Amid monumental start, 49ers RB should be MVP favorite

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Amid monumental start, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey should be MVP favorite

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 10/2/23

A running back hasn't won NFL MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012. San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey is looking to change that with his remarkable start to the 2023 campaign.

McCaffrey rushed for a career-high four TDs in a 35-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals, joining Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith as the only players in the Super Bowl era with 600 or more yards and seven or more TDs through their teams' first four games, per NFL Network's James Palmer.

Christian McCaffrey had 177 scrimmage yards & 4 TDs in the #49ers’ 35-16 Week 4 win over the Cardinals. CMC now joins Emmitt Smith (1995 season with Cowboys) as the only players in the Super Bowl era with 600+ scrimmage yards & 7+ TD over their team’s first 4 games of a season
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 2, 2023

"Hey, all of them streaks come to an end eventually, right?" 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams said of McCaffrey's MVP chances following the victory, via CBS Sports. "This might be the year. I can see it."

He's literally HIM. #AZvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh @CMC_22 pic.twitter.com/xBJBJ3WrV9
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 1, 2023

Nonetheless, the odds are still stacked against McCaffrey. League MVP has become a de facto "best quarterback award." Peterson was the last non-QB to win it, and a QB has won it 15 out of the past 16 seasons.

Vegas believes the trend will continue, as Buffalo's Josh Allen is the MVP favorite (+400), per OddsChecker. Although McCaffrey keeps strengthening his case, he's tied with teammate Brock Purdy for the seventh-best odds (+2500).

QB is the most important position, yet giving the award to one every year is trivial, especially when McCaffrey is one of the main reasons San Francisco (4-0) is a Super Bowl contender.

"I'm not sure on the whole rest of the league right now, but I thought he played like [an MVP] last year when he was here," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said in a postgame news conference. "Christian's so awesome; he helps us win every time he's out there."

Plus, he's on track to post an absurd season. If he maintains his outstanding production, the RB could surpass the 2,500-yard mark and score approximately 30 TDs.

What else does he need to do? It's clear he's one of the best players in the NFL, regardless of position, and deserves more consideration.

More must-reads: