Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Christian McCaffrey vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 21.5 PPG to George Kittle's 12.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Christian McCaffrey (21.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. George Kittle (12.1 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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 8

TESan Francisco 49ers#3

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Christian McCaffrey

George Kittle

Head to Head

21.5 PPG12.1 PPG

17 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Christian McCaffrey: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #1 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) TE in most league formats.

Christian McCaffrey vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Christian McCaffrey (RB, San Francisco 49ers) against George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while George Kittle posted 12.1 PPG across 11 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Christian McCaffrey is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. George Kittle is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Christian McCaffrey (age 29, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Christian McCaffrey outscored George Kittle by a projected 160 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Christian McCaffrey played 17 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. 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 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Christian McCaffrey vs George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Christian McCaffrey	George Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)	21.5	12.1
Games Played	17	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	366	133
Rushing Yards	1,202	-3
Rush Yds/Game	70.7	-0.3
Rushing TDs	10	0
Receptions	102	57
Receiving Yards	924	628
Targets	129	69
Total TDs	17	7
Age	29	32
Experience	8 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 8

Summary

21.5 PPG for Christian McCaffrey versus 12.1 for George Kittle in 2025. The baseline favors Christian McCaffrey, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Christian McCaffrey or George Kittle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Christian McCaffrey has the edge at 21.5 PPG compared to George Kittle's 12.1 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 George Kittle average in 2025?▾

Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 9.4 points per game.

Do Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.