Christian McCaffrey vs Ty Johnson: Who Should You Start?
Christian McCaffrey and Ty Johnson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The San Francisco 49ers running back averaged 21.5 PPG in 2025, a full 16.3 points per game ahead of Ty Johnson's 5.2 with the Buffalo Bills. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
That 16.3-point weekly advantage for Christian McCaffrey is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Christian McCaffrey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 102 targets into 924 yards, while Ty Johnson profiles as a more traditional rusher with 200 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Christian McCaffrey carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Christian McCaffrey has his bye in Week 9, and Ty Johnson rests in Week 12. 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.
