Who Should I Start? Christian McCaffrey or Zach Charbonnet


Week 1 Projections

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TD
Rec. Rec.
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0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Christian McCaffrey News

Christian McCaffrey is Still Fantasy's Ultimate Gamble

Sunday, April 19, 5:43 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is coming off the third RB1 fantasy finish of his career despite putting up some of his lowest efficiency numbers since entering the league. His 413 touches in 2025 marked a career-high, while his 5.1 yards per touch were the lowest since 2020, a season in which he only played three games. This was McCaffrey's third time finishing a season with more than 330 total touches, all three times culminating in an All-Pro selection, but in both previous instances, he missed significant time the following season. Only twice in four opportunities has he played more than four games following a 200+ touch campaign. While that sort of fragility might frighten some fantasy managers, the ceiling that he represents when given a full workload is unattainable by any other player in the league. 58 times in his career, McCaffrey has touched the ball at least 20 times in a game. Only once under such circumstances did he fail to record at least 100 yards or a touchdown. Unfortunately, that occurred in 2025, along with several other instances where he barely cleared the mark, further signaling a decline in efficiency. About to turn 30 years old, McCaffrey appears to have hit a crossroads where his continued fantasy greatness is reliant on a one-of-one workload, while that same workload could be his ultimate undoing were he to sustain another serious injury. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's dynasty RB10, but contending managers would be advised to ride him until the wheels fall off.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Zach Charbonnet News

Zach Charbonnet's Long-Term Upside Now in Doubt

Saturday, April 25, 5:52 AM

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the team's Divisional Playoff win over the 49ers, but even with his availability in doubt to begin the season, if he could have gotten through the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft without seeing a running back selected to Seattle, he would have been in the best position of his young career. That obviously did not happen, with the Seahawks spending their first-round pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. With only four total selections heading into the draft, Seattle was tabbed as a team likely to trade back, but they felt enough conviction to use the 32nd overall pick on Price, an indication that he will likely be given starter's reps out of the gate and should be viewed as the future of the position in the Emerald City. With Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III departing in free agency, the presumed path to a Charbonnet starting role, once back and healthy, involved merely beating out low-money free agent acquisition Emanuel Wilson, 2023 7th-round pick Kenny McIntosh, and 2024 undrafted free agent George Holani. As the second running back off the board in this year's draft, Price now represents a significantly sturdier barricade to overcome. Even as the less efficient option in the pair, Charbonnet found moderate fantasy success splitting the backfield with Walker, and he has a chance to reclaim a similar role in year one under new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. That said, any hopes of a featured role in Seattle have all but disappeared with the drafting of Price, and Charbonnet enters the final season of his rookie contract as a high-end RB3 in dynasty leagues.


Christian McCaffrey vs. Zach Charbonnet

Still trying to decide between McCaffrey and Charbonnet? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Christian McCaffrey is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Zach Charbonnet is projected to score 0.0 points.