I think Christian McCaffrey makes the most sense with the No. 1 pick overall. With what he can do as both a runner and a receiver, he has the most potential to be a lot better than everyone else at his position.
McCaffrey, of course, was hurt for most of last year. He was also hurt his final season at Stanford. But I don’t consider him to be any more of a injury risk than the other top running backs – that’s just inherently a position with a lot of injuries.
Consider the following chart. It shows the very best players since the merger (over 50 years ago) and how they stacked up against other top players at their position in those years. That is, you take the top 12 players at each position, and then look at how much better the No. 1 guy is than the average of the group. And McCaffrey in 2019 graded out as the best fantasy player of the last 50 years (using PPR scoring).
The top 12 running backs in the 2019 season (including McCaffrey) averaged 293.3 PPR points that season. McCaffrey finished with 471.2 points, so he was (on average) almost 178 points better than that average.
McCaffrey was also very good in 2018, showing up 91st on this list. Finishing 91st might not seem impressive, but this is a list including four positions and 51 seasons of action. Getting on it at all is impressive.
If I have the No. 1 pick in a traditional PPR draft, it will be McCaffrey I’ll be taking.
On this list, I have put a black dot in front of the names of the other nine players from the last three years who made the top 100.
TOP 100 PLAYERS SINCE MERGER | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Yards | TD | PPR | Top 12 | Diff |
2019 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 2,392 | 19 | 471.2 | 293.3 | 177.9 |
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 2,343 | 33 | 483.3 | 317.3 | 166.0 |
1975 | O.J. Simpson, Buff. | 2,243 | 23 | 390.3 | 250.3 | 140.0 |
2000 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 2,189 | 26 | 459.9 | 321.4 | 138.5 |
2001 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 2,147 | 21 | 425.7 | 287.8 | 137.9 |
2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 2,118 | 20 | 413.8 | 278.5 | 135.3 |
1984 | Dan Marino, Mia. | 5,077 | 48 | 445.5 | 310.4 | 135.1 |
1995 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 2,148 | 25 | 426.8 | 292.4 | 134.4 |
1998 | Steve Young, S.F. | 4,624 | 42 | 441.9 | 309.4 | 132.6 |
2020 | • Travis Kelce, K.C. | 1,420 | 11 | 314.8 | 183.3 | 131.5 |
2013 | Peyton Manning, Den. | 5,446 | 56 | 498.8 | 367.3 | 131.4 |
1975 | Chuck Foreman, Min. | 1,761 | 22 | 381.1 | 250.3 | 130.8 |
1983 | Todd Christensen, Oak. | 1,247 | 12 | 288.7 | 159.2 | 129.5 |
2007 | Tom Brady, N.E. | 4,904 | 52 | 462.1 | 332.7 | 129.4 |
1999 | Marshall Faulk, St.L. | 2,429 | 12 | 403.9 | 277.3 | 126.6 |
1986 | Dan Marino, Mia. | 4,743 | 44 | 413.0 | 287.8 | 125.2 |
1990 | Randall Cunningham, Phil. | 4,408 | 35 | 417.5 | 293.1 | 124.4 |
1980 | Kellen Winslow, S.D. | 1,290 | 9 | 272.0 | 149.5 | 122.5 |
2000 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 1,203 | 9 | 267.3 | 145.3 | 122.0 |
2011 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 1,329 | 18 | 330.9 | 209.1 | 121.8 |
2003 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 2,110 | 27 | 447.0 | 327.4 | 119.6 |
2009 | Chris Johnson, Ten. | 2,509 | 16 | 398.9 | 280.0 | 118.9 |
2003 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 2,391 | 18 | 444.1 | 327.4 | 116.7 |
1987 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 1,129 | 23 | 315.9 | 203.2 | 112.7 |
2010 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 2,220 | 18 | 396.0 | 283.5 | 112.5 |
1994 | Ben Coates, N.E. | 1,174 | 7 | 255.4 | 143.2 | 112.2 |
2020 | • Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 1,688 | 21 | 377.8 | 266.4 | 111.4 |
2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 2,093 | 19 | 387.3 | 276.0 | 111.3 |
1986 | Todd Christensen, Oak. | 1,153 | 8 | 258.3 | 147.4 | 110.9 |
2002 | Priest Holmes, K.C. | 2,287 | 24 | 442.7 | 332.2 | 110.5 |
2004 | Daunte Culpepper, Min. | 5,123 | 41 | 450.5 | 340.2 | 110.2 |
1994 | Steve Young, S.F. | 4,262 | 42 | 413.8 | 305.2 | 108.5 |
2018 | • Travis Kelce, K.C. | 1,336 | 10 | 296.6 | 188.3 | 108.3 |
2011 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 2,069 | 16 | 376.9 | 268.8 | 108.1 |
1977 | Walter Payton, Chi. | 2,121 | 16 | 335.1 | 227.1 | 108.0 |
1990 | Warren Moon, Hou. | 4,904 | 35 | 400.0 | 293.1 | 106.9 |
2007 | Brian Westbrook, Phil. | 2,104 | 12 | 372.4 | 266.0 | 106.4 |
2019 | • Michael Thomas, N.O. | 1,716 | 9 | 374.6 | 268.4 | 106.2 |
1993 | Steve Young, S.F. | 4,432 | 31 | 372.1 | 266.4 | 105.6 |
1996 | Shannon Sharpe, Den. | 1,062 | 10 | 246.2 | 140.9 | 105.3 |
