Ashton Jeanty vs Christian McCaffrey: Who Should You Start?
Christian McCaffrey and Ashton Jeanty are at different tiers heading into 2026. The San Francisco 49ers running back averaged 21.5 PPG in 2025, a full 8.7 points per game ahead of Ashton Jeanty's 12.8 with the Las Vegas Raiders. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
That 8.7-point weekly advantage for Christian McCaffrey is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Both are three-down backs with real passing-game roles. Ashton Jeanty caught 55 balls for 346 yards, and Christian McCaffrey hauled in 102 for 924. That receiving workload gives them high PPR floors even in games where the ground attack gets stuffed, and it is why both stay on the field in obvious passing situations.
Ashton Jeanty has his bye in Week 8, and Christian McCaffrey rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
