The NFL MVP Award has been owned by quarterbacks for a decade now, but Christian McCaffrey is making a case to break that trend in 2023
On Sunday, Christian McCaffrey put on a show like no other. The do-it-all running back ran for 115 yards and one score on the ground while adding 72 yards receiving and two more scores via air mail against the Arizona Cardinals. The ultimate weapon in the NFL, one almost senses that McCaffrey was putting on an MVP performance as his team crushed The Big Red, 45-29.
Heading into the Niners’ Christmas Day battle with AFC powerhouse Baltimore (11-3), McCaffrey is currently on pace for 2200 total yards from scrimmage, including over 700 yards receiving, and 24 total touchdowns on the season. He’s the motor on an electric offense that features names like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brando Aiyuk. He also shares a lot of the spotlight with emerging QB and feelgood story Brock Purdy. Still, his performance stands above them all.
It also stands above just about any other skill player in the NFL right now, except for maybe Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill. The speedster was on his way to setting a handful of receiving records this season but missed Sunday’s game due to injury. What kind of numbers he puts up the rest of the way will likely be determined by how cautious the coaching staff wants to be with him heading into the playoffs.
On the other hand, McCaffrey has performed at a high level in nearly every game. His only ‘down’ performance came in Week 6 against Cleveland – a contest that he exited early due to injury.
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It’s been that kind of performance for the second-generation star all year, and he’s touching a stratosphere that the greatest running backs of all time have reached. And just like those same great ball carriers? Christian McCaffrey will probably never be rewarded as an MVP. Not now – not in the NFL.
That’s because the National Football League is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the ‘QB Club.’ It’s a very select society, made up of the most elite passers in the game. They are the ones who own the glory. For it is their birthright.
And no one better put their grubby mitts near that MVP trophy… unless they’ve been nestled comfortably under a center’s crotch all season.
Running backs and wide receivers need not apply for the title of Most Valuable Player. And defensive guys? Please. You could rack up 50 sacks a season and the most we’re going to hand you is a trophy that looks like you could use it as a digital antenna on your television.
In reality, Christian McCaffrey’s performance stands out less for the overall numbers as much as he’s doing it on a high level for a great team that’s loaded with stars. Even with all that firepower? He’s their go-to guy in the clutch. And all the padded, 400-yard passing games in the world don’t make up for that X-factor.
Between the highlight reel moves, the in-between-the-tackles toughness, and eye-popping stats, you can make the case that Christian McCaffrey should break the streak of quarterbacks having a stranglehold on the MVP Award.
That will be a hard sell, however, because players like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and (lately) Dak Prescott have all performed well enough to be considered frontrunners, and they are going to be in the thick of the action the rest of the way. Each plays on a contender, and they handle the ball the most. So, they’ll have significantly more opportunities to create those ‘signature moments’ that stick in voter’s minds.
Still, it’s not inconceivable to think that Christian McCaffrey could be the first running back to win the NFL MVP Award since the Minnesota Vikings‘ Adrian Peterson in 2012. One of the best players of his generation, all AP had to do to grab the trophy was run for 2,097 yards that year.
Many analysts and observers around the game have started to make the argument for CMC’s candidacy recently. And for good reason. He currently leads the NFL in carries (244), rushing yards (1292), and is third in TDs with 13. Add in his seven touchdowns receiving and suddenly he becomes the Swiss Army knife of San Francisco’s spread offense.
With a couple more big games, McCaffrey could amazingly seal the deal. Provided he doesn’t get hurt, he’s going to end up scoring around two dozen touchdowns. He plays on a dominant team from a storied franchise that he seems destined to lead to a Super Bowl. He’s also re-defining his position – even if that position just happens to be running back.
Where Christian McCaffrey happens to line up on the field should be irrelevant. He proved that once again on Sunday. At the end of it all, he’s still the best player on what might be the best team in football.
If that’s not valuable then what is?
Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman
