A tradition unlike any other… Masters Week kicks off Monday, April 7th. As a fantasy football writer, I thought comparing current stars in the NFL to stars on the PGA Tour would be a fun idea. Happy Masters Week, everyone!
Christian McCaffrey and Tiger Woods
When healthy, Christian McCaffrey is a purely dominant fantasy football player. He finished as the RB1 in both the 2019 and 2023 seasons and as the RB2 in 2018 and 2022. However, injuries have held McCaffrey back recently, as he has suffered season-ending injuries in three of the last five years. McCaffrey will be 29 years old next season and will be coming off a season where he dealt with a nagging calf injury and a knee injury that ended his campaign. McCaffrey will have something to prove.
Tiger Woods is the most popular golfer of all time. Throughout his illustrious career, Woods has won 15 major golf championships. Five of those wins for Woods came at Augusta. Woods is also tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour victories ever with 82. Just like McCaffrey, injuries have plagued Woods’s career, especially in the later years. In 2019, Woods was able to ‘return to glory’ with a come-from-behind win at The Masters after severe back injuries.
Similarities:
- Both are dominant and a step above the competition when healthy
- Both in the late stages of their career, McCaffrey (29) and Woods (49)
- Both have dealt with and overcome an extensive number of injuries
Saquon Barkley and Scottie Scheffler
Saquon Barkley had one of the best running back seasons of all time in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley rushed for an Eagles franchise-record 2,005 yards, which led the entire NFL! Barkley was able to cap off his historic season with a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. With this stretch of dominance, Barkley has placed himself as the unanimous best running back in the NFL.
Scottie Scheffler is coming off one of the best PGA Tour seasons ever. Fans have been comparing Scheffler’s 2024 season to some of Tiger’s best seasons. Scheffler simply dominated the competition every week as he finished the year with 7 PGA Tour wins, most notably his second win at The Masters and going back-to-back at the Players Championship. Not to mention, Scheffler also won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics. As of Sunday, April 6th, 2025, Scheffler has been ranked #1 on the official world golf rankings for 133 weeks straight.
Similarities:
- Both had HISTORIC 2024 seasons
- Both are unanimously the best in their sport/position right now
- Both are fan favorites
Malik Nabers and Ludvig Aberg
Malik Nabers was a star at LSU which led him to be selected with the 6th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. In his rookie season, Nabers dominated for fantasy football managers. After missing two games, Nabers still finished the season as the WR6, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. Nabers looked like a savvy veteran receiver in his rookie season and will continue to grow into one of the best at his position.
Ludvig Aberg also had a stellar start to his career. Aberg turned pro in June of 2023 and went from a highly talented golfer to a golf superstar. In his first full season on the PGA Tour, Aberg proved that he is here to stay for the long haul, making the cut in 18 of 20 tournaments and finishing in the top 10 in 8 of those events. Aberg finished second at The Masters last year with an impressive score of -7.
Similarities:
- Both are young phenoms
- Both will be at the top of their sport/position for years to come
Derrick Henry and Jon Rahm
Derrick Henry continues to fend off Father Time as he showcased no signs of slowing down in 2024. Henry joined a new team for the 2024 season as he signed with the Baltimore Ravens to form one of the scariest backfields in NFL history with Lamar Jackson. Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Henry is most known for his powerful running style that leads to great success on short-yardage runs near the goal line.
Jon Rahm departed from the PGA Tour and signed a contract to join the LIV Golf League. While 2024 might not have been the best season for Rahm, he is still widely recognized as one of the best golfers on the planet and can still compete for major championships.
Similarities:
- Both joined a new team/league in 2024
- Both are physical players (Henry is a hard-to-bring-down runner, and Rahm is a long-hitting golfer)
- Both have shown consistent production in their careers
Josh Allen and Rory McIlroy
Josh Allen is fresh off winning his first-ever MVP award in 2024 and is looking to build off of that for next season to get the one award he has yet to achieve, and that’s a Super Bowl victory. Allen has dominated for years, especially in fantasy football where he has finished as the QB1 three separate times. Allen is a freak athlete, standing at 6’5” and weighing close to 240 pounds, which helps him run over opposing defenders.
Rory McIlroy has dominated the PGA Tour ever since he turned pro back in 2007. He has gone on to win 28 times on the PGA Tour and 18 other times on the DP World Tour. McIlroy also has won four major championships including two PGA Championship wins, a US Open win, and an Open Championship win. The only accolade that alludes to McIlroy is a win at The Masters, which would make him the sixth-ever golfer to complete the career grand slam.
Similarities:
- Both are freak athletes (Allen’s strong arm and running ability, and McIlroy’s driving distance)
- Both need to win the big one (Allen- Super Bowl, McIlroy- The Masters)