Nobody questions the status of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey among NFL running backs. He's been in the elite category when healthy for most of his career.
But CMC's impact goes beyond what he does as a runner. He's the engine that makes Kyle Shanahan's offense go. The veteran back is dominant as a runner, a receiver, and a pass protector. He's truly one of the most unique players in football.
Ted Nguyen of The Athletic gave McCaffrey his flowers in a recent article. He listed the Niners' running back as one of the ten most versatile players in the NFL, echoing what fans in San Francisco already knew.
49ers' Christian McCaffrey is one of the NFL's most versatile players
McCaffrey might be the best wide-zone runner in the league. The play has been the bread and butter of Shanahan's offense in recent years, and CMC consistently makes the most of each opportunity. His dominance on the ground led to an output of over 1,200 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2025.
But the Niners' rushing efficiency took a significant dip last season, primarily due to poor blocking. McCaffrey averaged just 3.9 yards per carry, his lowest mark since he joined San Francisco.
So, the superstar running back found efficiency elsewhere. He put up one of the best seasons of his career as a receiver, hauling in 102 passes for 924 yards and seven touchdowns.
As Nguyen noted, "McCaffrey’s ability to run routes you wouldn’t normally see from a running back makes him a unicorn."
Shanahan built a large portion of his offense around McCaffrey's efficiency on choice routes, especially on third downs. It was a major part of why the team ranked first in the NFL in offensive success rate on late downs.
Few other backs in the league can be trusted as the primary receiving option, especially on late downs. As Nguyen said, "His consistency as a receiver, when plays were designed for him or when he was the checkdown, kept the offense on schedule."
With all of their injuries, the Niners' offense could have taken a major step back without McCaffrey's versatility.
The 30-year-old back is even a capable pass blocker. While he's typically running routes on pass plays, he has been one of the more efficient backs in the league in pass protection over the last two seasons.
There's truly nothing McCaffrey can't do. Even after nine years of his career, it's worth recognizing just how unique the 49ers' running back is.
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