NFL Market Movers: 49ers Trade Revives McCaffrey’s Card Market

All it takes is one trade to change a player’s hobby outlook. That’s what happened to former Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey last week — a move to the 49ers shifted the running back from the basement of the NFC to a title contender, and his cards have adjusted accordingly.

From McCaffrey to stars like Justin Herbert and Travis Kelce, this week’s NFL Market Movers covers the latest trends across the football market.

Cards listed below are PSA 10s with a minimum of 10 sales over the last 30 days.

PRICE GROWTH PERCENTAGE RISERS

1. Christian McCaffrey 2017 Optic Holo PSA 10 📈 187%

2. Daniel Jones 2019 Donruss Base PSA 10 📈 140%

3. Justin Jefferson 2020 Phoenix Fire Burst PSA 10 📈 105%

4. Travis Kelce 2013 Prizm Base PSA 10 📈 97%

5. Justin Herbert 2020 Prestige Base PSA 10 📈 95%

MCCAFFREY GETS TRADE BUMP: The issue with Christian McCaffrey has never been talent — it’s been whether or not he can stay healthy. Running backs are already a risky investment, and few stars embody that concept more than McCaffrey. After three straight seasons of 16 games to start his career, McCaffrey played just 10 total across 2020 and 2021.

McCaffrey’s PSA 10s tracked by Market Movers are down 31% collectively over the last 365 days, but a trade to the 49ers has revived his market. Over the last 30 days, McCaffrey’s key 2017 Optic Holo PSA 10, 2017 Optic Base PSA 10, and 2017 Prizm Silver PSA 10 are all up with strong volume. Health will likely remain an issue for the star running back long-term, but at least now he’s on a playoff contender.

PRICE GROWTH PERCENTAGE DECLINERS

1. Lamar Jackson 2018 Select Premier Level PSA 10 📉 67%

2. Tua Tagovailoa 2020 Select Concourse Silver PSA 10 📉 63%

3. Justin Herbert 2020 Select Club Level PSA 10 📉 63%

4. Joe Burrow 2020 Select Turbocharged PSA 10 📉 62%

5. Ja’Marr Chase 2021 Prizm Base PSA 10 📉 59%

IS JACKSON IN TROUBLE? After a hot start to the season, Lamar Jackson has cooled in a big way. His PSA 10s tracked by Market Movers are down 16% collectively over the last month, and his key lineup of Select cards are all down, too.

Jackson’s 2018 Select Premier Level PSA 10, 2018 Select Concourse PSA 10 and 2018 Select Field Level PSA 10 are all down over the last month. After tossing 10 passing TDs through the season’s first three weeks, Jackson has thrown just three over the last four weeks and hasn’t found the endzone on the ground since Week 3.

It’s probably not time to panic quite yet, but Jackson’s lineup of Select cards, in addition to other key rookies like his 2018 Prizm Base PSA 10 and 2018 Optic Base PSA 10, all being down isn’t a great sign.

DOLLAR GROWTH RISERS

1. Barry Sanders 1989 Score Base PSA 10 📈 $240

2. Justin Herbert 2020 Select Field Level Silver PSA 10 📈 $179

3. Jalen Hurts 2020 Prizm Silver PSA 10 📈 $147

4. Josh Allen 2018 Prizm Base PSA 10 📈 $142

5. Christian McCaffrey 2017 Optic Holo PSA 10 📈 $130

SANDERS GETS HOBBY LOVE: Jumps in prices for many players can often have a correlation to something happening on or off the field — and sometimes people just like scooping up all-time greats. That’s likely what we’re seeing with Barry Sanders right now.

While many cards are trending down, Sanders keeps ticking up. Collecting and investing in vintage is often considered much safer than ultra-modern, and while Sanders isn’t considered vintage, his career as an all-time great has been established and he’ll likely see much smaller fluctuations in his market than anyone actively playing. There’s also a greater chance he can maintain positive price growth while active players may see dips or bumps from week-to-week.

DOLLAR GROWTH DECLINERS

1. Joe Burrow 2020 Select Field Level Silver PSA 10 📉 $373

2. Trevor Lawrence 2021 Optic Downtown PSA 10 📉 $343

3. Justin Herbert 2020 Optic Holo PSA 10 📉 $300

4. Aaron Rodgers 2005 Topps Base PSA 10 📉 $182

5. Joe Burrow 2020 Prizm Disco PSA 10 📉 $177

RODGERS SEES MAJOR DIP: Aaron Rodgers appears to have fans and collectors a little worried. The Packers are just 3-4 through seven weeks, and while Rodgers has a nice TD-INT ratio, he has yet to pass for 300 yards in a game this season and didn’t even top 200 on 23 completions in a loss to Washington last week.

Rodgers’ place in the hobby is mostly solid, but that doesn’t make him bulletproof when it comes to play-driven fluctuations like this. Along with his signature 2005 Topps Base PSA 10 being down big, Rodgers’ entire lineup of PSA 10s tracked by Market Movers is down 20% collectively over the last month.

SALES VOLUME LEADERS

1. Josh Allen 2018 Donruss Base PSA 10 📈 194 sales

2. Trevor Lawrence 2021 Donruss Base PSA 10 📈 128 sales

3. Justin Herbert 2020 Absolute Base PSA 10 📈 121 sales

4. Justin Herbert 2020 Donruss Base PSA 10 📈 117 sales

5. Lamar Jackson 2018 Donruss Base PSA 10 📈 116 sales

POPULAR SEALED WAX (HOBBY BOXES WITH MIN. 10 SALES OVER LAST 30 DAYS)

1. 2022 Score Football 📈 3%

2. 2022 Gold Standard Football 📉 1%

3. 2022 Elite Football 📈 1%

4. 2022 Legacy Football 📉 11%

5. 2021 Select Football 📉 13%

MARKET PULSE INDEXES OVER LAST 30 DAYS

Football 2018-2020: 📉 13%

• KEY RISER: Josh Allen 2018 Prizm Base PSA 10 📈 20%
• KEY DECLINER: Lamar Jackson 2020 Prizm Base PSA 10 📉 33%

Football 2010-2017: 📉 17%

• KEY RISER: Christian McCaffrey 2017 Prizm Silver PSA 10 📈 76%
• KEY DECLINER: Patrick Mahomes 2017 Prizm Silver PSA 10 📉 25%

Football 2000-2009: 📉 11%

• KEY RISER: Larry Fitzgerald 2004 Topps Chrome Base PSA 10 📈 28%
• KEY DECLINER: Tom Brady 2000 Bowman Chrome Base PSA 10 📉 13%

Football 1990-1999: 📉 6%

• KEY RISER: Brett Favre 1992 Stadium Club Base PSA 10 📈 35%
• KEY DECLINER: Peyton Manning 1998 Topps Chrome Base PSA 10 📉 34%

Football 1980-1989: 📉 7%

• KEY RISER: John Elway 1984 Topps Base PSA 10 📈 7%
• KEY DECLINER: Eric Dickerson 1984 Topps Base PSA 10 📉 10%

Football 1979 & Older: 📈📉 0%

• KEY RISER: Mike Haynes 1977 Topps Base PSA 9 📈 21%
• KEY DECLINER: Walter Payton 1976 Topps Base PSA 9 📉 6%

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