Christian McCaffrey — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

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McCaffrey topped all running backs in PPR scoring in both 2018 (387.0) and 2019 (471.2). His 2019 campaign was historic (403 touches, 1,387 rushing yards, and 1,005 receiving yards), making him just the third player in NFL history to clear 1,000 yards in both categories in the same season. He surpassed 100 rushing yards in six of his first nine games before Carolina leaned on him as a receiver down the stretch (68/609/1), including three multi-catch explosions (11/121, 11/82, and 15/119). He reached double digits in receptions five times that year.

Injuries wiped out 13 weeks of his 2020 season (ankle, thigh, and shoulder issues each taking their turn). McCaffrey averaged 28.7 touches and 30.13 fantasy points per game when healthy. He managed to stay on the field for seven starts in 2021, producing 785 combined yards, two touchdowns, and 37 catches, but hamstring and ankle problems limited his workload (19.4 touches per game) and dragged his scoring down to 18.21 FPPG.

After losing 24 games across those two injury-plagued years, McCaffrey played a full season in 2022 and delivered 1,880 combined yards, 13 touchdowns, and 85 catches. Across his 13 full games, he averaged 19.5 touches and 22.34 FPPG, with his two biggest fantasy outputs arriving in Week 8 (40.60) and Week 17 (31.30).

His first complete season with the 49ers in 2023 was the second-best of his career (2,023 combined yards, 21 touchdowns, 67 catches, and 339 touches). McCaffrey maintained a floor of 18 touches in 15 of 16 starts (21.2 per game), rushed for over 100 yards eight times, and topped 100 combined yards in four additional outings. He finished 102.80 fantasy points ahead of the second-best running back in PPR formats, trailing only CeeDee Lamb (405.20) in overall scoring. Both of his signature games came against Arizona — Week 4 (29/106/3 rushing, 7/71/1 receiving) and Week 15 (18/115/1 rushing, 5/72/2 receiving).

The fantasy community got played in 2024. McCaffrey was a consensus top-five pick heading into the summer before a calf issue quietly became an Achilles problem, landing him on injured reserve to start the year. He returned after eight games but never found his footing (348 combined yards, no touchdowns, and 15 catches across four appearances on 65 touches) before a knee injury shut him down for good.

For fantasy drafters fading McCaffrey in 2025 due to getting beaten by him the previous year, they missed a great running back season. He gained 2,126 combined yards with 17 touchdowns and 102 catches on 413 touches, resulting in 416.60 PPR fantasy points. Over his first seven starts, the 49ers’ star back produced elite PPR fantasy points in each matchup (23.20, 22.70, 24.00, 26.10, 27.90, 24.10, and 39.10). He had a floor of 17.00 fantasy points in eight other matchups, with six resulting in impact value (34.30, 35.10, 27.20, 32.60, 28.10, and 29.40).

This draft season, McCaffrey is the third-ranked running back in the National Fantasy Football Championship (ADP of 7). Tough player to fade, so I would get a few shares for the game managers that draft multiple fantasy teams. When on the field, he checks the three boxes (scoring, consistency, and impact value) that are required to win championships. With 350 touches, 1,800 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 80 catches should be a reasonable outcome.