Ranking each place within the NFL has develop into a preferred pattern with coaching camp kicking off for groups.
Pro Football Focus is the most recent to join the ranking craze. They not too long ago revealed their rankings for all 32 beginning operating backs within the league. To no shock, Christian McCaffrey landed a prime spot.
He absolutely received’t be the final participant on the San Francisco 49ers to earn one both. Pro Football Focus positioned McCaffrey because the No. 4 operating again of their rankings. It’s a becoming spot for him.
“McCaffrey is the gold standard when it comes to receiving ability at the running back position. He led all backs with 924 receiving yards in 2025, the fourth time he’s paced the league in that statistic across his nine-year career,” PFF wrote.
“McCaffrey’s 5,390 career receiving yards are already sixth all time at the position. He’s no slouch when it comes to running the ball, either. In 2025, McCaffrey was seventh in the NFL with 859 yards after contact while running for over 1,000 yards for the fifth time in his career.”
The situation with McCaffrey’s rating
It’s simple that McCaffrey is a prime 5 operating again within the NFL. However, there’s a serious situation along with his rating. It has nothing to do along with his spot, however with who’s forward of him.
Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are the first- and second-ranked backs. Those two being in entrance of McCaffrey is ok. What’s not positive is that Derrick Henry is forward of McCaffrey.
Pro Football Focus positioned Henry because the No. 3 operating again. How on earth does that make sense? Henry is a good participant, however final 12 months was a transparent signal that he’s coming into a decline.
He wasn’t ripping off as many huge runs and struggled to maintain the soccer. Meanwhile, McCaffrey was a workhorse for the 49ers and can also be an elite receiver out of the backfield.
A dual-threat operating again, even throughout Henry’s peak years, will at all times be the higher participant. So, for Pro Football Focus to have Henry one spot larger than McCaffrey of their rating, particularly after 2025, is prison.
I implore Pro Football Focus to reassess this rating. Under no circumstance is Henry a greater operating again than McCaffrey. Henry doesn’t even maintain a candle to McCaffrey’s significance to his workforce’s success.
It simply blows my thoughts that Henry is over McCaffrey, and that he’s No. 3 normally. I wouldn’t take him over James Cook, however what do I do know?
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