So far, what McCaffrey has seen from Evans has been exactly to his liking. “It’s been awesome,” McCaffrey said, before adding, “He’s such a presence. You see him in the huddle, he’s got every attribute you would want in a receiver and it’s definitely not a shock when you see it live in person why he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It’s cool to have him a part of our team.“

McCaffrey isn’t the only offensive star welcoming the new weapon; tight end George Kittle also recently mentioned how impressed he was with the wideout. It is more than obvious that a receiver of his caliber can quickly turn heads, especially given his status as a 12-year NFL veteran.

McCaffrey glad to have Evans on the 49ers’ side

McCaffrey, who is a seasoned veteran himself, knows exactly what Evans brings to the table, and having that production on the 49ers‘ offense provides a major sense of security. “He’s been somebody, just being in Carolina, I had to go against a lot and was just a nightmare,” McCaffrey noted.

Throughout his career, Evans has put together an elite highlight reel of tough catches from multiple quarterbacks. Pairing up with a young signal-caller like Brock Purdy, who has recently been praised by Alex Smith for his poise and vision, should make for a seamless transition as they look to challenge opposing secondaries.

While McCaffrey won’t be the one throwing the ball to Evans, both players understand what it takes to execute Kyle Shanahan’s complex playbook. McCaffrey specifically highlighted that the former Buccaneers star impacts the game in more ways than one, stating, “Not just in the pass game, in the run game, too. So, having him on our side, it’s great.”

Speaking directly with Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the All-Pro expressed a clear perspective on the situation. “Look, nobody ever wants to hear that you’re going to get the ball less. No coach has ever planned how many touches I get. I’ve never had that conversation with any one of my coaches that we want to give you this many touches,” McCaffrey stated.

He continued by comparing his specific 49ers role to other sports: “That’s like telling a 3-point shooter that we only want you to shoot five 3s this game. You just don’t do that… It’s probably a load management thing for them more than anything, but my job is not to focus on that at all“.

Why the 49ers heavily rely on McCaffrey

The superstar concluded by emphasizing his unwavering commitment to team head coach Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling choices. “It’s just to be ready for 10 touches or 35, whatever the game calls for. So when Shanahan says that stuff I don’t get mad at all. I don’t get mad or sad or whatever. I just train and prepare to have 35 touches a game and not come out”.

The 49ers depend immensely on McCaffrey’s multi-dimensional talent to keep their complex offensive system firing on all cylinders. If the coaching staff severely limits a dynamic veteran of his caliber, the entire offense could suffer a major drop in efficiency.

During the 2025 campaign, McCaffrey dominated the league by racking up 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 311 carries, while adding 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven scores. These numbers prove that San Francisco definitely needs him on the field to sustain a true championship run.

In March, the Jets informed Breece Hall that they planned to use the $14.293 million franchise tag on him for 2026. Two months later, the club reconsidered and offered him a long-term extension instead.

On Friday, the Jets signed Hall to a three-year, $45.75 million extension. This deal will pay him an average annual salary of $15.25 million, placing him behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey on the list of the league’s highest-paid running backs.

How Breece Hall’s extension resets the RB market

A few weeks ago, Breece Hall spoke out about the Jets placing the franchise tag on him. Today, his words seem to have had an impact, as the club decided to give him the extension he was desperately seeking.

Hall is an outstanding running back, yet many believe this extension exceeds what he was expected to earn. He is now a top-three highest-paid running back, which sets high expectations for his performance with the Jets.

This extension is set to have a ripple effect across the league. Jonathan Taylor of the Colts is entering the final year of the three-year extension he signed in 2023; with Hall’s new deal, he has a new standard to aim for in his next contract.

The Jets have a solid offense for 2026

By securing Breece Hall for 2026 and beyond, the Jets’ outlook looks promising. They have Geno Smith as QB1, and the pieces surrounding the veteran indicate that New York could be a dark horse this season.

• QB: Geno Smith
• RB: Breece Hall
• WR1: Garrett Wilson
• WR2: Omar Cooper Jr.
• WR3: AD Mitchell
• TE1: Kenyon Sadiq
• TE2: Mason Taylor

After interviewing Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Dolphins will interview Chargers DC Jesse Minter and 49ers DC Robert Saleh. All this comes to light after Dolphins’ possible target, John Harbaugh, signed with the Giants.

The Dolphins already had interviews with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak. Hence, this marks a change of focus now, where the Dolphins went from offensive-minded coaches to now going the other route with defensive coordinators.

Robert Saleh has made his name relevant again

After getting unceremoniously fired by the New York Jets, Robert Saleh’s future as a head coach in the NFL looked cloudy. However, his work as the 49ers DC has been so great, that within a year, he is back in the radar for many teams.

Not only that, but Saleh has done a magnificent job without the team’s two best defensive players. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner have missed most of the year and Saleh has made this defense a situationally great unit regardless. If he lands a head coaching job, whether it’s with the Dolphins or elsewhere, he is on redemption time.

