Christian McCaffrey’s injury history has come back into the spotlight after a disappointing 2024 season, and it’s starting to affect how NFL insiders view him.
The San Francisco 49ers star running back, once seen as the gold standard at his position, has slipped in ESPN’s annual positional rankings. According to a report from Jeremy Fowler, McCaffrey dropped from No. 1 to No. 5 among NFL running backs heading into the 2025 season. The vote was based on input from coaches, scouts, and executives across the league.
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The reason? Durability.
McCaffrey missed 13 games last year, sidelined early with Achilles tendinitis and then again late in the season with a PCL sprain. It was a frustrating year for a player who had just led the league in both scrimmage yards and touchdowns the season before.
An anonymous team executive explained the slide: “He’s a great player, but he’s always had durability issues, even back in college. He trains hard, takes care of his body, but he’s not built to take hits forever. Eventually he’ll lose a step.”
Can McCaffrey bounce back at this stage of his career?
As McCaffrey approaches his 30th birthday, the questions about his longevity are starting to mount. The 49ers are still in win-now mode, and their offense has leaned heavily on McCaffrey when he’s been healthy. He’s topped 1,000 rushing yards in every season where he’s played at least 16 games, and in 2023, he put up 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns.
But those types of numbers can be hard to repeat, especially with his recent string of injuries. The wear and tear on running backs adds up fast, and even elite performers like McCaffrey aren’t immune.
Not everyone has written him off, though. One NFC scout told Fowler, “He’s still the prototype, he can do everything. When he’s on the field, he’s the best player out there.”
That might be true, but the keyword is “when.” With younger running backs like Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, and Jahmyr Gibbs emerging across the league, McCaffrey is no longer the unanimous top dog.
The 49ers still consider him a cornerstone of their offense, but how long that remains the case depends on his ability to stay healthy this fall. With another deep playoff run expected, San Francisco needs McCaffrey on the field, not in street clothes on the sideline.
For now, McCaffrey remains one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in football. But the expectations have shifted. His place in the NFL’s top five running backs may still be secure, just not at the top anymore.
Whether this drop in ranking lights a fire or signals the start of a gradual decline will be one of the key storylines to watch in 2025.
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