49ers focus on getting the most out of Christian McCaffrey in 2026, even after a “banner” 2025

Christian McCaffrey’s 2025 season checked most of the boxes for San Francisco’s offense. He handled a large share of touches and contributed heavily through scoring, a year that one preview of the 49ers’ priorities for 2026 characterizes as a “banner” for the running back. But the same look at what comes next points to a clear efficiency blemish: his rushing average fell to 3.9 yards per carry, the lowest number of his career span since 2020 with the Carolina Panthers, when he carried 59 times.

Because McCaffrey is both a run-game force and a weekly receiving threat, the 49ers’ task is less about whether he will be used and more about how. In 2026, maximizing him likely means protecting his value across the full playbook, not simply increasing touches. If the rushing component lags, the offense can still function through targets in space and short-area routes, but the overall offense tends to lose some leverage when runs are consistently yielding below-average gains.

The yardage drop matters because it affects how defenses can play the next snap. A running back producing at or below his typical level can push defenses toward a tighter box or more committed run fits, knowing the offense will still look to him for work. Even when the touches keep coming, lower per-carry gains can make late-game drives harder by shortening how often the offense can turn a run into a sustainable series. That is why the efficiency problem highlighted for McCaffrey in 2025 becomes a storyline for the 49ers as they think about 2026 offensive rhythm.

The same 2020 comparison included in the discussion adds context. In that season with Carolina, McCaffrey’s 3.9 yards per rush aligned with a relatively low volume of carries by his standards, a reminder that efficiency and workload do not always move in lockstep. The 49ers, who already built their offense around his versatility, have to balance the desire to keep him active with the need to ensure the carries he does take are set up for success. That can come from designing runs with clearer angles, pairing run calls with pass concepts that influence leverage, and making sure touches do not arrive in predictable patterns.

Maximizing a player like McCaffrey also involves usage sequencing. A back who racks up targets in the passing game can hold value even if the early downs are not producing; however, consistently low rushing averages can lead to fewer second-half third-and-short opportunities or fewer open-field run looks if defenses stay aggressive. If the 49ers want his touches to translate into longer conversions on offense, 2026 planning would likely emphasize getting him the ball in situations where his burst is more likely to show up, while continuing to leverage his receiving to keep defenses from stacking eight men into the run lanes.

There is also a practical component to workload management. The preview frames 2025 as a season where McCaffrey carried the ball and scored as part of a large-volume role. In that context, the next step is ensuring the role stays productive even when the line between a “successful” run and a “stalled” run becomes thin. For an offense built around one player’s touches, that usually means being more selective about when a heavy run series is called, and more comfortable shifting a portion of the plan into routes and screens that match the matchups.

What to watch next for San Francisco is whether the 49ers’ game plan in 2026 reflects the central message: keep McCaffrey heavily involved, but treat 2025’s rushing average as something to solve. If the team can recover yards per rush while maintaining the same level of involvement, the offense gains a two-way threat, one that forces defenses to prepare for both the next run and the next pass play. If the rushing number remains stuck, the offense can still be effective, but it will likely require sharper play design to avoid defenses that can play the run with confidence.