Run CMC: Fast Start May Push 49ers' McCaffrey to Franchise History

By John Turney 

Ever since San Francisco traded four draft picks last season for Christian McCaffrey, the star running back has done everything asked of him. A year ago, he was a Pro Bowler who led the 49ers to the NFC championship game, and now he's setting records en route to San Francisco's 4-0 start.

A week ago, for instance, he scored a touchdown for the 13th consecutive game, breaking Jerry Rice's franchise mark, and came within one score of tying Rice's record for most TDs in one contest.

Rice had five. McCaffrey had four.

"He would've gotten five if we'd given him a chance," coach Kyle Shanahan said, second-guessing his play-calling. "He deserved it."

But look beyond that, and see what's happening with the 5-11, 205-pound multi-purpose back. Basically, it's everything. He not only could become a league leader this season in multiple categories; he could break a passel of team records, too. He leads the NFL in rushing. He leads it in touchdowns. He leads it in yards from scrimmage. And he can become the 49ers' first running back to achieve all three in the same season.

Their last player to lead the NFL in touchdowns was Rice in 1993, and their last running back was Joe "The Jet" Perry in 1953. The last 49er to lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage was Roger Craig in 1988, and the last rushing champion for San Francisco was Perry in 1954 (he also led in 1953 and led the AAFC in 1949).

Other backs have come close. In 2006, Frank Gore led the NFC in rushing and was third overall. Prior to that, Garrison Hearst (1998), Roger Craig (1988) and Delvin Williams (1976) each finished third, tying for the team's highest finish since Perry in 1954.

Granted, we're only four games into the season, but you have to wonder: Can CMC achieve any, or all, of these things? The answer is yes. But for the former Stanford standout to become the first 49ers' back in 70 years to win the league's rushing title, several things must occur:

-- First, he must stay healthy, and that's no small feat. McCaffrey played just 10 games in 2020-21 due to five separate injuries. So that has to be something to watch. On the positive side, since the start of the 2022 season, he's played in 21 straight contests. Plus, he didn't miss a game in his first three NFL seasons. So, if he's healthy, he has a chance.

-- The next question is: Will he get the carries? Backup running back Elijah Mitchell has been nicked again this year, so he hasn't been available to take the load off McCaffrey. As a result, McCaffrey has a slightly higher percentage of carries this season than he did in 2022 with the 49ers.

--Another question involves the success of the team. If the 49ers are in more big-margin games (i.e., blowouts), then Shanahan may sit down starters and give backups more reps and carries. If, however, those games are so tight that San Francisco must get into a four-minute mode to drain the clock, Shanahan probably would keep feeding his top back.

Those things matter when a back aims beyond 1,200 or 1,500 yards rushing, trying instead to lead the NFL with 1,600 or 1,800 yards ... if not more. It simply takes a higher level of week-in and week-out production, with circumstances working in your favor.

Additionally, with McCaffrey such an excellent receiver, some of his touches may come more from receptions. That won't hurt his yards from scrimmage or touchdown leadership, but it could cost him carries. Thus far, his targets per game this year are down compared to 2022 with the 49ers and considerably off from his career average with Carolina. 

And what happens if teams start stacking the box to slow San Francisco's running game? That's no problem for Shanahan. He'll call plays with CMC higher in the progression rather than an afterthought. His goal is to win a Super Bowl, not statistical titles.

So, there are several factors in play at this stage in the season. But so far, so good. McCaffrey is off to such a magnificent start that he could end up with numbers that make him one of the best, if not the best-ever, running back in 49ers' history. 

And that's saying plenty about someone who won't play his 17th game with San Francisco for a couple of more weeks ... and on a club with names like Joe Perry, Roger Craig, Ricky Watters and Frank Gore.