Week 16 at Indianapolis Colts
There’s only so much you can say about Christian McCaffrey in the midst of a dominant fantasy season. He’s third in the league in receptions, third in rushing yards and he leads the NFL with 18 touchdowns. McCaffrey finished with 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground last week against the Seahawks, adding another 88 yards on eight receptions. He’s a monster and needs only six more catches to reach 100 receptions for the second consecutive season.
This week, McCaffrey faces a Colts defense that ranks seventh in aFPA to opposing running backs this year, but it doesn’t matter. Obviously, a better matchup would be ideal, but McCaffrey is so good and his usage is so high that he remains the best fantasy option at the position every week. Start him and be happy you drafted him.
Week 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Christian McCaffrey has had two consecutive “down” weeks without a touchdown, but he’s still been over 100 yards from scrimmage in each game and has caught 18 passes during that time, including 11 last week. McCaffrey is on pace for 105.8 catches this season, giving him immense value in PPR formats, even if he wasn’t third in the league in rushing yards and leading the NFL in touchdowns. He’s a monster.
This week, McCaffrey faces a Seahawks defense that ranks 12th in aFPA to opposing running backs, but it really doesn’t matter. He’s matchup-proof due to his playmaking and his usage, making him a must-start every week in all league formats. Be happy you have him, as he’s probably a big part of why you made the playoffs. No reason to sit him now.
Week 14 at Atlanta Falcons
At night, outside Bank of America Stadium, Christian McCaffrey disappears from the field and absconds into the darkness. Where he goes, few know, but it’s said he merges with the statues of Panthers guarding the entrance. From these statues, he absorbs the speed of ferocious big cats. Like the panther. McCaffrey can adapt to any environment, and his strength is drawn from something mystical that emanates from downtown Charlotte. His soul is transformed each and every night, making him somehow stronger and faster than he was the day before. This is the only possible explanation for how good McCaffrey has been this year.
In a “down” week, McCaffrey was held to “just” 102 scrimmage yards on 14 carries and seven receptions. He’s second in the NFL in rushing yards, he leads the league with 16 touchdowns and he’s fifth in receptions. Not fifth among running backs… fifth among all players! He faces a Falcons defense that actually ranks 10th in aFPA to opposing running backs this year, but matchups don’t matter for McCaffrey. He caught 11 balls for 121 yards the last time he faced this team, and he should be active as an elite fantasy option in all formats.
Week 13 vs. Washington Redskins
Christian McCaffrey is averaging 1.45 touchdowns per game this year. Against the Saints last week, he was held to 64 yards on 22 carries, but he scored a touchdown on the ground and added another one through the air, along with 69 yards on nine receptions. Even when teams bottle him up on the ground, he can still put up big numbers with his ability to find the end zone and to contribute in the passing game. He’s a straight-up monster and has been every bit as dominant as fantasy owners hoped he’d be heading into the season.
This week, McCaffrey faces a Washington team that ranks 28th in aFPA to opposing running backs this season. He should have another fantastic outing and even if this wasn’t a great matchup, he’s a must-start every week. McCaffrey has failed to score double-digit fantasy points in only one game this season and he’s averaging 26.3 touches per game. Don’t even consider sitting him.
Week 12 at New Orleans Saints
Christian McCaffrey failed to find the end zone last week against the Falcons for only the second time this season, but he still managed to put up 70 yards on the ground and 121 additional yards on 11 receptions. He leads the league in rushing and has as many receptions as Julio Jones – tied for 11th in the league. He’s been the best fantasy asset this year and the Panthers will continue to lean on him for the remainder of the season.
McCaffrey should be active regardless of matchup, though he may have a more difficult time this week against a Saints defense that ranks second in the league in aFPA to opposing running backs. Still, his usage and versatility make him virtually matchup-proof and he remains an elite fantasy option in all league formats.
Week 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons
It’s hard to find enough adjectives to describe how good of a season Christian McCaffrey is having. He turned in another excellent performance last week against the Packers, running for 108 yards and a touchdown while adding 33 additional yards on six receptions. McCaffrey is on pace for 2,462 scrimmage yards, 85 receptions, and nearly 25 touchdowns. If you were lucky enough to draft him, you’re likely near the top of your league.
This week, McCaffrey is a must-start once again as he faces the Falcons. Atlanta ranks 16th in aFPA to opposing running backs so he should have little to no trouble producing in a nice matchup. Although, even if McCaffrey was facing an entire army of super-soldiers, he’d still be a must-start. He’s a monster and he should never leave your lineup while healthy.
Week 10 at Green Bay Packers
Christian McCaffrey is a straight-up monster. He had another phenomenal fantasy outing last week against the Titans, racking up 166 yards from scrimmage and scoring three touchdowns. McCaffrey is one of the most exciting players in football right now and his 13 touchdowns through eight games puts him on pace for 26 – which would tie Marshall Faulk for fourth-most all-time in a single season.
This week, McCaffrey faces a Packers defense that ranks 25th in aFPA to opposing running backs this year, so there should be plenty of room to run. Not that fantasy owners should ever consider benching the electric McCaffrey, but in a nice matchup, he should have another great week. He’s a must-start in all league formats and is the most valuable asset in fantasy football right now.
Week 9 vs. Tennessee Titans
Christian McCaffrey is a monster. Despite facing a phenomenal defense and playing from behind the entire game, he still put up 117 yards and a touchdown on the ground against the 49ers last week. He added 38 yards on four receptions and has no scored at least one touchdown in all but one game this season – with three games with multiple touchdowns. McCaffrey is the best weapon the Panthers have and they aren’t afraid to use him. He’s fifth in the league in rushing attempts, despite playing one less game than all four players in front of him.
This week, McCaffrey faces a Titans defense that ranks 10th in aFPA to opposing running backs and really bottled up the Buccaneers rushing attack a week ago, holding Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber to a combined 55 yards on 21 carries. McCaffrey is matchup proof, however, and fantasy owners shouldn’t hesitate to use him as an elite option in all league formats. His workload alone gives him a very high floor and his ceiling is as high as anyone in the league in any game.
Week 8 at San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey has been a monster this season. He’s third in the league in rushing yards, despite having his bye week already out of the way, and he’s third among running backs with 35 receptions. His nine touchdowns are tied with Aaron Jones for the most in the NFL and he’s coming off a two-score performance against the Buccaneers before the bye last week. He’s also averaging 27 total touches per game and is the focal point of the Carolina offense.
This week, McCaffrey has a tough matchup against the 49ers, who are second in the league in aFPA to opposing running backs. However, this should be a low-scoring game with two very good defenses and struggling passing attacks. That should bode well for McCaffrey’s workload to continue, and he’s too talented to ever consider benching, regardless of matchup. Start him, and be glad you drafted him.
Week 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (London Game)
Christian McCaffrey went nuclear last week against the Jaguars. He ran for 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns – including one for 84 yards – and he added 61 yards and another touchdown on six receptions. McCaffrey leads the Panthers in receptions and targets, and he leads the entire NFL with 587 rushing yards. He’s the main cog in the Carolina offense and he has seven touchdowns through five games. If you were lucky enough to draft him, you’re likely winning your league.
This week, McCaffrey faces a Buccaneers defense that has allowed the least aFPA to opposing running backs this year. He was actually held to only 53 yards from scrimmage the last time he faced Tampa Bay, his one game without a touchdown this year, but that shouldn’t scare away fantasy owners. He’s an elite option each and every week and should be active in all league formats. McCaffrey is nicked up with a back injury, but early reports sound like it isn’t too serious.
