With the conclusion of Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, the 2024 offseason is officially underway. Teams continue to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft while shuffling front office and coaching personnel. Meanwhile, social media accounts, with a pause regarding on-field action, are finding different ways to make headlines and push NFL content. Top ten lists remain a hot off-season vertical for most, including FanDuel, which released their top ten running backs of the 21st century on Friday. Among those to grace the elusive list is current 49ers megastar Christian McCaffrey.
Did we miss anyone? 🤔
The Top 10 RBs since 2000 👇 pic.twitter.com/j2LCqnXzei
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 16, 2024
The only active running back on the list outside McCaffrey is Tennessee Titans rusher Derrick Henry, who slots in at the third spot. Henry shined from 2019 to 2020, leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in both seasons. His 2020 season (2,000 yards rushing, 17 scores) remains among the finest seasons in recent memory.
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey: Ranks Eight Among Running Backs Since 2000
Unsurprisingly, Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson holds the top spot on FanDuel’s list of top ten backs circa 2000. He led the league in rushing touchdowns thrice, including setting a new NFL record with 28 in 2006. Future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson is the second-best back since 2000, but the rest seem more subjective. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey’s inclusion in the top ten seems reasonable, given he has led the league twice in scrimmage yards and touchdowns.
However, recency bias could have influenced McCaffrey’s placing over the two rushers behind him on FanDuel’s list, Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch. Gore never made a first-team All-Pro or led the NFL in any major rushing category, but he played 15 years in the league, rushing for 16,000 yards, the third most in NFL history and more than double CMC’s current total. Meanwhile, Lynch led the NFL in rushing touchdowns from 2013 to 2014 while posting monster numbers in the postseason. The former Seattle Seahawks legend averaged nearly 75 rushing yards and a score in 13 postseason games while helping Seattle win a Super Bowl.
NFL fans also argued for including Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, and Jamaal Charles. Although brief, Chris Johnson’s prime included three Pro Bowls and a 2,000-yard rushing campaign. Jackson carried a poor St. Louis Rams team for nearly a decade while the other Johnson, Larry, posted monster seasons with the Chiefs. However, the biggest snub remains Charles. The Texas product and two-time first-team All-Pro had at least 1,700 scrimmage yards in three seasons.
Christian McCaffrey: Fresh off Amazing 2023 Season
McCaffrey’s slot on FanDuel’s top ten backs since 2000 undoubtedly benefited from a monster 2023 season. The former first-round pick led the NFL in rushing yards (1,459), scrimmage yards (2,023), and touchdowns (21) while winning AP Offensive Player of the Year and earning first-team All-Pro honors. He also finished third in MVP voting. McCaffrey had at least 100 scrimmage yards or a touchdown in every game but one, when he posted 91 yards and no scores on 18 touches in a win over the Washington Commanders.
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!