Niners Nation on Christian McCaffrey

Article49ers run game finds elusive balance in dominant Week 1 display
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McCaffrey was actually in the rare position of having fewer carries than the man behind him on the depth chart. Rookie Kaelon Black had 14 carries to McCaffrey's 10... McCaffrey had 68 yards on 10 carries, his average of 6.8 yards his best since his final game of that disrupted 2024 campaign.
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McCaffrey's workload cut to 10 carries improves efficiency to 6.8 YPC, best since 2024.

McCaffrey's workload is being intentionally reduced in 2026 to improve efficiency and sustainability at age 30. In Week 1 against the Rams, he had 10 carries (fewer than rookie Kaelon Black's 14) and 68 yards for 6.8 yards per carry—his best average since his final 2024 game (7.6 YPC vs Buffalo before injury). Kyle Shanahan confirmed the balanced approach was the plan, not just due to McCaffrey's cramps. The source notes McCaffrey's 311 carries in 2025 at just 3.9 YPC was unsustainable; sharing the load with Black is critical to avoiding the cliff running backs hit at age 30.

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