RB #2 Christian McCaffrey SF

Christian McCaffrey may be the most polarizing draft pick in fantasy football. Some believe he will be RB #1 this season, and others believe he is going to get injured. In Mano y Mano, he is ranked as the second best running back for the 2025 NFL season. His 2024 was disappointing. In four games he logged 348 total yards and zero touchdowns. At a first overall consensus ranking, he broke several fantasy football teams. That has left a bad taste in several mouths, and caused doubt among analyst. Yet something was forgotten.

McCaffrey had back-to-back seasons in 2022, 2023 in which he started 19 games (including the playoffs). During that span he logged 615 rushing attempts and 183 receptions. That is 798 touches in a two year span, 48 above the impactful “curse of 375”. The fact he managed to have two impressive seasons is truly outstanding.

In 2023 he led the league in touches (339), scrimmage yards (2,023), rushing yards (1,459), playoff total touchdowns (5), playoff rushing touchdowns (4), and playoff total scrimmage yards (420). This after leading the 2022 playoffs in touches, scrimmage yards, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and longest rush.

No wonder he broke down in 2024. In a few weeks over a calendar year he logged 469 touches. No man is invincible, but McCaffrey has been pushed to the limits. He has recorded 326 or more touches in four of his eight NFL seasons. Following two of those seasons he was injured, but comes into 2025 healthy. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan is the running game maestro, and his prodigy is McCaffrey. Heck he was his babysitter.

McCaffrey has a 17 game average of 1,942 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns per season. It’s foolish to pass that up for the potential of an unproven player. Football is a 100% injury rate sport. Implying that anyone who plays, will get injured. Every other player has just as great of odds to be hurt as McCaffrey does. Trust him to be the great running back that he is.

LB #2 Fred Warner SF

The second set of teammates grace Mano y Mano. Federico Warner comes in as LB #2, and for good reason. He has been the best linebacker since entering the league. He has started every one of his 127 NFL games including the playoffs. He has made the pro bowl and been an All-Pro in three of the last four seasons. The one season he did not, was his career year in combined tackles (137).

Warner played 1,077 snaps in 2024, including 71 snaps on field goal/extra point blocking team. He literally never comes off the field, a four down linebacker. 904 of his snaps came from the box, but he logged snaps in the slot, on the line, and a few split out wide. He earned 131 combined tackles, 7 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions (including one for a touchdown), and 1 sack. Earning him another first team All-Pro selection.

Warner has 58 career passes defended, and 12 interceptions. He is an exceptional pass coverage linebacker, while being one of the hardest hitting tacklers in the NFL. Jayden Reed called him “Freddy Wuerger” due to how hard he was hit by Warner. There are four new starters on the defense, including three rookies. There could be more too. The San Francisco 49ers drafted six defensive rookies, and their first four picks were on the defensive side. Warner must communicate well, and make up for rookie mistakes.

He is the longest tenured defensive 49ers player. Only George Kittle has been with the organization longer, and they are the heartbeat of the team. Look for them to excel in a season that their team needs them most. Do not hesitate to make Warner the first IDP drafted in leagues. He has an opportunity to have a career year across the board. That is quite the statement too.

Come back tomorrow as we break down RB and LB #1. Subscribe to The Sports Affiliation for this and other articles sent directly to your email.

– Bet Smart, Be Lucky – Iggy