Christian McCaffrey looks 'game-ready,' primed for prolific season

The 49ers struck gold when they traded for then-Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey last October.  

In 11 regular season games of action for the Niners, McCaffrey rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns and hauled in 52 receptions for 464 yards and four scores. As good as those stats are, running backs coach Anthony Lynn's indicating even higher production could be around the corner for the 26-year-old.

"Right now things are coming to him a lot faster than they did last year because he wasn’t familiar with the system," Lynn said, per NBC Sports. "I’m just looking forward to where he can go next because he looks game-ready right now.”

While the two-time Pro Bowler's been with the team less than a year, he's already naturally one of the biggest leaders in the locker room and someone other players want to follow. QB Trey Lance said McCaffrey sets the "standard" and has "quickly grown into a great leader" in the locker room. 

McCaffrey appears to be trying to grasp everything required of him within the offense, and said he's "making sure it's not just learning the plays, but learning every single detail of the positions."

What separates McCaffrey from most NFL players is how seriously he takes his craft, and what he's willing to sacrifice in order to be one of the best in the league. Not many players outwork and outstudy the former first-round pick, traits that make him endearing to his peers. 

“He leads by example," Lynn said. "And when you see one of your best players practicing and performing like that it elevates the whole team and even the coaching staff."

If McCaffrey continues to ascend in the 49ers' system, there's a strong chance they make another deep playoff run next season. And it's safe to assume the All-Pro will bolster his numbers in 2023. Head coach Kyle Shanahan found creative ways to get the ball into the hands of McCaffrey last season, and that trend won't be slowing down now that he knows the playbook front to back.