Christian McCaffrey has done everything asked of him, and more, in a season where the San Francisco 49ers have been defined by inconsistency and injury.
Yet despite leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage through seven weeks, the All-Pro running back has found himself unexpectedly labeled the team’s “biggest disappointment.”
The critique came from Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, who pointed to McCaffrey’s 3.5 yards per carry average as justification for the claim. That stat, though, only tells part of the story.
McCaffrey has racked up 981 total yards, 53 receptions, and six total touchdowns, all while playing through a bruising workload as the 49ers’ offense has rotated quarterbacks and shuffled its receiver corps due to injury.
It’s a take that has drawn plenty of raised eyebrows, especially from those inside the 49ers’ locker room. Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t directly name critics, but made it clear that McCaffrey’s value to the team isn’t in doubt.
“Christian has a high standard for himself, and so do we,” Shanahan said. “We weren’t where we wanted to be with the run game early, but he’s been relentless. He’s everything you want in a player.”
Indeed, McCaffrey’s dual-threat ability has become the bedrock of the 49ers’ offense. Even with injuries to Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall limiting the aerial options, McCaffrey has remained the most consistent weapon in the lineup, leading the team in both rushing and receiving.
His 465 rushing yards and 516 receiving yards make him the only player in the league currently on pace for 1,000 yards in both categories. If he pulls it off, it would be just the second time in his career, after his standout 2019 season with the Carolina Panthers.
Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, McCaffrey delivered a vintage performance: 129 yards on the ground, 72 through the air, and a touchdown.
He looked every bit like the player who once earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, and who now seems to be in the running for Comeback Player of the Year after playing just four games in 2024 due to major knee and tendon injuries.
A new role, a new reality
The irony of the criticism isn’t lost on those who’ve watched McCaffrey shoulder the offensive load in San Francisco. His role has changed. He’s no longer expected to be a home-run hitter on every carry, instead, he’s the stabilizing force in a team riddled with injuries and questions under center.
“People just don’t understand what he brings week in and week out,” one team source said. “He’s the first guy in the building and the last one out. Even when he’s not breaking 30-yard runs, he’s doing all the little things that keep us going.”
It’s easy to look at stats in isolation, like a dip in yards per carry, and make assumptions. But context matters. McCaffrey is averaging 26.4 touches per game, often facing stacked boxes and adjusted defenses that know exactly where the 49ers’ attack is focused.
His value goes far beyond simple metrics. He’s the one constant in a rotating offense, the player who defenses scheme to stop – and rarely succeed.
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