The San Francisco 49ers now seem to understand how important it is to keep Christian McCaffrey as fresh as possible. McCaffrey stayed healthy throughout 2025, which felt miraculous after how much he battled injuries in 2024, and as a result, he thoroughly deserved Comeback Player of the Year honors that came his way. But it’s simply not sustainable to give him even more reps than he already handled in 2025. In 2023, McCaffrey had 272 carries and 67 receptions for 1,459 rushing yards and 564 receiving yards, compared to 311 carries and 102 receptions for 1,202 rushing yards and 924 receiving yards in 2025. While he showcased his versatility as a receiver, his explosiveness as a runner declined, with his average yards per carry dropping from 5.4 to 3.9. Feb 1, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey during NFC practice at the Flag Fieldhouse Moscone Center South Building.…