Anyone who has watched football or played fantasy football over the last eight years is well aware that San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is one of the best football players on the planet. The 29-year-old superstar is practically an NFL offense unto himself, and this season, you could make the case that he's been near his apex.
To slow down Christian McCaffrey is a task that is much easier said than done, and Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans knows that all too well.
Ryans was on the 49ers staff when San Francisco traded 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th round draft picks for Christian McCaffrey midway through the 2022 season. McCaffrey's presence played a significant role in San Francisco making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game that season, and in the subsequent season, the Super Bowl.
Now, Ryans will be tasked with getting his defense ready for the duel-threat weapon this Sunday afternoon in what is a virtual must-win game for the 2-4 Texans.
"Christian McCaffrey is, by far, one of the best players in the NFL. What he's done in the game, I know for sure, he has the respect of every player that's played against him," DeMeco Ryans said this week, per Jared Koch of Sports Illustrated. "The game plan is: we have to have eyes for Christian McCaffrey, knowing that he's going to get a bulk of the touches because he's their top playmaker."
The issue for the Texans defense, which has been one of the best in the NFL so far this season, is that Kyle Shanahan can scheme up all different sorts of ways to get McCaffrey involved. Heading into Week 8, CMC is not only leading the NFL in carries, he's also third among all players -- wide receivers and tight ends included -- in receptions, and eighth in receiving yards. His 185 total touches are 31 more than Jonathan Taylor, who has the second-most this season.
"He's a tremendous athlete, physically gifted and talented player, in all respects. Not just running the football, but also as a receiving running back, he's one of the best that we've seen," Ryans added. "He helps any quarterback because he's a friendly target in the passing game. He has really great hands, catches the ball well, and he's also a really dynamic runner. He runs the ball tremendously hard... Just all-around, one of the smartest players I've been around."
Everything Ryans said here is accurate, and again, McCaffrey is being force-fed the rock at a rate he didn't even hit during his previous two seasons as a 1st Team All-Pro.
Year | Touches Per Game | Total Yards Per Game | Touchdowns Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 25.2 | 149.5 | 1.19 |
2023 | 21.2 | 126.4 | 1.31 |
2025 | 26.4 | 140.1 | 0.86 |
If there's a silver lining for the Texans defense, it's this... McCaffrey's effectiveness on the ground has been surprisingly subpar this season. Despite leading the NFL in rushing attempts, CMC doesn't crack the top ten in rushing yards this year. Unsurprisingly, the Texans defense has been stout against the run, limiting opposing ball-carriers to just 3.8 yards per rush, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. How Houston's defense holds up against McCaffrey in the passing game remains to be seen.