Giants bracing for possible Christian McCaffrey breakout game
It was not too long ago that Christian McCaffrey was considered the gold standard at running back in the NFL, and with that came another designation: highest-paid player at his position in league history.
That was back in 2020 and McCaffrey has since been supplanted by Saquon Barkley as the top earner among running backs. This season, neither player is in the top 10 in rushing. Barkley is 11th, with 519 yards, and McCaffrey is 13th, with 490 yards.
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Last week, Barkley broke out with a season-high 150 yards on the Giants, dropping the Giants to 30th in the league in run defense, allowing 148.9 yards per game.
Up next, could McCaffrey similarly get a boost when the 49ers face that same Giants defense Sunday at MetLife Stadium?
“He can do it all,’’ Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. “They got a really good scheme. He can run outside, he’s got speed. He can run downhill and find creases. He can jump-cut, great vision. Obviously, what he can do out of the backfield is an issue, creating matchups that way for him, getting him the ball in space, let him do his thing. So, they use him a lot of different ways and he’s very effective at all of them.’’
McCaffrey presents a greater threat as a pass catcher, leading all running backs with 56 receptions.
His yards-per-rush average of 3.5 yards is the lowest among the top 35 rushers in the NFL this season. Of course, Barkley averaged a ridiculous 10.7 yards on the Giants last week.
“It was probably one of our worst tackling games,’’ Bowen said. “Just making sure we’re defined in where we’re at in terms of gap control. Not lying to the guys behind us, it gets a little gray, then it gets a little loose. And then good backs find it, and they exploit it.’’
Lying to the guys behind us?
“Yeah, I think just making sure my hat is where it’s supposed to be,’’ Bowen said. “Because you have the second level, you have the third-level guys, and you start getting nosy. You start playing peekaboo a little bit in there, like I’m going to show up and then the guy doesn’t really know how to fit off and then it just gets a little bit loose.’’
49ers head coach Mike Shanahan revealed he was interested in selecting RB Cam Skattebo on Day 2 (second and third round) of the NFL draft. Skattebo went in the fourth round to the Giants, made a big impact and is now out for the season following surgery to repair a dislocated ankle.
“We loved him,’’ Shanahan said. “He was awesome.’’
WR Ray-Ray McCloud was elevated from the practice squad Saturday to make his Giants debut. The well-traveled McCloud, 29, was signed Oct. 23. He had the most productive of his seven NFL seasons in 2024, with 62 receptions for the Falcons. LB Zaire Barnes was also activated from the practice squad. CB Rico Payton was activated off injured reserve and CB Art Green was placed on IR
The 49ers have just nine sacks this season on defense and only the Jaguars, with eight, have fewer. The Niners’ sack leaders, Bryce Huff (four) and Nick Bosa (two) are injured and will not play against the Giants.
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