San Francisco 49ers superstar running back Christian McCaffrey was barely an afterthought in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2025, dropping 70 spots in the annual list of the top players in the league.
Christian McCaffrey tallied over 2,000 total yards and 21 touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. The elite playmaker earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and ranked third overall in NFL MVP voting. But a year later, the three-time first-team All-Pro was mostly forgotten by his peers.
McCaffrey's name was called earlier than expected as the NFL continued their countdown of the Top 100 Players of 2025. Just a year removed from earning the No. 3 overall slot on the NFL's list, CMC dropped 70 spots to No. 73 overall after missing most of the 2024 NFL regular season due to injury.
Recency bias is often difficult to overcome, but NFL players, coaches and analysts still consider a healthy McCaffrey one of the most elite running backs in the game.
Six months ago, McCaffrey told reporters he was nearly recovered from his leg injury and had intended to return if the 49ers made the playoffs. By all accounts—including from the running back himself—the offensive star is now fully healthy and ready to start 49ers' training camp with no limitations.
Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun revealed his admiration for the 49ers multi-purpose running back, stating frankly, "He gives me nightmares." Baun revealed a setback he experienced during his transition to the linebacker position at the hands of McCaffrey: "He messed me up multiple times."
Baun laughed while explaining, "After the game, I'm like, 'I don't know if I can do this ... I don't know if this is for me. Maybe I just gotta stick to special teams.'" The honest and humbling admission from one of the NFL's top off-ball linebackers clearly indicates the difference-maker McCaffrey can be out of the backfield.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@49ers RB Christian McCaffrey lands at No. 73! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/nlJQutKwhm
— NFL (@NFL) July 17, 2025
49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy also sang CMC's praises, referring to his running back as "Mr. Do It All." Purdy explained, "He's just the grittiest guy ... we've got on our team."
The Niners' QB focused on the variety of talents McCaffrey brings to the table, including his ability to "catch out of the backfield, line up at receiver and catch the ball, and then obviously run the ball, break tackles, spin off guys." Purdy concluded, "Everybody looks up to him with the passion that he plays with."
2024 was clearly the least productive season of Christian McCaffrey's eight-year career, as the former Carolina Panthers RB logged just 200 rushing yards over portions of four games while also failing to reach the end zone. CMC surprisingly missed San Francisco's first eight contests of the 2024 season and then struggled to regain his previous form after returning to action in Week 10.
Unfortunately, what initially appeared to be a breakout game in the snow against the Buffalo Bills, as McCaffrey tallied 67 yards and handled the ball nine times on 12 offensive snaps, quickly turned into a season-ending injury for the 49ers' star.
If McCaffrey is indeed back to 100 percent in 2025, his No. 73 ranking is destined to be the worst ranking in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2025.
But don't scratch your head too hard: When Pro Football Sports Network recently released their top-100 rankings, McCaffery didn't even make the cut.
What a difference a year makes.