Christian McCaffrey wins FedEx Ground Player of Week 1

The 49ers run game was on point in Week 1, led behind the workhorse that is Christian McCaffrey.

The San Francisco 49ers running back has been named Week 1’s FedEx Ground Player of the Week Wednesday. McCaffrey has been instrumental in the Red & Gold’s ground attack, getting his flowers after a fantastic showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Stanford alum rushed for 22 carries, 152 yards and one touchdown in Pittsburgh, making another case for best RB in the NFL. He also added three catches for 17 yards receiving as well.

McCaffrey’s biggest play of the game came in the third quarter, breaking out for a 65-yard rushing TD to open the half. It wasn’t all CMC however, getting huge blocks from wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk & Ray-Ray McCloud downfield. The ball carrier was very appreciative of his teammates after the game, thrilled to be on an offense that prioritizes the run game.

“When you got receivers who block like that, it’s a special feeling for a running back because you truly feel like your guys have your back and that’s an awesome feeling to have,” Christian McCaffrey said Sunday.

Brandon Aiyuk on the reaction to watching his and Ray-Ray McCloud’s blocks on Christian McCaffrey’s 65-yd TD run:

“It was lit. Everybody was juiced up.” pic.twitter.com/Zn4F8yzqiv

— KNBR (@KNBR) September 13, 2023

Christian McCaffrey, 27, has been a staple of the 49ers’ offense since being traded to the West Coast from the Carolina Panthers at the 2022 trade deadline. Since then, he has been electric, accumulating more than 1100 scrimmage yards in 11 regular-season games last year. He also proved San Francisco’s lone score of the NFC Championship, bulldozing his way to a 23-yard score.

CMC delivers 📬 pic.twitter.com/B6zpFGQ9mU

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 13, 2023

After missing out on comeback player of the year in 2022, McCaffrey is ready to put the world on notice once again, this time with a full offseason in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

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