49ers superstar named NFL's No. 9 player by ESPN entering 2024 season

The San Francisco 49ers have an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball, and everyone across the National Football League knows it.

There's emerging star quarterback Brock Purdy. All-Pro weapons Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Elite left tackle Trent Williams. But all come secondary to the NFL's reigning Offensive Player of the Year.

Running back Christian McCaffrey had a sensational 2023, leading the league in rushing yards, scrimmage yards, and total touchdowns. He's at the peak of his game and hopes to help spur a championship run this season in San Francisco.

With all the talent across football in 2024, McCaffrey stands out among the very best. ESPN ranked him ninth among their Top 100 players in the league on Monday, across all positions.

"In his first full season in San Francisco, McCaffrey won Offensive Player of the Year, which would seem to indicate it will be tough for him to be even better in 2024," ESPN's Nick Wagoner said. "But McCaffrey undoubtedly thinks otherwise."

McCaffrey, 28, has long been recognized as one of the game's best all-around running backs. He actually set his career-high in scrimmage yards back in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers, when he earned his All-Pro selection.

But in 2023, McCaffrey answered a lot of questions. He played a second-straight healthy season after missing significant time in both 2021 and 2022. And he became the clear number-one option on the 49ers' offense, loaded as it was before he even arrived in town.

There's even a case to be made McCaffrey was undervalued here by ESPN--after all, he finished third in Most Valuable Player voting last season, and third is certainly higher than ninth on any list you could make.

While individual accolades are great, McCaffrey surely seeks the one thing missing from his resume in 2024: a Super Bowl ring. He gives the 49ers as good a shot as any team to win one as long as he can stay on the field.

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