49er of Week 17: Christian McCaffrey

Every week we do the Red & Gold’s player of the game there are usually a few candidates. Week 17 is no different, but none are more deserving than running back Christian McCaffrey.

The most versatile offensive weapon in the NFL, CMC was a man possessed against the Las Vegas Raiders. He finished New Year’s Day with 193 all-purpose yards, the most since 2019 for the Stanford alum. His official stat-line included 19 carries for 121 yards and one rushing touchdown, while also catching six passes for 72 yards.

From the beginning of the game, McCaffrey was on one, registering his longest run of 37 yards on the first series Sunday. Taking an inside zone handoff, 49ers’ linemen cleared a gapping hole for the former all-pro, racing past Raiders before being tackled from behind at the one-yard-line.

The team found the endzone a few plays later with a two-yard TD by wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Then his biggest play of the entire game happened down the stretch of the fourth quarter. 

Tied up at 27 points a piece, the 49ers had to march down the field with four minutes remaining in regulation. After quarterback Brock Purdy found Aiyuk for a 23-yard slant play to start the drive, CMC went back to work again. Taking the rock on a screen pass at midfield, Christian McCaffrey weaved through and around Raider defenders, trucking one in the process before he was tackled at Vegas’ 14-yard line. Rookie RB Jordan Mason found pay dirt on the next play, scoring his first TD of his career.

An explosive play by an explosive player, justifying the trade back in October for the 49ers. 

This McCaffrey play was so special pic.twitter.com/T5O3iL1r6T

— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) January 2, 2023

CMC also made history Sunday afternoon, passing 49ers great Roger Craig for most receptions by a RB in his first six NFL seasons. Only arriving in Red & Gold Week 7, CMC has been everything the Faithful could have dreamed of, the ultimate safety valve for head coach Kyle Shanahan.

“He was great. We needed it,” Shanahan said. “That screen at the end was huge. He had a real good one earlier too that got called back when we had one of our guys down field. I thought he ran hard, that big one at the beginning too. I know he would like to score on it, but Christian’s done some great things helping us in the run and pass game, and I feel very fortunate to have him.” 

Christian McCaffrey’s ranks among running backs (since SF):

Receptions: #1
Targets: #1
Yards: #1
Yards per Route Run: #2

He’s been the best pass-catching running back in the NFL since coming to the #49ers.

— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 2, 2023

Despite missing the Pro Bowl, McCaffrey has taken his game to another level as a member of the 49ers. Amassing a league-leading 1801 yards from scrimmage this season, it’s hard to imagine better halfbacks than CMC, possibly the best offensive player in football today. 

Still only 26-years-old, McCaffrey has three years remaining on his contract after the 2022 season. A Stanford alum, the Colorado native has enjoyed a fruitful spell back in the Bay Area so far.

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