Start Jonathan Taylor or Christian McCaffrey? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start Christian McCaffrey over Jonathan Taylor in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project Christian McCaffrey at 19.7 points and Jonathan Taylor at 18.0, a gap of 1.7. Christian McCaffrey's number is scaled up from a partial market: the books have not posted every stat the position needs, so the rest is estimated from what they have. Market coverage on Christian McCaffrey is 70 percent of what his position needs, so the market side of this carries proportionally less weight.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 19.7 fantasy points for Christian McCaffrey, with 70 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

The books have Christian McCaffrey at 55.5 rushing yards, with a 70% chance to score a touchdown (11 and 15 books).

Player prop markets imply 18.0 fantasy points for Jonathan Taylor, with 100 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

The books have Jonathan Taylor at 81.5 rushing yards, 19.5 receiving yards and 2.5 receptions, with a 59% chance to score a touchdown (14, 13, 12 and 15 books).

That puts Christian McCaffrey 1.7 points ahead of Jonathan Taylor on the books.

Injury status

Christian McCaffrey is not on the injury report.

Jonathan Taylor is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 3

Through Week 2, Christian McCaffrey played 54 percent of SF snaps, took 36 percent of the carries, drew 22 percent of the targets and had 36 percent of the red zone chances.

Christian McCaffrey, Week 1 against LAR: 36 of 65 snaps, 10 carries for 68 yards, 8 targets and 5 catches for 20 yards.

Christian McCaffrey, Week 2 against MIA: 27 of 52 snaps, 10 carries for 23 yards, 4 targets and 4 catches for 43 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Through Week 2, Jonathan Taylor played 92 percent of IND snaps, took 83 percent of the carries, drew 14 percent of the targets and had 56 percent of the red zone chances.

Jonathan Taylor, Week 1 against BAL: 48 of 54 snaps, 19 carries for 98 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 23 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Jonathan Taylor, Week 2 against KC: 61 of 65 snaps, 24 carries for 92 yards, 4 targets and 4 catches for 40 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Christian McCaffrey played 17 games for SF and scored 416.6 PPR points, 24.5 a game, finishing RB1.

He ran 311 times for 1202 yards and 10 touchdowns, and caught 102 of 129 targets for 924 yards.

He was on the field for 83 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Christian McCaffrey, Week 18 of 2025 against SEA: 36 of 42 snaps, 8 carries for 23 yards, 7 targets and 6 catches for 34 yards, 11.7 PPR points.

In 2025, Jonathan Taylor played 17 games for IND and scored 362.3 PPR points, 21.3 a game, finishing RB4.

He ran 323 times for 1585 yards and 18 touchdowns, and caught 46 of 55 targets for 378 yards.

He was on the field for 84 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Jonathan Taylor, Week 18 of 2025 against HOU: 14 carries for 26 yards, 2 targets and 2 catches for 13 yards, 5.9 PPR points.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Christian McCaffrey over Ashton Jeanty.
• Start Bijan Robinson over Christian McCaffrey.
• Start Christian McCaffrey over Breece Hall.
• Start Jonathan Taylor over Ashton Jeanty.
• Start Bijan Robinson over Jonathan Taylor.
• Start Jonathan Taylor over Chase Brown.