Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Tyler Allgeier

Wednesday, January 7, 3:00 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey finished 2025 as the RB1 in almost all fantasy formats, and he carries the same projection into most fantasy playoff leagues. San Francisco opens the playoffs against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and a defensive front that scarcely resembles the one that gave Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs fits in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles were the 10th most generous fantasy defense to opposing running backs, and McCaffrey comes into the matchup having finished as the RB12 or better in 14 of 17 starts in Full-PPR formats. He is RotoBaller's RB1 for Wild Card Weekend and, given San Francisco's status as 4.5-point road underdogs, an obvious must-start in formats that allow players to be started only once.

Saturday, December 27, 4:51 PM

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier tied a season high with 16 rush attempts last week, totaling 79 yards on the ground (4.9 yards per rush). Without recording a touchdown, though, and recording one catch for negative six yards left him with a disappointing line for fantasy. Although the 25-year-old has eight touchdowns on the season, he's very susceptible to quiet outings and has not scored in three consecutive games now. It could be tough sledding in Week 17's Monday night home matchup against the Rams, a defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and just 92.7 rush yards per game over the last three weeks (fifth-fewest). As 7.5-point underdogs, the Falcons may need to take to the air, which could limit Allgeier's potential involvement, so he'll once again be a risky Flex play in what is likely the championship round for season-long fantasy managers.