The 49ers will go into 2023 in an unfamiliar position. They’ll enter the year with a superstar at running back. Christian McCaffrey was ranked as the No. 2 RB in the NFL in a survey conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. McCaffrey headlines a 49ers RB room that should be the NFL’s best with even a little bit of luck.
Fowler surveyed a group of NFL coaches, executives and scouts to get their rankings of the league’s running backs. Browns RB Nick Chubb landed the No. 1 spot. McCaffrey was there one-spot behind him thanks to his versatility. Via Fowler:
“He’s one of the most versatile offensive players in the league,” an AFC executive said of McCaffrey. “He can be used on perimeter runs, interior runs, out of the backfield, split out. He’s in tremendous shape and has size, strength and speed. Injuries have taken him off the field, but when he’s healthy, he is still a game-changer and a guy that needs to be accounted for at all times.”
McCaffrey played all 17 games last year, and as long as he’s on the field the 49ers offense is going to lean on that versatility to maximize him as a playmaker. His impact last season after arriving in Week 7 was substantial, and regardless of what happens down the depth chart the 49ers are in a good place in the backfield.
However, it could be really hard to stop the 49ers’ offense if they can find a steady presence behind McCaffrey. They have plenty of options.
Elijah Mitchell has dealt with some health issues that limited him to only 16 games his first two years. He’s been very good when on the field though, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, including a career-best 6.2 last season. Mitchell is a capable runner both between the tackles and outside. His big-play ability could be key for the 49ers closing out games against tired defenses.
If Mitchell can’t stay on the field though, one of Jordan Mason or Tyrion Davis-Price could easily emerge as a good secondary threat behind McCaffrey.
Davis-Price was a third-round pick from LSU last year who specialized in punishing defenses early in games, then using his surprising speed and explosiveness to churn out big runs late in games. It’s easy to see how that could translate in the NFL. Davis-Price’s productivity and opportunities were limited last year, but he’s a talented player still looking to carve out a role and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he makes an impact in his second year.
Mason was the more successful of the two 2022 rookies. He was undrafted out of Georgia Tech, and averaged 6.0 yards per carry on 43 attempts. He showed a ton of explosiveness and a hard-nosed running style that might be hard to keep on the sidelines regardless of what the other RBs are doing.
In a typical year the 49ers would have players like Mason, Davis-Price and Mitchell on the depth chart, hoping they could keep players healthy and piece together a committee.
This year they’re piecing together a depth chart behind one of the very best running backs in the NFL.
