A variety of fantasy football managers competing in championship games this weekend have something in common. Actually, make that someone in common.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey led a staggering 58.9 percent of the fantasy teams he's featured on to championship matchups in ESPN leagues, highest of any player, according to data released by the outlet earlier this week.
The stunning rate marks the first such number greater than 50 percent since ESPN began tracking the stat a decade ago. And in similar fashion, "CMC" is on nearly 47 percent of championship-game teams in Yahoo leagues.
Not that McCaffrey's fantasy value was ever in doubt.
The 27-year-old has been the fantasy gift that has kept on giving for managers all season long. Entering the weekend, he leads or is tied for the lead among all NFL players in rushing yards (1,395), yards from scrimmage (1,932), touches (321), and scrimmage touchdowns (21).
That type of production has McCaffrey's teammates thinking NFL MVP, not just fantasy MVP.
"He does it all," 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said of the running back at a press conference last week.
"I think he's the reason why our pass game and our play-action pass and all that kind of stuff opened up because he sort of sets the standard with the run game and then when we do pass the ball, he's there in our play.
"He catches the ball, he makes guys miss, he can go up against safeties and linebackers and make them miss and stuff in the pass game.
"And then he scores touchdowns. His stats are crazy. So, he's definitely a valued player and I think the most valued player."
During a recent appearance on Tom Brady's Let's Go! podcast, McCaffrey deferred the MVP praise onto Purdy and 49ers All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams, urging people to "vote for Brock, man."
The second-year QB's odds took a hit after a four-interception performance in a 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is currently the betting favorite for the award via DraftKings odds (-190), followed by McCaffrey (+500).
But the Pro Bowl, dual-threat running back's unrivaled fantasy football value is unquestioned.
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McCaffrey, in his first full season with the Niners, has scored a league-high 378.2 fantasy points in PPR formats this season (25.2 per game). That's the 27th-best single-season mark in NFL history for an RB, per ESPN's scoring settings. And this is only the 21st instance of a running back averaging 25-plus points in a season in which he played at least half of his team's games.
That success has translated to the fantasy playoffs so far.
The seventh-year pro leads all players with 66.8 PPR points in Weeks 15-16, the first two rounds of the fantasy playoffs. McCaffrey has 12 games with 20-plus fantasy points in ESPN PPR leagues this season, tied for the fifth-most all-time in a single campaign.
Plenty of eyes will be on San Francisco's matchup with the Washington Commanders in Week 17 as fantasy managers hope for much-needed points out of their RB1.
And, to the benefit of his many supporters (and bad news for anyone playing against him), the 5-foot-11 back could be in for another big day on Sunday.
The Commanders are allowing 29.9 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs since Week 9, per fantasy writer Frank Ammirante. So an elite performance from McCaffrey and the 49ers offense could not only clinch San Francisco the NFC's No. 1 overall seed (which would happen with a win, plus losses by the Lions and Eagles) but help secure numerous fantasy squads a championship.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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