Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Christian McCaffrey vs Trey Benson

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. Trey Benson (7.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Christian McCaffrey as the starter and Trey Benson as depth.

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

RBArizona Cardinals#46

Trey Benson

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

160

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Christian McCaffrey

Trey Benson

Head to Head

21.5 PPG7.2 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Christian McCaffrey: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #1 at the position). Trey Benson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #46 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Christian McCaffrey is producing at 98% of elite pace and Trey Benson at 33%. That ranking gap means Christian McCaffrey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Christian McCaffrey vs Trey Benson: 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 Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals, 7.2 PPG) by 14.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Christian McCaffrey carries a 14.3-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 Trey Benson profiles as a more traditional rusher with 160 rushing yards and undefined touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Christian McCaffrey carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

One scheduling note: Christian McCaffrey is off Week 14 and Trey Benson Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Christian McCaffrey at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Trey Benson 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. Trey Benson (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Christian McCaffrey outscored Trey Benson by a projected 243 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Christian McCaffrey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Trey Benson's 4. That durability gap means Christian McCaffrey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Christian McCaffrey caught 102 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Trey Benson is 6 years younger than Christian McCaffrey (23 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatMcCaffreyBenson

PPG (Half-PPR)21.57.2

Games Played174

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)36629

Rushing Yards1,202160

Rush Yds/Game70.740.0

Rushing TDs100

Receptions10213

Receiving Yards92464

Targets12916

Total TDs170

Age2923

Experience8 yrs1 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Christian McCaffrey holds the PPG edge with strong output at 21.5 points per game. Trey Benson averaged 7.2 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Christian McCaffrey or Trey Benson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Christian McCaffrey has the edge at 21.5 PPG compared to Trey Benson's 7.2 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 Trey Benson average in 2025?▾

Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Trey Benson averaged 7.2 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 14.3 points per game.

When are Christian McCaffrey and Trey Benson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Christian McCaffrey (SF) has a bye in Week 14, and Trey Benson (ARI) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Christian McCaffrey or Trey Benson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Christian McCaffrey outscored Trey Benson by 14.3 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.