NFC executive gives 49ers' Christian McCaffrey some bulletin-board material

When healthy and at his absolute best, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is an explosive playmaker capable of torching just about any opposing defense in the NFL. 

That said, it sounds like some around the league believe McCaffrey is no longer all that he was when in his prime. 

Is Christian McCaffrey a running back in decline?

For an article published on Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN asked "league executives, coaches and scouts" to rank the league's top running backs. Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons topped the list, followed by Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles and McCaffrey.

"He'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 unnamed NFC executive said about McCaffrey. "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 has a worrisome injury history, and the fact that he turned 30 years old in June could lead one to believe that age will begin catching up with him this coming fall. That said, he played in all of San Francisco's regular-season games and the club's two postseason contests during the 2025 campaign. 

McCaffrey ended the 2025 regular season ranked second in the NFL with 311 carries and eighth with 1,202 rushing yards. Per the StatMuse website, he finished Week 18 of the campaign ranked second in the league with 2,126 scrimmage yards and third with 17 scrimmage touchdowns.

This Christian McCaffrey stat may worry 49ers fans

"In 2025, McCaffrey posted his third career season with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards, tied for fourth most by a running back in NFL history. He needed a league-high 413 touches to do it," Fowler added. "McCaffrey's 3.9 yards per carry was his lowest full-season clip since his rookie year in 2017. One factor: The 49ers ranked 29th in rushing yards before contact (2.04)."

Those running the 49ers seemingly believed the club was a Super Bowl contender before it signed longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency. If McCaffrey can truly "be a top guy for at least one more year," he could go on to earn Offensive Player of the Year Award honors in February 2027.