Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers running back, has been predicted to be the biggest fantasy football bust in 2026.

What happened?

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report made this bold prediction, citing McCaffrey's age and injury history as reasons for his potential decline.

On June 2026, Davenport noted that McCaffrey's average draft position is the third running back off fantasy draft boards and the sixth pick overall.

However, Davenport also pointed out that the average statistical decline for running backs who eclipse 370 touches in a season since 2016 is about 48 percent.

Why it matters for Christian McCaffrey

This prediction is significant for McCaffrey, who has been one of the top players to own in fantasy leagues for many years.

But despite this prediction, McCaffrey is still expected to be the focal point of the San Francisco offense.

He will still be a dual-threat player, and those are invaluable in the world of fantasy.

What comes next?

McCaffrey's workload last year was bigger than in previous seasons, and he is older than he was in those seasons.

Second-year running back Jordan James and rookie running back Kaelon Black could eat into his touches a bit more than the 49ers' reserve backs did last season.

But this will be due to the team trying to manage his load, not because of a decline in his ability.

Durability is the only concern with McCaffrey, which has been the story of his career.

So, fantasy football players should not be deterred from drafting McCaffrey early in their league.

He will still be a top player, and there won't be many options at running back that you can justify taking ahead of him in fantasy drafts this year.

Select him with confidence, as he is still a valuable asset to any fantasy team.

The 2026 NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy football season is just around the corner.

McCaffrey's performance will be closely watched, and his ability to stay healthy will be key to his success.

As the season begins, McCaffrey will look to prove Davenport's prediction wrong and show that he is still a top running back in the NFL.