Jesse Minter is also an intriguing name

Minter, who serves as Justin Herbert‘s Chargers DC, has been an interim HC once in his career, albeit at the collegiate level. However, his job with the Chargers is too good to ignore.

It’s the same with Saleh, as Christian McCaffrey had the 49ers offense rolling. The difference is that Minter is seeking his first head coaching job in the NFL, so he has all to prove, but also the responsibility to create credibility around his name.

Last week, McCaffrey rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown, his best performance so far in the 2025 season. In Week 18, he will have a chance to become the first player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

McCaffrey needs 110 receiving yards to add to the 890 receiving yards he already has entering Week 18. Reaching that mark would give him a rare and highly coveted record. This season, he has posted four games with more than 100 total yards, a key factor in the 49ers’ success.

McCaffrey against the Seahawks this season

It is worth noting that McCaffrey already faced the Seahawks earlier in the 2025 season. That came in Week 1, and while it was not his strongest outing, he still finished with 69 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards, a performance that still ranks among his top 10 games of the season.

The 49ers won that Week 1 matchup, and McCaffrey showed he was healthier than ever after leaving behind a 2024 season plagued by injuries, one in which he appeared in only four games as San Francisco struggled without him and several other key players.

Overall, McCaffrey holds eight NFL records, many as a running back but some as a receiver as well. He is the fourth player in league history to reach 7,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards in a career, a milestone that continues to grow. Interestingly, only two of his records have come with the 49ers: most consecutive games with a touchdown, at 17, and most rushing touchdowns in a single season, with 14.

That concern was evident during Macdonald’s recent press conference, when he was asked how the Seahawks plan to stop McCaffrey. The Seahawks head coach paused for several seconds before responding, struggling to put into words just how complex the challenge is when the All-Pro running back is on the field.

“All the plays. Terrible answer, but it’s by situation,” Macdonald said, via 95.7 The Game. “Who do you have on the field, who do they have on the field, where’s the ball, are you trying to attack, are you trying to hedge. But he’s definitely someone you have to account for at all times. They do a great job of moving him around.”

Macdonald added that McCaffrey’s ability to impact the game in multiple ways forces defenses to prepare for everything. The 49ers use him as a runner, receiver, and decoy, making him one of the most difficult players to game-plan against in the NFL.

Despite dealing with a back injury earlier in the week, McCaffrey is cleared to play in the regular-season finale. He enters Week 18 with 17 total touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage, reaching that mark for the third time in his career and once again anchoring the 49ers offense.

The importance of Week 18 vs the Seahawks for the 49ers

The final week of the regular season is crucial across the league, and for the 49ers, it carries added significance as they pursue the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Securing that position could be decisive for a team widely viewed as a Super Bowl contender.

General manager John Lynch addressed the importance of the matchup during an appearance on 49ers Game Plan, emphasizing the value of a first-round bye and home-field advantage. “What the No. 1 seed gets you, two things. First, you get your bye week, so you’re one step closer to the ultimate goal,” Lynch said. “You play one less game.”

Lynch also highlighted the impact of playing postseason games at Levi’s Stadium, noting that the 49ers have thrived at home in January. San Francisco is 6-0 in playoff games at Levi’s and has reached the Super Bowl each of the last two times it earned the NFC’s top seed, reinforcing just how much is on the line in Week 18.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, McCaffrey is officially active against the Titans. McCaffrey’s late add to the injury report was due to a back issue, but it seems it won’t deter him from playing.

McCaffrey is crucial for this team. The whole offense moves around him. McCaffrey has 849 rushing yards, 806 receiving yards and a total of 13 touchdowns this season. He is as deadly as a weapon can be in the NFL.

If McCaffrey is limited, who’s next?

If McCaffrey is limited or suffers another setback, Brian Robinson Jr. is the next man up on the depth chart. Robinson has a similar skillset to McCaffrey in the fact that he is also a dual-threat running back, albeit much less effective to what CMC produces. Robinson is a very good back, but McCaffrey is simply elite.

Robinson arrived this season to the team after being on the Commanders. He has played a secondary role to McCaffrey, but when called upon, he has delivered. Robinson has 328 yards and two touchdowns this year.

Shanahan loves himself a good running game

Famous for making pretty much anyone a decent-to-good back, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan knows a good running game is key to win games and control the clock. Hence, it’s in his best interest to always have a solid running game.

Statistically, the 49ers have the 25th-ranked rushing offense, but McCaffrey is able to provide enough damage anyway. Against the Titans, it’s key for the Niners to make long drives and rely on McCaffrey’s production to not even sweat a must-win game.

Christian McCaffrey echoed that energy, saying Purdy stepped back onto the field like he’d never been gone. “He was vintage Brock. That’s a huge compliment,” McCaffrey said, pointing to the poise and precision Purdy brought to the 41–22 win. “To miss games like that and come back in the middle of the year is extremely impressive.”

Both stars made it clear: Purdy’s return changed the tone of the locker room and the confidence of the offense. Between his “infectious joy” and his “vintage” decision-making, the 49ers felt their rhythm return instantly. And based on what unfolded in Arizona, their belief in him was more than justified.

