Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Alexander Mattison vs Christian McCaffreyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 21.5 PPG to Alexander Mattison's 5.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

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. Alexander Mattison (5.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Christian McCaffrey as the starter and Alexander Mattison 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?

Track Alexander Mattison and Christian McCaffrey in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Alexander Mattison

PPG

5.3

Games

Rush Yds

255

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

RBSan Francisco 49ers#1PPG LEADER

Christian McCaffrey

PPG

21.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,202

Rush TDs

Rec

102

Rec Yds

924

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Alexander Mattison

Christian McCaffrey

Head to Head

5.3 PPG21.5 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Alexander Mattison: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Christian McCaffrey: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Alexander Mattison is producing at 24% of elite pace and Christian McCaffrey at 98%. That ranking gap means Christian McCaffrey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Alexander Mattison vs Christian McCaffrey: The Full Breakdown

Christian McCaffrey and Alexander Mattison are at different tiers heading into 2026. The San Francisco 49ers running back averaged 21.5 PPG in 2025, a full 16.2 points per game ahead of Alexander Mattison's 5.3 with the Las Vegas Raiders. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 16.2-PPG gap gives Christian McCaffrey the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Christian McCaffrey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 102 targets into 924 yards, while Alexander Mattison profiles as a more traditional rusher with 255 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Christian McCaffrey carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Alexander Mattison has his bye in Week 10, and Christian McCaffrey rests in Week 8. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Christian McCaffrey at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Alexander Mattison is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Alexander Mattison (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Christian McCaffrey (age 29, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Christian McCaffrey outscored Alexander Mattison by a projected 275 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Christian McCaffrey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Alexander Mattison'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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Alexander Mattison vs Christian McCaffrey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Alexander Mattison	Christian McCaffrey
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.3	21.5
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	74	366
Rushing Yards	255	1,202
Rush Yds/Game	18.2	70.7
Rushing TDs	2	10
Receptions	14	102
Receiving Yards	95	924
Targets	0	129
Total TDs	2	17
Age	-	29
Experience	-	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 8

Summary

Christian McCaffrey outscored Alexander Mattison by 16.2 PPG in 2025 (21.5 to 5.3). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Alexander Mattison vs Christian McCaffrey

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 →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Alexander Mattison vs Christian McCaffrey

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Alexander Mattison or Christian McCaffrey in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Christian McCaffrey has the edge at 21.5 PPG compared to Alexander Mattison's 5.3 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 Alexander Mattison and Christian McCaffrey average in 2025?▾

Alexander Mattison averaged 5.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 16.2 points per game.

When are Alexander Mattison and Christian McCaffrey's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Alexander Mattison (LV) has a bye in Week 10, and Christian McCaffrey (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Alexander Mattison or Christian McCaffrey a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Christian McCaffrey outscored Alexander Mattison by 16.2 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.