Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey Are NFL MVP Favorites

The 49ers quarterback and running back have helped San Francisco become the team to beat.

The San Francisco 49ers look like the team to beat in the NFL, and quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey are big reasons why.

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Run This Way

Christian McCaffrey averages 4.7 yards per carry in his career. Scot Tucker / AP Photo

Christian McCaffrey can do it all. He has 510 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 99 rushing attempts in the 49ers’ first five games this season, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and 102 yards per game.

He also has 20 receptions for 168 yards and one receiving touchdown. That’s 8.4 yards per reception and 33.6 receiving yards per game.

Add it all up, and McCaffrey has 678 total yards from scrimmage (135.6 yards per game), on pace for over 2,300 total yards, and the 49ers are even stronger than expected.

San Francisco 49ers Regular-Season Wins 2023-24

Over 13.5 Wins +100
Under 13.5 Wins -120

Purdy Good

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is dicing up the NFL. Jed Jacobsohn / AP Photo

Brock Purdy has posted some impressive numbers as well.

He is 10-0 as a starter in the regular-season since being the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Through five games in the 2023 season, Purdy has completed 98 of 136 passes for 1,271 yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He has a 72.1 percent completion rate and is averaging 254.2 yards per game this season, compared to 152.7 last season.

His 10.7 yards per attempt and 83.7 QBR lead the NFL.

All-Purpose Beast

Christian McCaffrey tackled by Philadelphia Eagles

Christian McCaffrey is 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, and fearless. Matt Rourke / AP Photo

This could be a historic season for McCaffrey. The NFL record for most yards from scrimmage in a single season is 2,509 yards by running back Chris Johnson with the Tennessee Titans in 2009.

McCaffrey’s strong early output has him in the NFL MVP conversation, and he could become the first non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP since 2012, when Minnesota Vikings running Adrian Peterson took home the title.

Purdy is also an early favorite.

Most Valuable Player

Patrick Mahomes +450
Tua Tagovailoa +475
Brock Purdy +700
Jalen Hurts +700
Josh Allen +700
Christian McCaffrey +1500

Bringing the Heat

Christian McCaffrey runs against the Arizona Cardinals

Christian McCaffrey is a great football player. Godofredo A. Vásquez / AP Photo

Big numbers are nothing new for McCaffrey, who has 9,082 yards from scrimmage in his career. Since being drafted out of Stanford in the first round (eighth overall) by the Carolina Panthers in the 2017 NFL draft, McCaffrey has been a versatile weapon.

In his rookie season, he had 1,086 yards from scrimmage. In 2019, he had 2,392 yards from scrimmage and became the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. Roger Craig (1985 49ers) and Marshall Faulk (1999 St. Louis Rams) are the others.

NFC West 2023-24

San Francisco 49ers -800
Seattle Seahawks +700
Los Angeles Rams +2000
Arizona Cardinals +7500

In Good Company

McCaffrey has scored at least one touchdown in 14 consecutive games (including the playoffs), a 49ers franchise record, and already is top 150 in NFL history for career yards from scrimmage. Two of the top four are 49ers legends, Jerry Rice (23,549 yards) at No. 1 all-time and Frank Gore (19,985 yards) at No. 4.

With at least 600 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in his first four games this season, McCaffrey joined Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1963 and 1958) and Emmitt Smith (1995) as the only other NFL players in history to accomplish the feat.

Steals of the Century

Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey celebrate

Brock Purdy, left, and Christian McCaffrey make a powerful 1-2 punch for the 49ers. Godofredo A. Vásquez / AP Photo

The 49ers acquired McCaffrey from the Panthers on Oct. 20, 2022, for a 2023 second-round pick (61st overall subsequently traded, Brenton Strange), a 2023 third-round pick (93rd overall subsequently traded, Darnell Washington), a 2023 fourth-round pick (132nd overall subsequently traded, Nick Herbig), and a 2024 fifth-round pick. That’s what you call a fleecing.

Not to be outdone, 31 NFL teams passed on Brock Purdy. Mr. Irrelevant is now a team captain and key player for one of the best teams in the NFL with a life story that could be a future Disney movie.

Super-Duper Powers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy throws the ball

Brock Purdy has his eyes on the prize. Godofredo A. Vásquez / AP

Since McCaffrey became the starter for the 49ers on Oct. 30, 2022, he has played in 15 regular-season games and has 1,826 scrimmage yards in those games (all wins). That number leads the NFL.

His 1,748 yards from scrimmage through 14 games was the second-most yards from scrimmage during a 14-game winning streak, trailing only Hall of Fame Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis (1,849 in 1997-98), who played with McCaffrey’s father, Ed, on those Broncos teams and won back-to-back Super Bowls.

Purdy hasn’t missed either. He is perfect as a starter in 10 regular-season wins.

Don’t be surprised if McCaffrey and Purdy lead the 49ers to their sixth Super Bowl championship real soon.

Super Bowl 2024

San Francisco 49ers +350
Kansas City Chiefs +550
Philadelphia Eagles +800
Miami Dolphins +900
Buffalo Bills +950
Detroit Lions +1500
Dallas Cowboys +1500
Baltimore Ravens +2200

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49ers Betting Insights

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown

Can Christian McCaffrey and company bring a 49ers Super Bowl championship to San Francisco this season? Godofredo A. Vásquez / AP Photo

The 49ers are better than they were last season.

The 49ers had an 11-6 record against the spread in 2022.
Last season, nine 49ers games went over the point total.
The 49ers ranked 5th in the NFL in total offense with 355.6 yards per game in 2022 and 1st in total defense with 300.6 yards allowed per contest.
The 49ers scored 450 points (26.5 per game) last season (6th of 32) and allowed 277 points (16.3, 1st of 32).
The 49ers went 8-1 at home and 5-3 on the road.
When underdogs, the 49ers had one victory (1-1) versus a 10-5 record when favored.
The 49ers were 10-2 vs. the NFC, including 6-0 in the NFC West.
The 49ers have an 8-15 record as underdogs at home since 2016.

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