Should You Draft Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers in Fantasy Football?

Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers: 2025’s Most Polarizing First-Round Pick

McCaffrey enters the 2025 fantasy football season as one of the toughest first-round calls. He’s no longer the consensus No. 1 overall pick—but he’s still a proven league-winner when healthy. In most early drafts, McCaffrey is falling into the 7–12 range, which changes the calculus entirely. You’re no longer passing up the elite WR tier or Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons to take him first overall—you’re getting him at a mid-to-late first-round cost.

For managers who were burned by injuries last season, the hesitation is real. But the upside remains massive. If you’re guaranteed 17 games (which no player ever is), McCaffrey is still arguably the top overall scorer in fantasy football.

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Why Drafting McCaffrey Still Makes Sense

• Elite Efficiency When Active
  
  Even in an injury-shortened 2024, McCaffrey was top-3 in fantasy points per game among RBs. His dual-threat role in San Francisco’s offense makes him less game-script dependent than most backs.

• Falling Draft Price
  
  The risk is already baked into his ADP. Landing him at pick 9 or 10 gives you a player with RB1 overall potential without the premium cost.

• 49ers Offensive Stability
  
  Kyle Shanahan’s scheme will continue to feature McCaffrey as the focal point, both as a runner and pass-catcher. Few offenses scheme touches for an RB as effectively as San Francisco.

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Reasons to Proceed With Caution

• Injury History
  
  Multiple soft-tissue injuries have cost McCaffrey games in recent years. While some view it as bad luck, others see a trend.

• Age & Mileage
  
  At 29 with a high-touch workload, McCaffrey is entering the phase of a running back’s career where decline can come quickly.

• Positional Depth
  
  In PPR formats, WRs dominate early-round value, meaning passing on an elite receiver for McCaffrey is still a high-risk choice.

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Betting Market Angle

Sportsbooks have posted McCaffrey’s 2025 regular season rushing + receiving yards total in the 1,550–1,600 range, with touchdown props around 10.5 total TDs.

• Over/Under Lean: The over on combined yards is enticing if you believe in his health, as he’s cleared that total in every healthy season since 2019.

• Touchdown Futures: The over is riskier given San Francisco’s tendency to spread red-zone work, but his receiving usage keeps him live for 12+ TDs.

If you’re betting on McCaffrey props, pairing them with a Comeback Player of the Year future (+1000 to +1200 range) offers a creative way to capture his narrative-driven upside.

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Draft Verdict: Take the Discount

If you’re drafting between picks 7–12, McCaffrey is the ultimate high-reward gamble. His ceiling remains unmatched when healthy, and the risk is already reflected in his draft position. Passing on him in the late first round means betting against one of the most talented all-purpose backs of his generation.

If you’re a risk-tolerant drafter chasing a league-winning edge, this is the year to go down with the McCaffrey ship—just make sure you build RB depth to protect against the downside.

You can read all about what’s going on in the National Football League at SportsGrid.com.