Giants. Last week, the Giants gave up 174 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns to Saquon Barkley (groin) in three quarters of work and another 104 rushing yards to backup Tank Bigsby. Unfortunately, San Francisco's offensive line does not compare to Philadelphia's elite unit and will be missing starting center Jake Brendel (hamstring). Still, McCaffrey is one of the league's most dynamic playmakers, and if he is on your fantasy roster, he should be in the starting lineup for Week 9.

Saturday, November 1, 3:13 AM

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson enters Week 9 as the TE16, with his fantasy viability heavily reliant on scoring after accumulating four receiving touchdowns on just 23 catches this season. Johnson maintains a significant role with a 78.7% snap share and 37 targets through eight games, but the upcoming matchup presents a challenge against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers defense is tough against tight ends, ranking as the 10th-ranked fantasy defense and limiting the position to an average of only 11.95 points per game. Although the 49ers' pass rush ranks 31st in the NFL with nine sacks, allowing quarterback Jaxson Dart time, San Francisco's solid Red Zone Defense ranks 7th, making Johnson's primary source of fantasy value--touchdowns--more difficult to come by. Therefore, Johnson remains a low-floor, touchdown-dependent TE2 for Week 9.