Christian McCaffrey was one of the best stories last season.
After playing just four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries, there was serious concern about whether he’d be able to return to his elite form. Yet, he not only came back, but also delivered one of the best seasons of his career.
Appearing in all 17 regular-season games, McCaffrey racked up 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 total touchdowns on a career-high 413 touches. He also led all San Francisco 49ers pass catchers with 924 receiving yards, the second most of his career.
McCaffrey became just the second player in NFL history with at least 800 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in three different seasons, joining Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk.
That level of volume and production is unheard of for a 30-year-old running back coming off a major injury.
However, in his annual survey of top NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler highlighted one notable concern with McCaffrey from last season: his 3.9 yards per carry rate. It was a significant drop-off from his 5.4 rate in 2023, before the injury, and the lowest full-season mark since his 2017 rookie year.
The heavy workload ultimately was the reason why his per-carry mark dipped so drastically, even if his impact as a receiver and all-around playmaker kept him among the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
In a loaded NFC West that featured the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams, who had the best offense in football, the 49ers still managed to finish 12-5 and made the playoffs. And that was with players like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall all missing multiple games.
Now, Kittle and Purdy are healthy, Pearsall’s got another year under his belt, and San Francisco loaded up in the offseason, bringing in future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, veteran slot receiver Christian Kirk, and a bunch of exciting draft picks.
McCaffrey’s efficiency may have dropped last season, and if he’s required to carry the same load this year, the 49ers could be in trouble. But all of the new additions lean towards San Francisco having a more balanced, versatile offense in 2026, which should take some of the pressure off the All-Pro running back.