DraftCall
DraftCallFantasy Football

Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Christian McCaffrey vs Rhamondre Stevenson

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy play this season.

Christian McCaffrey is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 21.5 PPG and 2,126 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Rhamondre Stevenson (11.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Christian McCaffrey as the starter and Rhamondre Stevenson as depth.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

The DraftCall app pushes alerts the moment Christian McCaffrey or Rhamondre Stevenson's status changes. Free.

Get the App
RBSan Francisco 49ers#1PPG LEADER
Christian McCaffrey
PPG
21.5
Games
17
Rush Yds
1,202
Rush TDs
10
Rec
102
Rec Yds
924
Bye
Week 14
RBNew England Patriots#22
Rhamondre Stevenson
PPG
11.6
Games
14
Rush Yds
603
Rush TDs
7
Rec
32
Rec Yds
345
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Christian McCaffrey
Rhamondre Stevenson

Head to Head

21.5 PPG11.6 PPG
17 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Christian McCaffrey: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #1 at the position). Rhamondre Stevenson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #22 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Christian McCaffrey is producing at 98% of elite pace and Rhamondre Stevenson at 53%. That ranking gap means Christian McCaffrey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Christian McCaffrey vs Rhamondre Stevenson: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers) averaged 21.5 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots, 11.6 PPG) by 9.9 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Christian McCaffrey carries a 9.9-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Christian McCaffrey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 102 targets into 924 yards, while Rhamondre Stevenson profiles as a more traditional rusher with 603 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Christian McCaffrey carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Christian McCaffrey at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Rhamondre Stevenson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Christian McCaffrey (age 29, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Rhamondre Stevenson (age 28, 4 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Christian McCaffrey outscored Rhamondre Stevenson by a projected 168 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Christian McCaffrey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Rhamondre Stevenson's 14. 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.
  • Both players share a Week 14 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.
Detailed Stat Breakdown
StatMcCaffreyStevenson
PPG (Half-PPR)21.511.6
Games Played1714
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)366162
Rushing Yards1,202603
Rush Yds/Game70.743.1
Rushing TDs107
Receptions10232
Receiving Yards924345
Targets12937
Total TDs179
Age2928
Experience8 yrs4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Christian McCaffrey holds the PPG edge with strong output at 21.5 points per game. Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 11.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

DraftCall app on iPhone

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Christian McCaffrey vs Rhamondre Stevenson

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Christian McCaffrey or Rhamondre Stevenson in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Christian McCaffrey has the edge at 21.5 PPG compared to Rhamondre Stevenson's 11.6 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 Rhamondre Stevenson average in 2025?

Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 11.6 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 9.9 points per game.

Do Christian McCaffrey and Rhamondre Stevenson share a bye week?

Yes, both Christian McCaffrey and Rhamondre Stevenson share a Week 14 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Christian McCaffrey or Rhamondre Stevenson a better fantasy running back in 2026?

Christian McCaffrey outscored Rhamondre Stevenson by 9.9 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.