Is 49ers Running Back Christian McCaffrey a Future Hall of Famer?
Here are his credentials.
At his peak, Christian McCaffrey was one of the 49ers’ best players in franchise history. But is he a future Hall of Famer?
Here are his credentials: He has been to three Pro Bowls, he’s a two-time first-team All Pro and he was the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. Those are some serious accomplishments. But he still needs to stay healthy and play at a high level for a few more years to make the Hall of Fame.
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
That’s because McCaffrey has missed the better part of three seasons due to injuries. He hasn’t exactly been an Iron Man. And that’s why he currently has fewer career rushing yards than Joe Mixon, Aaron Jones, Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara — four running backs who were drafted after McCaffrey in 2017.
McCaffrey also has fewer career yards from scrimmage (10,863) than Roger Craig (13,100), LeSean McCoy (15,000) and Tiki Barber (15,632), and none of them is in the Hall of Fame yet, although Barber has been a finalist.
McCaffrey also has 31 fewer touchdowns than Shaun Alexander who also isn’t in the Hall of Fame.
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
For McCaffrey to make it one day, he probably will have to gain another 5,000 yards from scrimmage and score at least another 20 touchdowns. And that means he would need to play another three or four seasons.
I find it highly unlikely that McCaffrey’s body will hold up much longer. He couldn’t stay healthy for more than a few weeks at a time last season. He waited until he was 100 percent recovered from bilateral Achilles tendonitis, and then a few weeks later he tore his PCL.
49ers Announce Christian McCaffrey Update Amid NFL Draft Rumors..
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was injured at the beginning of last season and then again at the end of last season. He was finished for the year when the suffered a PCL injury in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills. Despite suffering the injury late in the season, McCaffrey seems to be healthy and will be back in action for the 2025 season. “Christian is healthy,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced last week via NBC Sports Bay Area. “He’s doing great.” Last season was the third season in the last five that McCaffrey played less than seven games. He is a game-changing running back, when he is in the huddle, but when he is injured, the 49ers need to add depth. “You always hope to address it every year,” Shanahan said of the running back position. “Of course, we’re set with McCaffrey, but every single year we’ve gone through this except for two years, we’ve gone through four running.
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
backs. Most teams do, so you always got to be prepared for that.” The 49ers lost two running backs in the offseason. They lost Elijah Mitchell sign with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. They also traded Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings in a cost-cutting move. They have some reliable backups, but not a dominating presence which is needed in McCaffrey’s possible absence. “We got Isaac [Guerendo] in there working, and we’re pumped to get Patrick back,” Shanahan said. “And we’ll see if we can add someone in the draft. We’d like to every year.” However, the 49ers have 11 draft picks and look to add a running back in the middle-to-late rounds of a deep draft at the position. They cannot leave the cupboard devoid of a quality running back with McCaffrey’s durability issues.
Jordan Mason: Vikings Running Back Dynasty Outlook..
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
Jordan Mason proved he was one of the best handcuff running backs in the league on the 49ers last season. Now that he was traded to the Vikings, does he still have this high of a dynasty outlook?
Jordan Mason Dynasty Outlook
Jordan Mason had a very successful early-season filling in for Christian McCaffrey. However, he struggled with injuries down the stretch and missed the final five weeks of the season. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason and will be the backup to Aaron Jones in 2025. Mason has a sneaky high upside dynasty outlook entering 2025 on his new team.
Dynasty Outlook for Jordan Mason
Current Production.
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
Mason saw limited opportunities in his first two years in the league with the 49ers. He averaged 42 carries, 232 rushing yards, and two touchdowns in those early campaigns. However, he earned a larger role in 2024 when both McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell dealt with long-term injuries. Mason was the starting running back for the 49ers, and he capitalized on his chance by finishing as a top-12 running back in three of the first four weeks. He saw at least 19 carries and had at least ten PPR fantasy points in each of the first four weeks.
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
However, after that great opening stretch, he struggled with injuries and saw lighter workloads. He left multiple games due to injuries and lost work once McCaffrey returned to the lineup. He did not top fifteen carries or ten fantasy points for the rest of the season, and he missed the final five weeks of the year. When McCaffrey was fully healthy between Weeks 10 and 12, Mason saw a total of six carries combined. He only thrived when he was the full-time starter.
Mason Dynasty Price
According to KeepTradeCut, a website that crowdsources dynasty values from players who use the site, Mason is the RB36. He is behind Isiah Pacheco, his teammate Aaron Jones, and Tank Bigsby while ahead of Tyjae Spears, Tony Pollard, and Rhamondre Stevenson. This is a big decline from his high of RB19 in early October last year, but his ranking skyrocketed from around RB50 since he was traded. Mason is worth a late second-round pick in rookie dynasty drafts..
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
Read More: Two Players to Sell High in Dynasty Leagues
Jordan Mason Dynasty Outlook
Mason will be 26 years old next year, entering his fourth year in the league with limited career carries. When Mason was traded to the Vikings, they extended him through the 2026 season, so he will be with them for at least the next two seasons. However, Aaron Jones also signed a two-year extension, keeping him in Minnesota through 2026. Jones will be 31 years old next season, so he is on the decline of his career.
However, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Mason would be the 1B in the Vikings backfield next season, including being the goal-line back. If this is true, Mason will see decent standalone value backing up Jones and be one of the best handcuffs in the league if Jones were to miss time with injury.
Christian McCaffrey ‘healthy;’ 49ers expect to draft running back – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
What To Do With Jordan Mason in Dynasty Leagues?
Mason is a player to buy in dynasty leagues this summer. Jones is an aging running back at the end of his career. Mason showed great flashes when he was given the chance to start last season. The Vikings have an offensive-minded head coach, who will want to run the football with JJ McCarthy as the presumed starting quarterback. There is a chance that Mason is the better running back and takes over the starting role. Even if he does not, he should still see plenty of touches to be productive in fantasy. Mason is wort
h taking a shot on in dynasty leagues this offseason.
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