No NFL running back played a higher percentage of his team's offensive snaps last year than San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey. Elijah Mitchell, their top backup, missed six games in another injury-riddled season, and McCaffrey was simply too good to take off the field. CMC led the league with 1,459 rushing yards -- 292 more than the next best RB. His 21 TDs tied for the league lead and he also added 564 receiving yards, which ranked fourth on the 49ers. His 339 total touches were the second-most of his career. McCaffrey's efforts earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors and a two-year extension. The Niners would love a repeat performance in 2024, but perhaps with less wear and tear. A healthy Mitchell would help them accomplish that. "We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn't like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that's something we could protect him with more," head coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Christian McCaffrey Resets RB Market, Signs Two-Year Extension
Reigning Offensive Player of the Year and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has once again reset the running back market by signing a two-year contract extension on Tuesday that averages $19 million per year, according to sources. McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first two years while adding $24 million in guarantees. The 27-year-old's $19 million annual average makes him the league's highest-paid RB, for good reason. CMC finished third in the MVP voting in 2023 after going for 2,023 scrimmage yards with 21 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games. McCaffrey hasn't been immune to the injury bug in his career, but when he's healthy, he's a league-winner as the heartbeat of the Niners' offense. He should go first overall in most fantasy drafts this fall.
49ers Not Worried About Christian McCaffrey's Absence
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has been absent for voluntary organized team activities this week, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he wasn't worried bout McCaffrey given how hard he trains in the offseason. "It's like everyone else," Shanahan said. "It is voluntary, and I'm not too concerned about Christian." The 2023 NFL rushing champion was present for last year's sessions, but apparently he's taking more time to train on his own in his second offseason with the team. Fantasy managers considering taking CMC with the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts this fall shouldn't be concerned at all after the do-it-all back had 272 carries for 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 67 passes for 564 yards and another seven scores in 16 regular-season starts in his first full season with the Niners.
Christian McCaffrey With 30 Touches In Super Bowl Loss
Predictably, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was heavily involved in the team's 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The newly-minted Offensive Player of the Year took 22 carries for 80 yards, plus eight receptions on as many targets for another 80 yards and a touchdown. The 21-yard touchdown reception improbably came from wide receiver Jauan Jennings on a trick play. It's hard to blame McCaffrey for the loss after 160 all-purpose yards, but besides the touchdown he was pretty well bottled up by Kansas City's defense, averaging just 3.6 yards on the ground while not gaining any chunks longer than 11 yards. CMC will once again enter 2024 fantasy drafts worthy of consideration for the No. 1 overall pick.
Christian McCaffrey To Make Super Bowl Debut Versus Chiefs
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will make his first Super Bowl appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs as the top option at running back for fantasy players. The former Carolina Panther and Stanford star has torn up the NFL in his seventh year, averaging a whopping 21.7 half-PPR points in full games while only producing fewer than 15 points twice. There is little reason to believe McCaffrey won't finish the year in a similar vein especially since Kansas City's elite pass defense will probably funnel the 49ers into leaning heavily on McCaffrey in the running game. The Chiefs spent the regular season as a top-10 rush defense but McCaffrey has risen to the challenge consistently against quality rush defenses, most recently in the NFC Championship Game versus the Detroit Lions, who finished the regular season as the single toughest opponent for fantasy running backs. In that game, he went for 132 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. McCaffrey is sure to be expensive for DFS players. Still, he's as close to a sure thing as they come, especially considering it's almost impossible to imagine a game script that significantly diminishes his involvement.
Christian McCaffrey Named Offensive Player Of The Year
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was named the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday. McCaffrey is basically one of a kind in today's NFL. The 27-year-old not only helped lead the Niners to Super Bowl LVIII, but he was the most dynamic overall offensive player in 2023. He finished the regular season with a career-high 21 total touchdowns while totaling 2,023 yards from scrimmage in 16 games played. CMC had a league-high and career-high 1,459 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 272 attempts, adding 67 receptions (83 targets) for 564 receiving yards and seven TDs through the air. McCaffrey isn't without his injury risks, but when he manages to stay healthy, it's hard for any other RBs to even hold a candle to his fantasy upside.
Christian McCaffrey Scores Twice In NFC Championship Win
It was a tale of two halves for San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey in Sunday's 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game. In the first half, McCaffrey struggled to find open field against a stout Detroit run defense and gained just 3.3 yards per carry. McCaffrey has been the engine of San Francisco's potent offense all year, so it is no coincidence that the largest comeback in NFC Championship Game history featured CMC ramping up to 5.9 per carry in the second half. All told he took 20 rush attempts for 90 yards and two touchdowns while adding four catches on five targets for 42 yards receiving. The Niners have now punched their ticket to Las Vegas and Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs. McCaffrey will represent the top fantasy play at any position in the rematch of Super Bowl LIV.
Christian McCaffrey The Top RB Play In Championship Round
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey enters Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara as -- yet again -- the alpha option in fantasy. Last week against Green Bay the dual threat racked up 128 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Detroit's run defense was stellar during the regular season, only allowing 14.1 half-PPR points to opposing running backs, which was tops in the league. They finished strong as well, maintaining No.1 status over their last five regular season games. In the playoffs, the Lions held Rams breakout back Kyren Williams to 61 yards on the ground and the Bucs' Rachaad White to 55 yards. However, McCaffrey has been as matchup-proof as they come, putting up 21 and 18.8 fantasy points against the second and third-ranked Rams and Bucs run defenses, respectively. DFS players willing to spend on McCaffrey should look forward to a solid day even if Detroit stifles the 49ers' rushing attack early, as San Francisco likely shifts his usage into the passing game.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was seen on the sidelines getting his quadriceps worked on during the win over the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday night, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said the star running back isn't dealing with an injury. "No, I heard about that on the TV [broadcast] because some of my family members asked me about it," Shanahan said. "But that's just what Christian to me always does. He's always working on his body and stuff. I was told nothing about his quad." CMC strained his calf in Week 17 and was held out of the Week 18 regular season finale, but he looked fine in his return against Green Bay, rushing for 98 yards on 17 carries while scoring two touchdowns. He'll once again be the highest-priced RB at DraftKings for the Championship round of the postseason this weekend.
Christian McCaffrey Scores Twice In Divisional Round Win
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey propelled his team to a 24-21 comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night in Santa Clara. The most productive back in the NFL took 17 carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while hauling in seven of 12 targets for 30 yards. McCaffrey's name has been swirling around as an MVP candidate and though the award usually goes to a quarterback, it's hard to imagine the 49ers winning Saturday's game without him. His first TD was vintage McCaffrey, a 39-yard explosion fueled by vision, power, and agility. His second was a 6-yard plunge with 1:07 left in the game and San Francisco trailing. He'll be the top play at running back in fantasy next Sunday in the NFC Championship Game regardless of whether the 49ers play the Detroit Lions or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
