Yahoo Sports NFL on Christian McCaffrey

ArticleFantasy Football: 5 big-name running backs we're fading at ADP this season
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McCaffrey's ceiling is as high as any player in fantasy, but it's hard to draft him with confidence given last year's workload, some signs of decline and his age. When you include the 49ers' postseason appearances, CMC handled 450 touches in 2025. There have only been 10 backs who posted 400-plus touches (with playoffs) over the last 10 years and just three of them were hits for fantasy the next season.
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STACKED’s take

Negative signalBust

McCaffrey's age, workload history, and efficiency decline make him a fade at ADP 5.6.

McCaffrey's ceiling is high but drafting him at ADP 5.6 carries significant risk given his 450 touches in 2025 (including playoffs), age 30, and steep efficiency decline. Per Yahoo's Joel Smyth, only 3 of the last 10 backs with 400+ touches (with playoffs) were fantasy hits the next season, and all three were 25 or younger—McCaffrey is 30. His 2025 efficiency metrics collapsed: 48th in yards per carry, 42nd in explosive run rate, 43rd in rushing success rate, and 47th in yards after contact per attempt, a dramatic fall from top-10 rankings in all four categories two years prior. Justin Boone's stance: passing on McCaffrey is acceptable risk given the downside, but drafting him at ADP knowing these red flags would be a regrettable mistake if he underperforms.

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