Christian McCaffrey vs De'Von Achane: Who Should You Start?
Christian McCaffrey and De'Von Achane are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 PPG across 17 games with the San Francisco 49ers, while De'Von Achane posted 18.1 PPG in 16 appearances for the Miami Dolphins.
A 3.4-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.
Both are three-down backs with real passing-game roles. Christian McCaffrey caught 102 balls for 924 yards, and De'Von Achane hauled in 67 for 488. That receiving workload gives them high PPR floors even in games where the ground attack gets stuffed, and it is why both stay on the field in obvious passing situations.
One scheduling note: Christian McCaffrey is off Week 9 and De'Von Achane Week 6. 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.
