Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Christian McCaffrey vs Nick ChubbWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 21.5 PPG to Nick Chubb's 5.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Christian McCaffrey is the better fantasy play this season.

Christian McCaffrey is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 21.5 PPG and 2,126 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Nick Chubb (5.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Christian McCaffrey as the starter and Nick Chubb as depth.

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

RBHouston Texans#59

Nick Chubb

PPG

5.5

Games

Rush Yds

506

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Christian McCaffrey

Nick Chubb

Head to Head

21.5 PPG5.5 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Christian McCaffrey: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #1 at the position). Nick Chubb: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #59 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Christian McCaffrey is producing at 98% of elite pace and Nick Chubb at 25%. That ranking gap means Christian McCaffrey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Christian McCaffrey vs Nick Chubb: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers) averaged 21.5 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Nick Chubb (Houston Texans, 5.5 PPG) by 16.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Christian McCaffrey carries a 16.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Christian McCaffrey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 102 targets into 924 yards, while Nick Chubb profiles as a more traditional rusher with 506 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.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 8 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Christian McCaffrey at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Nick Chubb is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Christian McCaffrey (age 29, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Nick Chubb (age 30, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Christian McCaffrey outscored Nick Chubb by a projected 272 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Christian McCaffrey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Nick Chubb's 15. 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 Nick Chubb: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Christian McCaffrey	Nick Chubb
PPG (Half-PPR)	21.5	5.5
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	366	83
Rushing Yards	1,202	506
Rush Yds/Game	70.7	33.7
Rushing TDs	10	3
Receptions	102	13
Receiving Yards	924	67
Targets	129	20
Total TDs	17	3
Age	29	30
Experience	8 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Christian McCaffrey holds the PPG edge with strong output at 21.5 points per game. Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Christian McCaffrey or Nick Chubb in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Christian McCaffrey has the edge at 21.5 PPG compared to Nick Chubb's 5.5 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 Nick Chubb average in 2025?▾

Christian McCaffrey averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 16.0 points per game.

Do Christian McCaffrey and Nick Chubb share a bye week?▾

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

Is Christian McCaffrey or Nick Chubb a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Christian McCaffrey outscored Nick Chubb by 16.0 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.