Purdy, Shanahan react after statement win

Purdy himself admitted the moment meant more than just another Sunday. “I would just say a lot of excitement,” he said after throwing for 200 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and taking just one sack. Returning in his home state made it even more emotional: “My comeback is here, where I grew up in Arizona, which is special.”

He emphasized that the performance wasn’t about individual numbers, even though his efficiency told the story of the night. “All that mattered was playing together as a team and getting the dub,” Purdy said, proud of how the offense executed from start to finish. The 49ers moved to 7–4 overall and 5–2 on the road with the win.

Kyle Shanahan didn’t compare Purdy to anyone else, because he didn’t feel he needed to. “You just have to look at his numbers and stuff throughout his career. Not many people have done it better than him,” Shanahan said. He highlighted Purdy’s consistency: “He’s been as efficient as anyone and made as many big plays as anyone.”

McCaffrey delivered more than 200 total yards and two touchdowns, earning high praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan. “He’s the most consistent player I’ve been around,” Shanahan said. It was yet another example of McCaffrey’s steady brilliance as he powered the 49ers offense despite missing key teammates.

McCaffrey rushed for 109 yards, his first 100-yard game in 1,009 days, and added over 70 receiving yards, becoming the only player in the Super Bowl era to lead both teams in rushing and receiving yards while scoring more points than the entire opposing team.

“I’m so proud of these guys, man. God is good,” McCaffrey said. “We’ve had so many things happen on this team, and just the will and character of this team makes it a really fun one to be a part of.”

Respect between rivals

After the win, McCaffrey took time to highlight another running back, Falcons star Bijan Robinson. “I’ve got the utmost respect for him,” McCaffrey said. “Lucky enough to train with him a little this summer. There’s a reason why he is who he is.” The exchange between the two players reflected mutual admiration more than competition.

McCaffrey even left Robinson a personal note after the game, signing his jersey with the message, “You’re the best in the game.” “The inspiration he gives me, the way he pushed me this whole offseason, and just getting to know him not only as a player but as a guy, I don’t have enough good things to say about him,” McCaffrey added.

Leadership, legacy, and the 49ers’ culture

Beyond the stats and milestones, McCaffrey emphasized the culture that keeps the 49ers steady through injuries and setbacks. “You got guys like Bosa and Fred who go down, and George has been out,” he said.

As one of the last three players off the field alongside Trent Williams and Tatum Bethune, McCaffrey’s actions matched his words. His dominance, highlighted by seven explosive runs and +44 rushing yards over expected, is only part of the story.

Bijan Robinson is now one of the NFL‘s biggest surging stars. His play as the Atlanta Falcons running back has been incredible, and now he has revealed which players help him become the player he is now, including Christian McCaffrey.

Bijan Robinson spoke with Rodney Harrison and started going old school with Thurman Thomas. Robinson spoke about the smoothness of Thomas and how he liked his movements.

Robinson also stated LaDainian Tomlinson is his favorite running back of all time. He praised how LT managed to go through contact. Bijan also gets inspiration from Barry Sanders and how he modeled his cuts by watching Sanders’ highlights.

McCaffrey is the modern running back Bijan gets inspiration from

McCaffrey is one of the best dual-threat backs of all time. Robinson is becoming that as well. Bijan admires how McCaffrey runs crisp routes and how he is very reliable for his quarterbacks. That’s something Robinson wants to communicate with his play as well.

Robinson will try to emulate the double production CMC is used to provide. However, Robinson has managed to stay healthy this far into his career. If he can continue to deliver without missing time, Robinson could easily become the best back in the NFL.

How is Robinson playing?

Awesome. And if you look at the stats, ‘awesome‘ might be an understatement. Robinson leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 822 and only five games played. This is an absolutely absurd stat. He averages 164.4 scrimmage yards per game.

He also has three touchdowns and has been the constant threat on the Falcons. Sometimes he will be a part of a great unit, but when that unit is dimming, he keeps shining. Robinson is one to watch for the future.

The game will feature a can’t-miss duel between two special running backs, Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey. While McCaffrey is trying to return to his best version, Robinson has emerged as one of the top players in his position.

Whoever dominates this duel will give their team an advantage. McCaffrey is aware that Robinson is a real threat, and the 49ers should be ready to attack him with everything.

Christian McCaffrey heaps high praise on Bijan Robinson

On Wednesday, McCaffrey shared his opinion on Robinson. The 49ers stars showered the Falcons leader with good words.

“It’s amazing, man. You know, I think when you see it in person, you realize why he is who he is,” McCaffrey said. “I hope so (Robinson has some of his game). That’s a huge compliment. You know, I watch him move, watch him make a lot of these plays and you know it’s inspiring. So he’s definitely somebody that when you watch him play, you know, any chance you get, you can try to emulate some of the stuff he does.”

McCaffrey and Robinson worked out together in the offseason. McCaffrey saw what Robinson brings to the table firsthand and knew the Niners would be in for a busy day trying to stop Robinson.