Written by: Cesar Fuentes
The midseason trade of Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers scared many, as it was widely believed that he would lose that "lynchpin of an offense" status. CMC averaged 19.2 touches per game, just a slight decrease from his 19.7 touches per game with the Panthers.
Without having a full season to learn the playbook, McCaffrey scored 10 times in 11 games with San Francisco, averaging 22.9 fantasy points per game.
This would have placed him as the third best quarterback, the best running back, receiver and tight end.
McCaffrey had 1,094 rushing yards, 707 receiving yards, and 12 TDs in the 2022 fantasy season. He also avoided the injury woes that plagued him in Carolina in 2020 and 2021. He looks poised to be the top running back in fantasy in 2023, thanks to Kyle Shanahan's friendly running back system.
Against CMC, plays the factor that only played 4 of 11 games with Elijah Mitchell, and without Deebo for 3 of the last 5 games.
McCaffrey, in 7 games with Kittle, Deebo, and Aiyuk averaged 25.47 PPG. Without Deebo and Mitchell, he averaged 23.63 in 3 games, but in 4 games with Kittle, Deebo, Aiyuk, and Mitchell he averaged only 15.28
Again, I think CMC will be an RB1, but as long as the team stays healthy, they won't see the elite numbers they had last year.
To that we add, the 2023 NFL Draft. A new star has arrived that threatens CMC's dominance. Bijan Robinson is a Running back with the prototypical build to be a "workhorse" in the NFL.
In 2022 at Texas, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry and 16.5 yards receiving, while scoring 20 scrimmage touchdowns in 12 games; no problem.
Last year, as a fifth-round rookie, Tyler Allgeier averaged 5.5 yards per carry, 107.8 rushing yards and 17 fantasy points per game in Desmond Ridder's four starts.
But he's not Bijan Robinson. The Falcons didn't spend the eighth overall pick to share a backfield with Allgeier, regardless of how well he performed in 2022.
The Falcons led the league with 559 rushing attempts in 2022. Even if this number drops to 500 attempts, Bijan should still easily see 250-300 carries in his rookie year.
CMC is arguably the "safe choice" based on what he's shown throughout his career, and Bijan hasn't even taken a snap yet. Bijon is, however, said to be the best prospect to come to the NFL since Saquon Barkley in 2018. I would argue, he's even better than Saquon.
And speaking of that 2018 Barkley, many took the "safe option" and drafted veterans like Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott and David Johnson over Barkley. Saquon ended up leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage and finished as the overall RB1 in fantasy.
If you hold the first pick in your fantasy redraft, the choice is yours. The proven veteran, who hasn't let down a fantasy owner in a healthy season, or the shiny new toy? Woody or Buzz? There is no wrong answer. Unfortunately for you lucky top pick holders, there is no right answer either. Choose wisely.
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