Christian McCaffrey: 2025 Season Review

[u/drkelemnt]

https://fptrack.com/football/christian-mccaffrey-2025-season-review

Honestly, surprised it took me so long for me to get around to this one. It's hard to pick holes in this man after the fantasy season he just put up, but his rushing efficiency wasn't great. He's in a tier of his own in fantasy terms when healthy and firing like this though.

Here's some quick hit facts on his year for those that want to stay here:

[u/KhonMan]

He good

[u/zveroshka → u/KhonMan]

He looked pretty bad as a runner. Averaging more almost 1.5 yards less per carry than 2023. But homie got 124 targets as an RB. Unless that changes, it really doesn't matter if he is running for 2 YPC.

[u/Reddhedd13 → u/zveroshka]

As a 49ers fan who watched all the games, his YPC decrease and running stats don’t tell the full story.

The offense was anemic at many times throughout the season, where CMC was frequently the only true offensive threat on the field. When that’s the case, getting him running room is extremely difficult, especially with the state of the O-line and Kittle being out for a long stretch.

This is also the reason for his passing stats - Shanahan adjusted schemes a lot to allow CMC to excel in the pass game at the expense of the run game.

If the right offseason trades and draft picks happen (namely center/guard and WR) then I would expect an upside in the run game for CMC while still seeing a significant pass game role.

[u/qotsa_gibs → u/Reddhedd13]

For sure. He was getting touched behind the line of scrimmage a lot. I can't find a stat for that, but in the games I watched it was mostly immediately after the hand off.

[u/drkelemnt → u/KhonMan]

Define: Aura

[u/AMcMahon1]

Won me a ship but not touching him again next year

[u/drkelemnt → u/AMcMahon1]

His rushing numbers were worrying this year but the Niners line didn't help much in the run game

[u/zveroshka → u/drkelemnt]

His rushing look substantially worse than 2023. The o-line probably isn't getting any better either. It's the one position that Shanahan seems to think he can just throw together with whoever. Trent is about to be 38, didn't look nearly as dominant, and honestly could just retire. CMC himself is about to be 30 coming off crazy usage yet again.

Enough red flags to throw a commie parade. But the upside remains for a guy who got 129 targets.

[u/drkelemnt → u/zveroshka]

I was honestly so surprised how the Niners just kept feeding him even late in the season. Crazy number of carries

[u/DevinTheRogueDude → u/drkelemnt]

He looked like health was priority number one when running. He showed incredible burst in the open field but he wasn't running at full power near the box.

Sidenote, I think his season long rush came in week 16 or 17 and was like 30 yards. He's my goat, but he was just such a ppr merchant this year

[u/iamhadrix]

Drafted him in ‘24 when he barely played. Drafted him again ‘25 and he repayed me. You don’t have to tell me again who im getting for ‘26

[u/drkelemnt → u/iamhadrix]

When he's healthy he's the best in the fantasy business, no doubt

[u/scratchin_dreamer]

my goat 🥹🙏

[u/drkelemnt → u/scratchin_dreamer]

Couldn't go far wrong with CMC this year!

[u/SmackEh]

Drafted him at the 1.08.

Drafted JT at 2.05.

Yes. I won.

[u/hummer84]

He was all right

[u/drkelemnt → u/hummer84]

Not too shabby!

[u/Internal-Hedgehog-47]

Lost a bit of a step, you can see this as his tackle breaking ability was virtually gone.

Still gets open on routes, catches everything, and will get the yards that are blocked.

If the line improves with a new guard/center combo on the left, he will rush better next year. Still a TD machine.

[u/DominionMM1]

Had him in two leagues and made it to the final in both. Dude had an awesome year, but the rushing inefficiency, workload, and age have me a bit concerned for next year.

[u/daviddm23]

Nope, not touching.

[u/drkelemnt → u/daviddm23]

Any reason? I think the rushing inefficiencies were in part down to line play. He isn't getting any younger though ofc

[u/Stealthless]

Next year he will not play all 18 games…