1993 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 1,572 | 16 | 351.2 | 246.1 | 105.1 |
2013 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 1,980 | 19 | 382.0 | 277.2 | 104.8 |
2018 | • Patrick Mahomes, K.C. | 5,369 | 52 | 496.1 | 391.4 | 104.7 |
1992 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 2,048 | 19 | 377.8 | 274.4 | 103.4 |
2013 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 1,215 | 16 | 303.5 | 201.0 | 102.5 |
2006 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 2,334 | 16 | 419.4 | 317.3 | 102.1 |
2007 | LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. | 1,966 | 19 | 367.8 | 266.0 | 101.8 |
1984 | James Wilder, T.B. | 2,245 | 14 | 390.7 | 288.9 | 101.8 |
2004 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 1,263 | 7 | 270.3 | 168.7 | 101.6 |
1983 | Eric Dickerson, LAR | 2,212 | 20 | 392.2 | 291.1 | 101.1 |
1999 | Edgerrin James, Ind. | 2,139 | 17 | 377.9 | 277.3 | 100.6 |
1988 | Randall Cunningham, Phil. | 4,432 | 30 | 384.8 | 284.2 | 100.6 |
1992 | Sterling Sharpe, G.B. | 1,469 | 13 | 332.9 | 232.8 | 100.1 |
1986 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 1,658 | 16 | 347.0 | 247.0 | 100.0 |
1991 | Thurman Thomas, Buff. | 2,038 | 12 | 337.8 | 237.8 | 100.0 |
2020 | • Darren Waller, L.V. | 1,196 | 9 | 282.6 | 183.3 | 99.3 |
1990 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 1,502 | 13 | 328.2 | 230.6 | 97.6 |
1994 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 1,825 | 22 | 364.5 | 267.5 | 97.0 |
2002 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 1,732 | 11 | 384.2 | 287.4 | 96.8 |
2003 | Randy Moss, Min. | 1,650 | 17 | 378.0 | 282.6 | 95.4 |
1998 | Terrell Davis, Den. | 2,225 | 23 | 385.5 | 290.3 | 95.2 |
2014 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 2,215 | 11 | 370.5 | 275.6 | 94.9 |
2008 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 1,058 | 10 | 261.8 | 167.0 | 94.9 |
2011 | Drew Brees, N.O. | 5,562 | 47 | 478.4 | 383.7 | 94.7 |
1983 | Kellen Winslow, S.D. | 1,172 | 8 | 253.2 | 159.2 | 94.0 |
1999 | Kurt Warner, St.L. | 4,445 | 42 | 398.9 | 305.1 | 93.8 |
1995 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 1,925 | 18 | 420.5 | 326.7 | 93.7 |
2018 | • Zach Ertz, Phil. | 1,163 | 8 | 280.3 | 188.3 | 92.0 |
2000 | Daunte Culpepper, Min. | 4,407 | 40 | 421.9 | 330.0 | 91.9 |
1997 | Barry Sanders, Det. | 2,358 | 14 | 352.8 | 261.5 | 91.3 |
1991 | Barry Sanders, Det. | 1,855 | 17 | 328.5 | 237.8 | 90.7 |
2019 | • Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 4,333 | 43 | 463.0 | 373.1 | 89.8 |
1996 | Brett Favre, G.B. | 4,035 | 41 | 382.6 | 292.7 | 89.8 |
1999 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 849 | 11 | 226.9 | 137.1 | 89.8 |
2007 | Randy Moss, N.E. | 1,493 | 23 | 385.3 | 295.9 | 89.4 |
1985 | Roger Craig, S.F. | 2,066 | 15 | 388.6 | 299.2 | 89.4 |
1993 | Shannon Sharpe, Den. | 995 | 9 | 234.5 | 145.6 | 88.9 |
1981 | Kellen Winslow, S.D. | 1,075 | 10 | 255.5 | 166.7 | 88.8 |
2003 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 916 | 10 | 222.6 | 133.9 | 88.7 |
2014 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 1,731 | 15 | 391.1 | 302.5 | 88.6 |
1974 | Cliff Branch, Oak. | 1,092 | 13 | 247.2 | 159.5 | 87.8 |
2004 | Peyton Manning, Ind. | 4,595 | 49 | 427.7 | 340.2 | 87.4 |
1996 | Vinny Testaverde, Balt. | 4,365 | 35 | 379.7 | 292.7 | 86.9 |
2011 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 1,310 | 11 | 296.0 | 209.1 | 86.9 |
1995 | Brett Favre, G.B. | 4,594 | 41 | 408.8 | 321.9 | 86.8 |
2004 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 964 | 13 | 255.4 | 168.7 | 86.7 |
1994 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 1,592 | 15 | 363.2 | 276.6 | 86.6 |
2015 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 1,634 | 14 | 320.4 | 233.8 | 86.6 |
2005 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 1,101 | 10 | 259.1 | 173.6 | 85.6 |
2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 2,261 | 13 | 361.1 | 275.6 | 85.5 |
2018 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 2,015 | 14 | 388.0 | 302.8 | 85.2 |
1999 | Steve Beuerlein, Car. | 4,560 | 38 | 390.2 | 305.1 | 85.1 |
2005 | Shaun Alexander, Sea. | 1,958 | 28 | 378.8 | 293.8 | 85.0 |
2011 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 1,692 | 16 | 361.2 | 276.9 | 84.3 |
1985 | Marcus Allen, Oak. | 2,330 | 14 | 383.2 | 299.2 | 84.0 |
1987 | Mark Bavaro, NYG | 867 | 8 | 189.7 | 106.1 | 83.6 |
2015 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 1,862 | 11 | 392.2 | 308.9 | 83.3 |
2018 | • Saquon Barkley, NYG | 2,028 | 15 | 385.8 | 302.8 | 83.0 |
2012 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 2,314 | 13 | 351.4 | 268.6 | 82.8 |
1980 | John Jefferson, S.D. | 1,356 | 13 | 295.6 | 213.5 | 82.1 |
—Ian Allan