Where NFL figures rank 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey among best running backs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s not a surprise to anyone that NFL executives place Christian McCaffrey among the top running backs in the league. But just where exactly does the nine-year veteran rank?
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McCaffrey posted the third season of his career with 2,000-plus scrimmage yards in 2025 for the 49ers, which is just one year away from tying the NFL record (four) for most seasons with 2,000-plus scrimmage yards — a record shared by Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson and Walter Payton.
That was enough for the dual-threat RB to be ranked No. 4 in the league at his position by executives, scouts and coaches in a poll compiled by ESPN.
In addition to 1,202 rushing yards and 924 receiving yards, McCaffrey found the end zone 17 times on the year (third-most in the NFL).
Additionally, he was one of just two running backs to accomplish the aforementioned 2,000-plus scrimmage yards feat — the other being Bijan Robinson, who ranked as the top vote-getter in the poll.
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Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions was second, followed by Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts rounded out the top five.
“[McCaffrey’s] declined some — I think you will see more juice if he doesn’t have to be the focal point of both the run and pass game,” one NFC executive said. “But he’s such an elite overall player with versatility who takes care of himself that he can be a top guy for at least one more year.”
McCaffrey won NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2025 after returning from a knee injury suffered in 2024 and also finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting and finished fourth for MVP.
While McCaffrey turned 30 in June, the running back hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down for San Francisco and looks to be an integral part of the offense through at least the 2027 season — the end of his current contract.
