Some guys have all the luck and Christian McCaffrey is definitely THAT dude. He got his exceptional genes from his Father, a former NFL wide receiver, his grandfather, an Olympian who was considered the world’s fastest man in the 1950s, and his mama, a college multi-sport athlete. Plus, he looks like a male model who quit acting to work with underprivileged kids. Christian McCaffrey just has that aura.
And Run CMC had a huge offseason. First off, he got married to a former MISS UNIVERSE named Olivia Culpo. It’s entirely possible that their children will be so beautiful that all war will end. On top of that, Christian McCaffrey signed a two-year extension worth 19 million dollars a season. Not too shabby!
He’s too perfect! So for the purpose of this article, we’re going to try and find his warts, however small and shallow they may be.
Will Christian McCaffrey Take a Step Back in 2024?
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Last season, Christian McCaffrey led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl and finished 3rd in MVP voting. He rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 67 passes for 564 yards and 7 tds. He was explosive, but can he keep it up this season?
Christian McCaffrey played 16 games last season and all 17 games the year before that. But look closer and you’ll see that in 2020 and 2021, he only played 10 out of a possible 32 games. His health has been good the last two seasons, but running backs get hurt as much if not more than any other position. That doesn’t bode well for Christian McCaffrey.
He’s 28 years old now, which means he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Expecting Christian McCaffrey to continue his jaw-dropping pace as he nears age 30 just isn’t realistic. Especially if holdout tackle, Trent Williams, can’t agree to a new deal with the 49ers.
What to expect from Christian McCaffrey in 2024
San Francisco may also limit Christian McCaffrey’s reps this season to keep him healthy and strong for another playoff run. They have a stable of running backs behind him who they might unleash.
Elijah Mitchell has been a sold backup ever since McCaffrey was traded by the Carolina Panthers. He’s a quality runner who’s impressed when given an opportunity. Unfortunately, he gets hurt too often to be relied upon. Competing with Mitchell for carries will be 3rd year-back Jordan Mason and 4th round rookie Isaac Guerendo. Each of these guys offers promise and upside, which could lead to them taking on some of Christian McCaffrey’s workload.
And that’s without talking about Brock Purdy getting more opportunities to throw the ball after he finished 4th in last season’s MVP voting. Purdy passed for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns and made clutch throws all season long. This season, his numbers should be even better which might limit Christian McCaffrey more than last year.
On top of that, the 49ers don’t need to rely solely on Christian McCaffrey because they have other weapons. Purdy is ascending but it’s Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuck who really make the San Francisco engine purr. Deebo alone caught 60 passes for 892 yards and 7 touchdowns while rushing 37 times for 225 yards and 5 TDs. He’s easily the biggest threat to CMC in terms of goalline rushing work.
Final Thoughts
It’s really hard to find the warts hiding on CMC’s chiseled physique. If he can stay healthy, there’s no doubt that he’ll be a top 3 fantasy running back. Christian McCaffrey is definitely worth the first overall pick in fantasy, just don’t be surprised if he doesn’t reach last year’s heights.
