Christian McCaffrey transformed the 49ers' offense following his midseason arrival in a trade last year. His impact was not enough to see him listed as the NFL's top running back, but it may be tough to keep him out of that spot if he claims a piece of league history in 2023.

McCaffrey ranked second on an ESPN listing of the top 10 running backs in the NFL put together by surveying league executives, coaches, scouts and players.

He vaulted up the rankings having come seventh on the same list last year, but could not beat Nick Chubb of the Browns to the top spot.

Chubb has long since been seen by many as the best pure runner in the NFL, so his position at the summit is perhaps no surprise.

Yet Chubb cannot claim to have McCaffrey's all-round impact in terms of producing both on the ground and through the air. Last season, McCaffrey finished with 1,880 yards from scrimmage, 1,210 of those coming following his trade to the 49ers.

His 741 receiving yards were the most among running backs in the NFL, with Austin Ekeler the only other back to surpass 700. McCaffrey amassed that yardage from a variety of alignments, with his versatility weaponizing the 49er passing game and seeing him receive effusive praise from one AFC executive.

The executive said:

"He's one of the most versatile offensive players in the league. He can be used on perimeter runs, interior runs, out of the backfield, split out. He's in tremendous shape and has size, strength and speed. Injuries have taken him off the field, but when he's healthy, he is still a game-changer and a guy that needs to be accounted for at all times."

The 49ers will undoubtedly continue to use McCaffrey's multiplicity to their advantage in 2023, and he will enter rarified air if he matches last season's production.

As Jeremy Fowler explained in his writeup for the list, McCaffrey now has three seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards. Should he record another, he will equal the record of four such seasons held by Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

Still only 27, McCaffrey has plenty of time to surpass Faulk playing in an offense that is perfectly suited to his strengths. McCaffrey may not be regarded as the league's best running back, but he's on a Hall of Fame trajectory and his hopes of setting more records and eventually ending up in Canton are only improved by playing as a focal point in the Kyle Shanahan attack.

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