Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Christian McCaffrey vs Pat Freiermuth

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Christian McCaffrey (21.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Pat Freiermuth (6.2 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBSan Francisco 49ers#1PPG LEADER

Christian McCaffrey

PPG

21.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,202

Rush TDs

Rec

102

Rec Yds

924

Bye

Week 14

TEPittsburgh Steelers#28

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Christian McCaffrey

Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

21.5 PPG6.2 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Christian McCaffrey: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #1 at the position). Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

Christian McCaffrey vs Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Christian McCaffrey (RB, San Francisco 49ers) against Pat Freiermuth (TE, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Pat Freiermuth posted 6.2 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Christian McCaffrey has his bye in Week 14, Pat Freiermuth in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Christian McCaffrey is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Pat Freiermuth is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Christian McCaffrey (age 29, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Christian McCaffrey outscored Pat Freiermuth by a projected 260 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Christian McCaffrey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Pat Freiermuth's 15. That durability gap means Christian McCaffrey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Christian McCaffrey scored 17 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Christian McCaffrey caught 102 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatMcCaffreyFreiermuth

PPG (Half-PPR)21.56.2

Games Played1715

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)36693

Rushing Yards1,2020

Rush Yds/Game70.70.0

Rushing TDs100

Receptions10241

Receiving Yards924486

Targets12954

Total TDs174

Age2927

Experience8 yrs4 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 5

Summary

21.5 PPG for Christian McCaffrey versus 6.2 for Pat Freiermuth in 2025. The baseline favors Christian McCaffrey, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Christian McCaffrey or Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Christian McCaffrey has the edge at 21.5 PPG compared to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Christian McCaffrey and Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?▾

Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 15.3 points per game.

When are Christian McCaffrey and Pat Freiermuth's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Christian McCaffrey (SF) has a bye in Week 14, and Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.