49ers' Christian McCaffrey: ESPN pinpoints his biggest challenge

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently unveiled his ranking of the top 10 NFL running backs based on input from league executives, coaches, and scouts. San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey landed at No. 5 on the list.

Some may question the ranking after McCaffrey's injury-plagued 2024 season, during which he appeared in only four games. In those limited appearances, he didn't look like the dynamic, dual-threat playmaker fans have come to expect. Still, it was just one year earlier—in 2023—that McCaffrey racked up 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns, earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Fowler clearly believes McCaffrey can return to form and remain among the league's elite. But there's one significant concern that continues to hover over the All-Pro running back.

"Durability is the one thing holding McCaffrey back," Fowler wrote. "He has missed 10 or more games in three of his past five NFL seasons."

One NFL personnel executive echoed those concerns, citing McCaffrey's size and age as factors that could hinder his long-term productivity.

"He's a great player, but he's always had durability issues, even in college," the executive told Fowler. "He's an elite trainer and takes great care of himself. He's just not a big body and will lose a step eventually."

McCaffrey opened last season battling Achilles tendinitis and ended it on injured reserve due to a PCL injury. However, he was a full participant during the 49ers' offseason program and appears to be healthy heading into training camp.

Fowler believes that if McCaffrey can stay on the field, he could quickly re-enter the MVP conversation.

"In fact, McCaffrey has four seasons with at least 1,800 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns," Fowler noted. "The only players with more are all Hall of Famers: Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, and Walter Payton (five each).

"Since 2006, two players have at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 25 touchdowns in a season (plus playoffs): McCaffrey in 2023 and Tomlinson in 2006."

An NFC scout told Fowler that McCaffrey remains the prototype for modern NFL running backs and can still be the best player on the field on any given Sunday.

Fowler isn't the only one ranking McCaffrey among the league's best. Jared Dubin of CBS Sports placed the veteran back at No. 4 on his own list.

"McCaffrey is still going to be in Kyle Shanahan's offense, and he might have an even bigger role in it than when we last saw him healthy thanks to the departure of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk's torn ACL," Dubin wrote.

Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders this offseason, and Aiyuk is expected to begin the 2025 campaign on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, forcing him to miss at least the first four games.

Despite his elite talent, McCaffrey continues to carry injury-related question marks that give some evaluators pause.

"McCaffrey has dealt with injury issues during his career before (he's played 16-plus games five times in eight years, but seven or fewer in the other three, including four or fewer twice)," Dubin noted, "but based on his level of talent it's really hard to see how he garners no first-place votes and even goes unranked by at least one voter."